US2437000A

US2437000A - Toy ferris wheel

Info

Publication number: US2437000A
Application number: US690152A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles L Mcbride
Original assignee: JOY TOYS Inc
Current assignee: JOY TOYS Inc
Priority date: 1946-08-13
Filing date: 1946-08-13
Publication date: 1948-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-02

Description

March 2, 1948.

c 1.. MCBRIDE TOY FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug. 15, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVE NTOR, Clm'ksLM- Bnde;

March 2, 1948. c, MCBRIDE 2,437,000

TOY FEBRIS WHEEL v Filed 15 194 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 .INVENTOR,

g I I ATTO March 2, 1948. c. MCBRIDE 2,437,000

' TOY FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug. 15, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR,

Cgz arhLM l3ride;

March 2, 19 48. v c, MCBRIDE 2,437,000

TOY FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug, 13, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 2, 1948. c. L. "MCBRIDE 2,437,000

TOY FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug. 13, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 u 95 I w m .51 51 '&I i

55 47 a 45, 4 I v IE'E i ,7 g l l 5 mx 1w\\ \1 as 82 34 40 a4 82 65 6'4 INVENTOR,

Chcg' IeSL.M?BIide;

March 2, 1948. QLMCBRID 2,437,000

TOY FERRIS WHEEL v g 13' 8 Sheets-Sheet [N V EN TOR;

-i f Clzm'les L.M Bride;,

Patented Mar. 2, 1948 TOY reams WHEEL Charles L. McBride, Tampa, Fla., assignor to Joy Toys, 1110., Tampa, Fla, a corporation of Florida Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,152

16 Claims. (01. 272-38) This invention relates to amusement apparatus and more particularly to toy Ferris wheels.

The prior art Ferris wheels are more or less completely concerned with full scale amusement park apparatus. The construction of these wheels is not well adapted either from the standpoint of efficiency or of economy for reproduction in small scale apparatus suchas toys.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art apparatus, it i an objective of this invention to provide a small scale Ferris wheel device, for use as a toy, that is simple and economical in construction and operation while being interesting to control and attractive to watch when in operation. It is contemplated that a structure comprising two wheels mounted on the ends of a rotating boom may comprise a single drive for rotating each of the wheels and the boom along with control means for adapting the drive to rotate either of the wheels or the boom separately or in any desired combination. It is desirable to enhance the appearance of the apparatus, particularly when it is in operation, by means of illumination associated with the moving parts of the apparatus and to provide a simple and economical but efficient electric supply for the means of illumination, including a unique arrangement for transferring current from one to the other of relatively movable parts.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by disposing two wheels on the ends of a boom which is pivotally mounted, centrally thereof, on a stationary upright standard, and selectively driving each of the wheels or the boom separately or in combination from a single drive Specifically, two wheels of the usual Ferris wheel type are pivotally mounted on the bifurcated ends of a boom and have beveled gears fixed on their shafts. The boom i pivotally mounted at its center on a shaft supported by the upper ends of a bifurcated tower. A bevel gear is fixed on the boom shaft, and two double bevel gears are supported by anti-friction bearlngs, mounted on the shaft which permit free rotation of the double bevels relative to the boom shaft. Two shafts are mounted longitudinally of the boom having small bevels fixed on their ends and in mesh respectively with bevel gears fixed on the wheel shafts and with one side of each of the double bevels, Three upright drive shafts have bevels on their upper ends in mesh respectively with the bevel on the boom shaft and the opposite sides of each of the double bevels from that of the aforementioned shafts connecting the wheels with the double bevels. By this arrangement, each of the wheels or the boom may be separately rotated in accordance with the drive transmitted by the three vertical shafts.

Each of the three vertical shafts are driven by a single power shaft but are associated therewith in such a manner that any one of the three maybe disconnected therefrom. This drive system may be accomplished by different arrangements, however, they may all incorporate the basic concept of employing solenoids for disconnecting the different drive gears. In one of these arrangements, the vertical boom drive shaft is provided with a worm gear meshing with a worm carried by the free elements of a clutch mounted on the power shaft. The free clutch element is resiliently urged into engagement with a driven element fixed on said power shaft and is adapted to be disengaged b a lever operable by an electromagnet, such as a solenoid. The upright wheel drive shafts are suspended in their upper bearings and have their lower ends journaled in levers that may be swung to engage or disengage worm gears on said shafts and worms on the power shaft. Solenoids are connected with said levers to swing the bottoms of the shafts to disengage their worm gear from said worms In the other arrangement, all three of the upright shafts are swingably mounted and bevel gears are employed rather than worms and worm gears. This latter construction permits the upright shafts to be mounted in a line directly above the horizontal drive shaft.

It would appear that the wheels and the boom would cease rotation when their respective drive shafts were disengaged from the power shaft. Such is not the case, however, particularly with heavier constructions, due to the fact that momentum causes continued rotation for some time and, in addition, if at least one of the shafts is retained in driving engagement, frictional forces also tend to continue rotation of members which have been disengaged from their respective drive. As long as part of the apparatus is being driven, momentum and friction tend, to a degree, to continue rotation of other parts of the apparatus. Accordingly, it is desirable with heavier constructions, to provide breaking means for stopping rotation of the wheels or the boom upon disengagement of their respective drive shafts from the power shaft. The braking means are most conveniently and simply arranged to cooperate with the lower ends of the drive shafts. in the lighter construction, the brake means may be provided for the boom only.

For the wheel shafts the brake may be in the form of a fixed tooth or stop that is positioned so as to be engaged by the worm gear when it is swung out of engagement with the worm, and thus be held against further rotation. Due to the weight and'momentum of the boom, however, a friction type of brake is preferred so as to prevent sudden stops that might be harmful to the apparatus. To accomplish this, a pair of friction blocks are positioned astride the upright boom shaft and are retained in constantfrictional engagement therewith so thatthe shaft "is actually driven in opposition to this braking action. Consequently, when the clutch is disen- Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the boom drive shaft and its associated worm gear with the one-way clutch therebetween;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in cross section through the end of one of the wheel shafts and showing the current transfer means;

Fig. 12 is a top plan View of a modification of the power drive means;

Fig. 13 is a side View in elevation of the drive means shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side view in elevation of a single Ferris wheel;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view taken on line iii-l5 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a detail view in elevation of the drive mechanism forthe single Ferris wheel.

gaged the boom shaft will not come to a sudden stop, but will slow down gradually. In order to eliminate sudden starts, which are just as uh desirable as sudden stops, the boom drive shaft has its worm gear freely mounted thereon and connected therewith by means of a free wheeling one-way clutch in the form of a helical spring wrapped around the vertical shaft and having an end fixed to the gear.

In order to enhance the appearance of the apparatus, small electric lights may be mounted on the revolving parts, particularly the wheels. In viewof the fact that aharmless lZ-volt current is used, these lights may be grounded to the apparatus, thereby requiring but a single line running to the lights. In order to transfer current between the relatively movable parts, a

spring contact is mounted on the supporting part to bear against a button contact mounted on the end of the shaft carrying the rotating part, thereby permitting the transfer of electric current while the two contacts are rotating or pivoting relative to each other. This structure supplants the relatively expensive and complicated brush and collecting ring arrangement usually employed for transferring current between relatively rotatable members.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout and in which:

Fig. l is a partial side view in elevation of the upper portions of a dual Ferris wheel including a rotatable boom supporting the wheels;

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the base of the apparatus and the power drive means;

Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation of one of the wheel shafts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section through the drive end of one of the wheel shafts;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side View in elevation of a boom shaft;

Fig. 7 is a cross section view taken on line '-'i of Fig. 6;" r

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken through a portion of one end of the boom shaft;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially in cross section of the power shaft and clutch mechanism for driving the boom;

A Ferris wheel to overcome the defects hereinbefore enumerated should have the totally distinct characteristics of comprising a single power source for selectively driving one or more of a plurality of rotatable elements. Accordingly,

a preferred embodiment of the invention, referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, is constituted by an apparatus composed of a pair of wheels l5 respectively mounted on shafts [6 which are respectively journaled in bearing members I! supported by the opposite ends of a boom I8 that is fixed on a shaft l 9 journaled in bearing members 28 supported by the upper ends of a bifurcated tower 2i. The wheels l5 are of the usual Ferris wheel type and pivotally support a plurality of passenger carriers 22. As both of the wheel structures and apparatus associated therewith are identical, no differentiation is made in describing them and the same reference characters are applied to both.

It is desired to rotate each of the wheels l5 about their pivots in the ends of the boom l8 and also to rotate the boom on its central supporting shaft Hi. In order to accomplish the desired rotation, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, bevel gears 25 are fixed on the wheel shafts l6 and are in mesh with bevel pinions 26 mounted on the outer ends of drive shafts 21 which are carried radially by the boom I8. As more clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the radial shafts 2'! have beveled pinions 28 mounted on their inner ends which are in mesh with one bevel of double bevel gears 29 which are supported by the boom shaft l9. The other bevels of the gear 2'9 are driven by bevel pinions 33 mounted on the upper ends of upright drive shafts 3|. The boom I8 is rotated by means of a relatively large bevel gear 35 fixed on its shaft l9 and in mesh with a bevel pinion 35 mounted on the upper end of an upright drive shaft 31.

The overall arrangement of the drive is best shown in Fig. 2 wherein the boom I8 is shown in a vertical position so that one of the wheels i5 is in its lower, or, passenger loading and unloading position. The tower 2| is composed of two spaced sections mounted on a base member 40 and having bearing portions 20 at their upper ends in which are journaled the opposite ends of the boom shafts l9. The boom I8 is composed of two axially spaced elements having bearing members IT at their outer ends for journaling the wheel shafts l6 adjacent their ends. The wheels i5 are fixed on their shafts l6 between the spaced boom elements and may be spaced from the bearing members I! by collars 23. The bevel gears 25 are fixed on one of the ends of each of the wheel shafts l6, being spaced from the adjacent bearing member H by another collar 23. In order to accommodate the separate wheel drives, the bevel gears v25 are on the respective opposite ends of their shafts I6 so as to be positioned on opposite sides of the boom I8. The radial shafts 21 are mounted on opp site sides of the boom I8 with each of their inner bevel pinions 28 in mesh with the inner bevels of the double bevel gears 29.

The double bevel gears 29 are freely mounted on the boom shaft I9 and may be spaced between the opposite sides of the boom I8 and the opposite tower bearing members ill in any desired manner, such as by collars 3.8. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the gear segments of the. gear '29 are formed on the outer race of a concentrio ball bearing. the inner race being mounted on the shaft It. The outer beveis of the double bevel ears 29 are in mesh with the bevel pinions 30, carried by the upright drive shafts .3 i, so that the drive is transmitted through the gears 29 without affect upon the boom shaft I9, the segments of the gears 29 merely rotating about their supporting ball bearings. Thus it will be seen that when either of the upright shafts 3| is driven, its pinion so will drive its associated double bevel gear 29 which in turn will drive its associated radial shaft 21 and thereby drive manner each of the wheels 15 are separately driven so that they may be separately controlled.

Furthermore, the wheel drives are distinct from the boom I8 so that the wheels I may each be driven separately with relation to the boom i8.

As each of the wheels 15 are separately driven, so likewise is'the boom i 8 separately driven so that it may be rotated without relation to the drive of wheels IS. The large bevel gear 35 is fixed to the boom shaft 39 and is in mesh with the bevel pinion which is carried on the upper end of a separate upright drive shaft 31 that is journaled outside of the rear section of the tower ZI, Whereas the upright wheel drive shafts 3! are journaled inside of their respective tower segments it. Thus when the upright shaft 31 is driven, its pin on 36 drives the gear 35 which thereby drives the boom shaft is to rotate the boom I8 irrespective of the drives for'the wheels to. Even though the inner races of the gears 29 are rotated with the boom shaft .19, their anti-friction hearings will preclude transmission of this rotation to the wheel drives. As indi cated in Fig. 2, the upright shafts 3i and 3! are driven at their lower ends by means of worms t5 and 46 respectively, mounted on a horizon tal power shaft 41 which is driven through the medium of a worm gear 48 mounted thereon and in mesh with a worm 49 fixed on the shaft 59 of a small electric motor 5!. Thus all of the upright shafts are driven by a single source of power.

It is desirable to control each of the upright shafts separately, and therefore means are pro vided for disengaging their drives at will, as best shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 4'! is journaled in bearing members 55 mounted on the base 40, one end of the shaft 4'] extending beyond one of the bearing members 55 .to terminate with the worm gear 48. Adjacent the worm gear 48, a driving clutch member 55 is fixed on the shaft 4'! with its mating driven clutch member 5'! mounted between it and the bearing member 55, reference being made to Fig. 9. The driven clutch member 51 includes a sleeve portion 58 on which is mounted the worm 45 for driving the upright shaft 3?. A helical spring 59 is compressed between the clutch sleeve 58 and the adjacent bearinc member 55 so asto resiliently urge'the driven clutch element 51 into engagement with the driv ing clutch element 56.

When the clutch elements 56 and 51 are in driving relationship, the worm 46 is then driven and drives a. worm gear 60 mounted on the upright shaft 37. A yoke portion BI is provided on the clutch sleeve 53 ,to cooperate with a yoke 62 on the end of a lever 63 that is centrally mounted on a pivot '64. The other end of the lever 63 is connected to the core 56 of a solenoid 51 by link 55. Thus when the solenoid 5'. is energized to withdraw its core 66, the lever 53 is swung on itspivot fit to swing its yoke 52 against the clutch yoke GI and thereby disengage the driven clutch member 5! by moving it against the compression of the spring 59. In thismanner, the rotation of the boom I8 is controlled through the operation of the solenoid 61. It naturally follows that when the solenoid 61 is tie-energized its core 66 is released so that the spring 59 may again urge the driven clutch member 5! into engagement with the mating driving clutch member 56 to again effect the drive of the boom I8;

In view of the fact that the boom I8 is relatively heavy and developes suiiicient momentum to continue rotation after the clutch 51 is disengaged, particularly if one or both of the wheels iii are still driven, it is necessary to provide a braking means therefor. It is more convenient to associate this braking means with the upright drive shaft 3'! in the form of a pair of friction blocks I0 (Figs. 3, 9 and 10), although other braking means may be employed. The blocks iii are positioned on opposite sides of the shaft 31 and of a pin II mounted in the base All; and an adjusting screw 12 extends through the blocks 10 between the shaft 31 and the pin II. By this arrangement, the braking blocks iii are held in frictional engagement with the shaft 31' which engagement may be regulated by the screw 12 so as to apply sufficient friction to slow the shaft 37 to a stop when the clutch 51 is disengaged, but notto interfere with the rotation of the shaft 31, when the clutch 5'! is in driving engagement.

It has been found that if the worm gear 60 is fixed to the shaft 31 the rotation of the boom I8 will start with a jerk as soon as the clutch 51 is thrown into frictional engagement with the driving clutch 5B. In order to provide a smooth start for the boom i8, the worm gear 60 is freely mounted on the upright shaft 31 but is drivingly connected therewith by a one-way clutch in the form of a helical spring i5 loosely coiled around the shaft 31 and having one end It fixed to the gear 60, as by screw 11. Thus when the gear fill is driven by the worm 46', it revolves the end it of the spring I5 and therebytightens the coil f th spring 15 around the shaft 31 so asto grip and rotate it with the gear 6.9. The gripping or clutching action of the spring .15 is relatively slow, and also there is a small amount of slippage between it and the shaft 37, so that the rotation of the boom I8 is started gradually and without shock to the apparatus.

Due to the difference inv weight, and consequently the difference of inertia or momentum of the wheels I 5 in comparison to the boom I8, the Wheel drive and braking mechanism is considerably less complicated. The lower ends of the upright shafts 3I each have a worm wheel .86 fixed. thereon which is adapted to mesh with the worms 45 respectively on the shaft 41. The lower end of each shaft BI is J'ournaled in one end of a lever 8i that has its other end connected with the core 84 or a solenoid 85 by a link 82 so as to be moved in one direction by said solenoid against the bias of a tension spring 82 also connected to the lever 8|. The lever 8| is mounted on a pivot 85 intermediate its ends so that the spring 83 urges the lever 8I about its pivot 86 to swing the gear 88 into meshing engagement with the worm 45 whereas upon energization, the solenoid 85 retracts its core 84 pulling the rod 82 to swing the lever 8| about its pivot 86 and to move the gear 88 out of engagement with the worm 45,

In view of the fact that the shafts 3I are relatively light they may be loosely journaled in, and suspended from, the brackets 4| at their upper ends to accommodate the swinging of their lower ends to engage or disengage their gears 88 with the worms 45. In order to limit the swinging movement of the shafts 3| away from the worms 45, and also to form a stop or brake to prevent further rotation when the worm gears are disengaged, a tooth or wedge member 81 is fixed diametrically opposite each of the worms 45, relative to the gears 88, so as to be engaged by the teeth of the gears 88 when they are swung out of mesh with the worms 45. Thus it will be seen that the springs 83 will normally retain the gears 88 in mesh with the worms 45 to drive the respective wheels I5, but, upon energization, the solenoid 85 retracts the gears 88 from the worms 45 and into engagement with the stops 8'! so that the drive for the wheels I5 is not only halted, but further rotation is prevented.

Even though the wheel drive shafts 3I are held stationary by having their worm gears 88 en-- aged with the stops 81, the rotation of the wheels I5 will not necessarily be halted. If the drive of the boom I8 is continued, then the wheels I5 will be rotated at a speed that is somewhat slower than their normal speed. This is due to the fact that the bevel pinions 38 mounted on the shafts 3I are not withdrawn from their respective double bevel gears 29 and therefore hold these gears stationary. The bevel pinions 38 are barely moved when the shafts 3| are swung to braking position because said shafts are fulcrumed in the upper supporting brackets 4| and the bevel pinions 38, being positioned immediately adjacent the brackets 4 I, are subject to a very small movement. As these bevel pinions are not moved sufllciently to disengage them from their respective double bevel gears 29, the gears 29 will be locked with their respective shafts 3! when said shafts are held stationary by the stops 81. If the rotation of the boom I8 is continued when the double bevel gears 29 are held stationary, the radial shafts 21 will be revolved with the boom I8 and rotated by their bevel pinions 28 as said pinions travel around their respective double bevel gears 29. Of course, if the shafts 21 are rotated, then the wheels I5 will be rotated.

It naturally follows that the speed of this rotation will be somewhat less than the normal driving speed. It will be understood that either one of the wheels may be controlled in this manner while the other is driven at normal speed. It will therefore be seen that either or both of the wheels I5 may be driven at a normal rate of speed, either while the boom is driven or held stationary, or that either or both of the wheels I5 may be driven at a slower speed while the boom is driven, or the wheels I5 and the boom I8 may all the held stationary. Of course, by changing the relative position of the fulcrums r the boom I8 and wheels I5.

for the shafts 3|, the pinions 38 could be disengaged from the gears 29 and thereby stop driving rotation of the wheels I5, as the gears 29 would be rotated with the boom shaft I8, due to friction, and there would be no relative movement between gears 28 and the pinions 28. According to the present disclosure, the arrangement is such that the wheels and the boom are normally in driving engagement and may have their drives disconnected only by the positive operation of a suitable disconnecting or braking means. This arrangement is preferred because the device may be completely disconnected, as by a master switch, when it is not in use. It is obvious, however, that the arrangement could bereversed, with the rotatable elements normally out of driving connection but positively engaged by suitable control mechanism.

In machines of lighter construction, a modified arrangement may be employed for driving This arrangement is more economical in design due to its simplicity of construction. The basic principle of this modification comprises the swingable mountin of all three of the upright drive shafts and the use of beveled gears rather than worms and worm gears. This arrangement permits the po sitioning of the three upright shafts in line directly above the horizontal drive shaft which may be parallel to the axis of the boom I8. This modified structure is shown in Figs, 12 and 13, wherein the horizontal drive shaft 41 is positioned centrally between the legs of the tower ZI and has fast thereon two bevel gears 45' and one bevel gear 48'. The two bevel gears 45' are mounted in opposed relation to each other so as to drive said shafts 3 Ia, respectively, in opposite directions to each other and thereby drive the wheels I5 in the same direction, These two upright wheel drive shafts SI and the upright boom drive shaft 37 are mounted immediately above the horizontal drive shaft 41 and have fast on their lower ends, respectively, bevel gears 88' and 68, to mesh with the bevel gears 45' and 46'.

A lever 8i is connected at one end with each of the upright wheel drive shafts Si, is pivotally mounted on a stud 88, and is connected at its opposite ends between a spring 83 and the armature 84 of a solenoid 85. The spring 83 tends to pull the lever to engage each bevel gear 88' with its bevel gear 45 whereas the solenoid operates to disengage these bevel gears. It has been found that no brake member is necessary for the wheel drive shafts in view of the fact that rotational friction is greater than the momentum created by the lightweight structure. A similar arrangement is provided for the upright boom drive shaft 31 which is connected with a lever 83' that is pivotally mounted on a stud 64 and connected with a spring 59' and a rod 65 of the armature 88 of the solenoid Bl. It has been found that it is preferable to provide a brake means for the boom drive shaft 31 because, regardless of its weight, the continued rotation of one of the wheels I5 tends to cause continued rotation of the boom I8. Consequently, a brake member 18', such as a, toothed member, is positioned so as to be engaged by the bevel gear 68' when the latter is disengaged from the gear 48' on the power shaft 41.

In order to enhance the appearance and increase the attractiveness of the apparatus, it is desirable to position small electric lights on the movable parts of the apparatus so as to define, in lines of light, the movement of the parts when the device is in operation. For instance, as best shown in Fig. 2, electric lamps 99 may be mounted in sockets 9| which are supported by the cross braces 92 of the wheels I5. The lamps iii? are of the small variety which ma be operated on a currentof 12 volts or less and, consequently, in order to simplify construction, they may be grounded by their sockets 9| directly to the cross braces 92 of the apparatus in view of the fact that the voltage is so small as to be harmless. Accordingly, but a single line is required to supply current to the lamps 99 as the return circuit is effected through the apparatus.

. As best shown in Fig. 8, a single supply line 83 may be run up one of the structural me i.- bers of the tower 2I and connected by a screw 94 to a spring finger contact 95 that bears on a button contact 96 mounted axially on the end of the boom shaft IS. The boom shaft I9 is tubular so that a line 91, which is connected with the contact 96, may extend through the center thereof to connect with branch Wires 98 which extend out through openings 99 in the shaft Walls and along the opposite sides of the boom I8 to the opposite ends thereof. A spring finger contact I09 is mounted at each end of the boom and on opposite sides thereof and is connected as by screws IBI with its respective branch line 98. This structure is shown in enlargement in Fig. 11. Each of these spring finger contacts I09] bear against button contacts I92 mounted axially on the ends of the wheel shafts It. The wheel shafts are likewise tubular to accommodate a wire I83 which is in electrical connection with the button contact I02 and is connected to a plurality of radially extending branch lines I94 which are run out the spokes of thewheel I and across the braces 92 to the sockets 9I. Obviously, the entire circuit is properly insulated from the apparatus, with the exception of the lamps that are grounded to the apparatus. The spring finger and button contacts provide a simplified, economical, but highly efficient, means for transferring current between relatively movable members and thereby avoid the use of the more cornplicated and expensive brush and collector ring structure. tact system is highly efficient in the present instance due to the fact that only one circuit is being transferred, there being no return circuit, as such, due to the fact that the lamps are grounded directly to the apparatus. It will be understood that lamps may be mounted on any suitable part of the apparatus but the arrangement shown provides two circles of light,v which circles move through a circular path, and it is believed that this arrangement is the most desirable. r r

The device iss arranged that it may be controlled remotely, and, accordingly, a series of posts, or contacts, are mounted on the base and they may be connected to suitable control members and to a suitable source of current supply. For instance, as shown in Fig. 3, a series of posts are mounted on an insulating plate H9 which is fixed on the base 52. One post M is connected by line III to the motor ,5I. The next post S is connected by line M2 to one of the solenoids 85. The next post S is connected by line II3 tothe solenoid 6-1. Another post S" may be connected by line II4 to the other solenoid 85. Another post L,. for supplying current to the lights 90, may be connected by the line I I5 with the conductor 93 which extends up one of the structural membersof. the tower 2 I.

This spring finger and button con-- 10 As hereinbefore set forth, the lamps 90 are grounded through the apparatus to the base 52. This same system is employed for all of the electric apparatus in view of the fact that all of it is adapted to operate at a harmless current or 1 2 volts or less and, accordingly, the motor 5|, solenoid ti and the solenoids 85 are each grounded to the base 52 so that the return circuit for each of these elements is made through the base. Accordingly, a post G is connectedby a line IIB with the base 52. It will be understood that'lines will run from each of the individual posts and from the common ground post G to the control member and source of supply for each of the electrical elements. That is, lines will run from posts G and L to a suitable switch and current source to control the operationv of the lights 99.

,Similarly lines will run from the posts G and S to a suitable switch and current source to con;- trol the respective solenoid 85.

A modification of the apparatus is shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. This structure comprises the usual single wheeled type of Ferris wheel and includes a Wheel I251 that pivotally supports passenger carriers I2I1 at spaced points about its periphery, and is fixed on a tubular shaft I22 that is journaled in spaced bearing plates I23 supported by spaced tower elements I24 that are mounted on a base I25. A bevel gear I26 is fixed on the tubular shaft I22 and meshes with a bevel pinion I27 carried by a vertical shaft I23 that also has fixed thereon, a worm gear I29 that is in mesh. with a worm I39 fixed on the shaft $32 of a motor I33. Lights I34 are seated in socleets I35 that are supported by, and grounded to, cross braces I36 of the wheel I29.

Both the lights and the motor are grounded through the apparatus to a ground terminal; G,

to a line I'sI extending throughv part of said shaft I22 and branching radially in lines I42 which extend along the spokes 0f the wheel I29 and across the braces I36 to the lamp sockets I 35.

The advantage'of' this structure resides principally in its simplicity of arrangement and economy of" parts. For instance, but a single drive shaft 128 extends between. the motor I33 and the wheel shaft I22, the drive shaft I28 being. con.-

nected directly to the motor drive by its worm gear I29. Simplicity of wiring or current supply is also a feature in that a single line extends to the lights, thereby enabling the use of the simple rotary contact employing but a single spring finger that bears axiall on a pivotally mounted button. It will be understood that wires will extend from the ground G and from each of the terminals M and L to respective control devices and current supply, whereby the apparatus may be remotely controlled in its operation.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention are shown and described, it is obvious that manyimodifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed. as new is:

1. An amusement device comprising a stand ard, a supporting element mounted on; said 11 standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted on said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, drive means connecting said motor with said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes,

and means for separately disconnecting the drive means for said element and for each of said members'.

2. An amusement device comprising a standard, a supporting element mounted on said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted on said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, drive means connecting said motor with said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes, and

electromagnetic means for separately disconnecting the drive means for said element and for each of said members.

3. An amusement device comprising a standard, a supporting element mounted on said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted on said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, drive means connecting said motor with said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes, means for separately disconnecting the drive means for said element and for each of said members, and brake means for preventing free rotation of said element and of said members when their respective drives are disconnected.

4. An amusement device comprising a standard, a supporting element mounted on said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted on said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each hav- 'ing carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor,

drive means connecting said motor with said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes, means for separately disconnecting the drive means for said element and for each of said members, and brake means cooperative with the drive means for said rotatable element and for each of said rotatable members for preventing free rotation of said element andof said members when their respective drives are disconnected.

5. An amusement device comprising a standard, a supporting element mounted on said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted on said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each hav ing carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, drive means connecting said motor with said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes, electromagnetic means for separately disconnecting the drive means for said element and for each of said members, and brake means operative with the drive means for said rotatable element and for each of said rotatable parts for preventing free rotation of said element and of said members when their respective drives are disconnected.

6. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable move ment about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, and means for selectively disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft.

7. Amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, means for selectively disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft, and brake means cooperative with the upright shafts for preventing free rotation of said element or of any of said members when their respective drive is disconnected.

8. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting elementsfor rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, one of said upright shafts being pendulously journaled adjacent its upper end and carrying means at its lower end for engagement with and to be driven by said power shaft, and means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for swinging said pendulous shaft away from said power shaft.

9. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, one of said upright shafts being pendulously journaled adjacent its upper end and carrying means at its lower end for engagement with and to be driven by said power shaft, means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for swinging said pendulous shaft away from said power shaft, and brake means cooperative with the upright driven shafts for preventing free rotation of said element or of either of said members when their respective drives are disconnected and including a stop positioned for engagement by said engaging means when said pendulous shaft is swung away from said power shaft.

10. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper ends of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, a clutch including a driving member fixed on said shaft and a driven member normally engaging said driving member, driving means for rotatively driving said supporting ele ment and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, one of said upright shafts having a driving engagement with said driven clutch member, and means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for disengaging said clutch members.

11. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper ends of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, a clutch including a driving member fixed on said shaft and a driven member normally engaging said driving member, driving means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, one of said upright shafts having a driving engagement with said driven clutch member, means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for disengaging said clutch members, brake means cooperative with the upright shafts for preventing free rotation of any of said members when their respective drives are disconnected,

and brake means for said clutch driven upright shaft comprising a friction brake which is constantly in frictional engagement with said shaft.

12. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper ends of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable move ment about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, a clutch including a driving member fixed on said shaft and a driven member normally engaging said driving member, driving means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, the upright shaft included in the drive for said supporting element having means freely mounted thereon and in driving engagement with said driven clutch member, a delayed action clutch means drivingly connecting said upright shaft and said loosely mounted means, and means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for disengaging said clutch members.

13. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper ends of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, a clutch including a driving member fixed on said shaft and a driven member normally engaging said driving. member, driving means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, the upright shaft included in the drive for said supporting element having means freely mounted thereon and in driving engagement with said driven clutch member, a delayed action clutch mean-s drivingly connecting said upright shaft and said freely mounted means, means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for disengaging said clutch members, brake means cooperative with the upright shafts for preventing free rotation of any of said members when their respective drives are disconnected, and brake means for said element driving upright shaft comprising a friction brake which is constantly in frictional engagement with said shaft.

14. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a horizontal shaft journaled in the upper end of said standard, a supporting element mounted on said horizontal shaft for rotatable movement therewith, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supporting element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a plurality of drive transfer means freely mounted i011 said horizontal shaft, one for each supportin member, a plurality of radially disposed shafts carried by said supporting element, each drivingly connecting one of said transfer means and one of said supporting members, and a plurality of upright shafts adjacent said standard and drivingly connected with said motor, one of said upright shafts having a driving connection with said horizontal shaft to drive said supporting element and each of the other upright shafts having a driving connection with one of said transfer means to drive its respective supporting member.

15. An amusement device comprising an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supp rting element for rotatable moveinent about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted.

thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said stand ard and connected with said power shaft, said upright shafts being pendulously adjacent their upper ends and carrying means at their lower ends for engagement with connecting means on said power shaft, and means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for swinging said pendulous shafts away from said power shaft connecting means.

16. An amusement device comprising, an upright standard, a supporting element mounted on the upper end of said standard for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of supporting members mounted adjacent the edges of said supportin element for rotatable movement about horizontal axes, each of said supporting members having carriers pivotally mounted thereon, a motor, a power shaft driven by said motor, drive means for rotatively driving said supporting element and each of said supporting members to cause them to rotate about their axes and including upright shafts adjacent said standard and connected with said power shaft, said upright shafts being pendulously journaled ad.- jacent their upper ends and carrying means at their lower ends for engagement with connecting means on said power shaft, means for separately disconnecting the drive of said upright shafts from that of said power shaft and including means for swinging said pendulous shafts away from said power shaft connecting means, and brake means cooperative with the connecting means on the upright shaft for driving said supporting element for preventing free rotation of said element when its drive, is disconnected.

CHARLES L. MCBRIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 900,820 Becker Oct. 13, 1908 1 1,561,073 Hanson Nov. 10, 1925 2,229,966 Eyerly Jan. 28, 1941 2,249,076 Courtney July 15, 1941