US269554A

US269554A - Artificial sliding-hill

Info

Publication number: US269554A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1899-12-26

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. ALEXANDER.

ARTIFICIAL 'SLIDING HILL. N0.269,554. P nted Dec. 26, 1882.

N4 PETERS. Pholo-Lilhugnphnn Walhinglnn, B c.

( Mudel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. ALEXANDER.

ARTIFICIAL SLIDINGHILL.

No. 269,554. Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

HGA.

FIG-.8. FIG.9.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ALEXANDER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARTIFICIAL SLIDING- HILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'No. 269,554, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed March 31, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALEXANDER, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Sliding- Hills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in artificial sliding-hills which may be in condition for use all the year round, but are es pecially adapted during the heated or milder seasons of the year.

The invention consists in constructing the I hill with grooved ways or track, to be used in latter are drawn to the top of the hill again,

either with or without their occupants.

The invention further consists in certain details more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sliding-hill embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the hill. Fig.4 is a plan view of one of the starting-tables. Fig. 5 is a section on line 3 y of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section ot'a sled designed for use with the sliding-hill. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the sled. Fig.8 is a view of the device attached to the sled for engaging with the hooks on the endless belt. Fig. 9 represents a device t'or disengaging the hooks. Fig. 10 represents a buffer placed on the rear of the sled. Fig. 11 is a side view of the brake attached to the sled. Fig. 12 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 13 is a modification of the method of arranging the endless belt.

A is a platform, supported upon a suitable frame-work of any desired size or height. From one side of the platform A descends an inclined plane, B, to a point near the ground, when it ascends in the opposite direction, as shown at B, so as to check the velocity of the sled. The inclined plane B is constructed with one or more grooved ways, 0, as shown in Fig. 3, and on each side of the ways 0 are grooves O O, in which the feathers g g on a sled (see Fig. 7) engage, as hereinafter explained. In the center of each of the ways U is fitted aguide, D, which is grooved longitudinally on its upper surface, as seen in Fig. 3.

The grooved ways extend from the top of thethe down-tracks to lessen the friction, and thus give additional velocity to the sleds.

At the bottom, on the curved portion ot'thc track, are placed rollers F for the sleds to travel on, thus reducing the friction. These rollers I design to make beveled inwardly, so as to cause the sleds to keep the track in turning the curve. I also place rollers on the return'course for the purpose of reducing the friction, thus requiring less power to draw up the sleds. On the platform A are also placed beveled rollers similar tothose at the bottom.

The rollers may be driven by power, it desired, and the ways 0, I prefer to make of metal.

The starting-table I, Figs. at and 5, is made ofmetal or wood hinged to the front edge of the platform. Upon this tableare fitted side pieces, i, provided with grooves corresponding to the grooves in the downward ways. This table is elevated at the rear by means of a hand-lever, J, fixed on a rod, L, to which is attached a cam or lever, K, under the center of the table, so that'by moving the lever J the table is raised so as to bring its surface to the same inclined plane as the downward course. When the sled leaves the table I the latter assumes a level position.

On the shaft, carried in suitable bearings under the platform A, and driven by any desired power, is fixed the pulley N. At the lower end of the hill is also fitted a pulley, 0, over which pulleys passes the endless chain,rope, or

belt M, which is provided with suitable hooks for taking into a device on the under side of the sleds, so as to allow them to be drawn up by the belt. I have shown the endless belt slightly out of the center of the track; but it might be placed in the center of the grooved guide, as shown in Fig. 13.

By the side of the curved portions of the tracks, at the bottom of the inclined plane, I provide hand ropes or rails H, the object of these ropes or rails being to enable the occupant of the sled to check the speed at which he is going; or, if the velocity of the sled should not be sufficient to carry him round to the endless belt, he can take hold of the rail and thus draw himself along, so thatone of the books can catch the sled and carry it up.

The runners Q of the sleds Q, I make of wood or metal rounded at both ends, and on the sides are fitted feathers q q, to take into the grooves of the ways 0, for the purpose of preventing the sleds from leaving or being thrown fromthe track. At or near the rear of the under part of the sledisfitteda rolleror wheel, a, which runs in the groove of the center guide, D but the grooves in the downtracks are so deep that the roller a does not touch; but when the sled reaches the curve at the lower portion of the course the roller a then bears on the bottom of the groove in the center guide, D.

On the bottom of the sled is also fitted a device, Fig. 8, for the hooks on the endless belt M to take into. This device is composed of two metal jaws, 00, attached to a piece of metal, I), which is firmly secured to the sled. These jaws overlap each other at the lower ends, as shown, and are held in position by means of a spiral or other spring, (I. The object of this device is that when in its normal position a hook, coming in contact with it, cannot passby, but carries the device with it untilitcomes into contact with another device, It, (shown in Fig. 9,) which is placed at the top of the return-course, the points 0 e entering the space between the jaws c c, and as the jaws slide over the edges of the plate 5 they are forced open, so as to allow the hook to pass through. The plate S is supported by two standards,f f, secured to the floor of the platform A. These standardsff are far enough apart to allow the endless belt M to pass freely between them.

At the front of the sled I provide a brake, (see Fig. 11 and 12,) which is composed of two clamping jaws, gg, at the end of levers h 71 These levers cross each other-and are pivoted together atj. The outer ends of the levers h h are provided with eyes k, to which is connected the rod m by the bars or links I l. The rod at has a screw-thread, which works'iu the nut 02, so that asthe hand-wheel p is turned in one direction the rod m is raised and the eyes I: 7.- brought closer together. and the jaws g 9 caused to grip the center guide, D, and when the hand-wheel is turned in the opposite direction the jaws g g are opened and pass free of the guide.

. At the back of each of the sleds I place a butter, (shown enlarged in Fig. 10,) the head i being of leather, fitted to a bell-mouth piece, 8, connected to the plate t, which is made to fit and is screwed onto the sled.

Stairs P are provided for access to or from the platform A, and stairs I for access to or from the lower part of the inclined plane.

\Vhenin use a sled is placed on one of the starting-tablesI. Thecorrespondinglever,J,is then operated, which raises the table I to the same angle as the inclined plane. The sled then slides down the grooved ways until it comes to the bottom of the bill, when it turns the curve on the upward incline, which tends to break the velocity. When it reaches the top of the incline itagain descends until it comes into position for a hook on the endless belt M to take into the device on the bottom of the sled, which is thus carried up to thetop of the bill and onto the platform A, when it is disengaged by the device shown at Fig. 9, and the hook is free to pass. The attendant then pushes the sled along the curved guides on the platform to the starting-table, when the journey is again resumed without the occupants being obliged to leave the sled.

Although I have shown three down courses and one return conrse, I would have it understood that any number may be used, and. instead of having the return-course on one side, there might be one on each side or at the center.

The sliders can walk up the stairs P to the platform A, or they can ascend by the stairs P and be drawn up in a sled. A level space of any desirable length may be interposed between the lower end of the main hill and the upward incline before passing upon the curve. Different portions of the bill may be more or less inclined than other portions, if'desirable. A roof or covering may be placed over the platform A, if desired.

vWhat I claim as my invention isl. The combination, with the inclined plane B, of the grooved ways 0 and the side grooves, O (1, as and for the purpose specified.

The combination, with the grooved ways 0, of the center guide, D, as set forth.

3. The combination, with thegrooved ways 0 and side grooves, C C, of a sled or carriage, Q, having runners QQ, provided with feathers g g, which engage with the said side grooves,substantially as shown and described.

4. The brake composed of the clamping-jaws g g, the levers h h, the connecting-links l l, rod m, and haud-wheelp, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a sliding hill, the combination,with the inclined plane 13, provided with grooved ways 0, of a return-way provided with an endless chain or belt havin hooks which engage with loops on the sleds, whereby the sleds, with or without their occupants, are drawn up to the platform A, substantially as specified.

6. The hinged table I, arranged at the top of the incline B, and operated by means of a lever to adjust the said table to the level of the platform A or tilt it to an incline corresponding with the incline plane B, substantially as set forth.

7. In a sliding hill, the combination, with an endless chain or band, M, provided with hooks, of a loop, 0, attached to a sled or carriage, as

- and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with the curved grooved ways of the track, of the beveled friction-rollers, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The hook detacher R, in combination I with the jaws c a, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The wheel or roller (1. on the under part of the sled, in combination with the grooved I 5 guide D, as and for the purpose specified.

11. The sled provided with an attachingloop, a brake, a buffer, and projections or feathers at the outer sides of the runners, as and for the purpose specified. 20

In testimony whereofIhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

J os. H. ADAMS, E. PLANTA.