US2864614A

US2864614A - Ferris wheel type amusement ride

Info

Publication number: US2864614A
Application number: US638868A
Authority: US
Inventors: Castille Michel Rene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-02-07
Filing date: 1957-02-07
Publication date: 1958-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-16

Description

Dec. 16, 1958 M. R. CASTILLE 2,854,614

FERRIS WHEEL TYPE AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Michel Rene Casfi/le INVENTOR.

By MM 5% Dec. 16, 1958 M. R. CASTILLE 2,854,614

FERRIS WHEEL TYPE AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 2 Michel Rene Cas/i/le INVENTOR.

States Patent UT WHEEL r rE AMUSEMENT RIDE I MichelRene C'astille, flpelousasrLat Appliea iqn Feb uary 1, 1. eria asse 4 Claims. or. zyz-nss a The present invention generally relates to. an amusement device and more particularly to an' amusement ride specifically adapted for use in conjunction-with amusement parks, carnivals, fairs or other similar orientations in which persons riding the device will enjoy the ride.

simultaneously and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. 1

These together with other objects and advantages Which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the amusement ride device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional View illustrating the mounting of the rotatable frame and other structural details taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of the driving mechanism for rotating the occupant cart about a' generally vertical axis.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the amusement ride device of the present invention. This device generally includes a pair of upright support members 12 having inclined braces 14 forming a supporting base With a power source designated by numeral 16 mounted adjacent thereto which may be any conventional power source such as an electric motor or an internal combustion engine with a suitable clutch mechanism being provided so that the operator of the ride device may properly control the operation thereof.

The details of construction of the vertical upright support members 12 and the braces 14 may be altered for 2,864,614 Pa n ed Dec 16, 958

. I 2 a i r v sp oc e 2. secure i ly t0 e p int of inte section of four radial arms each of which is generally d gn t d y nu er 24- f The a al ar s24. are i urnaled a a e se od 2.6 i n e i a acke or ol ar 28 on, t pri sup.- p members 4- he dr e spro k t, 2 may att e d t th a m y ui a le fastening bolts 0 w h the p eeke 2.2 e n n. al nmen w th a p ock dr ven t a n th p wer sou ce 6, w ereby h ra a nuns. 24 may be caused to rotate about the transverse rod 26 which is stationary. The arms 24 may be journaled on herei 2. b suit hear ngs 32 and. preve ted from en itusiina .nqoven n the s a ion y od 2.6 by n su ta l inean su h. as cellar er t ke Mounted ati ar ly o the s atinnary red 26 s a a o ry r 34 hich s. elative y la ge n diamete and i lus a ed asi'h ins l sn sed tidi eent s de f th amu emen ed device although it maybe disposed in the middle thereof e apurpns'e descr ed he einsi et- Each of t e adia arms. 2 ener lly ncl de a hai Qt paced paralle a 3.5 i te nheet d by an end m m er 36- "Di peser i en r y ent a y o th ails 5. is a tren e ha t 3.8. ha in id er gea .0 ionrnaled theree w th theidle ea be n in meshin e a e.- Inen w th he nlar ed s erf l- D sp sed exter q iy' .ef the transverse shaft 38 is'a second transverse shaft 42 having an enlarged gear 44 journaled thereon which is in meshing engagement with the idler gear 40- whereby the enlarged gear 44 will be rotated on the shaft 42. Mounted on the enlarged gear 44 is a laterally extending bracket 46 having a right angular bracket 48 attached thereto, the vertical leg thereof being disposed inwardly. Rotatably mounted on the horizontal leg is a vertical rotating stub shaft 50 having a chair or occupant cart 52 mounted on the upper end thereof with the central portion of the shaft 50" having a bevel gear 54 thereon. The bevel gear 54 is in meshing engagement with a similar beveled gear 56 mounted on the end of a shaft 58 journaled in the vertical leg of the perpendicular bracket 48 and held in rotatable position by collar means 60. An enlarged bevel gear 62 is secured to the stationary shaft 42 and is in meshing engagement with a bevel gear 64 on the shaft 58 which extends substantially to the shaft 42 and is journaled in a collar 66 as clearly shown in Figure 4.

In operation of the device, rotation of the arms 24 I about the stationary shaft 26 will cause the small idler permitting a construction which may be easily disas- A chain drive is illustrated as including an. endless chain drive 18 driven from the power source 16 and provided with idler sprockets 20 together with an enlarged gears 40 to roll about the stationary gear 34 which in turn willcause rotation of the outer enlarged gears 44 so that the carts or chairs 52 will always be maintained in an upright position while they revolve about an axis formed by the shaft 42 on the enlarged gear 44 and at the same time revolve about an axis formed by shaft 26. As the gear 44 revolves about the stationary shaft 42, the stationary gear 62 will cause rotation of the shaft 58 thus rotating the chairs or carts 52 about a vertical axis formed by the vertical supporting shaft 50. Thus, the occupants in the chairs or carts 52 will revolve about the center of the shaft 26 at the same time as'they are revolving about the center of the shaft 42 and rotating about a vertical axis formed by vertical shaft 50.

The

meshing gears

34, 40 and 44 may be moved'to the central portion of their respective shafts and carts or chairs 52 may be mounted on both sides of the outermost gears 44 for increasing the riding capacity of the device and wherever necessary, thrust collars may be positioned by suitable setscrews for orientating the mechanism in the proper position for driving. Also, various anti friction type bearings may be employed with suitable lubrication means for reducing the wear at wear points and increasing the life of the device while reducing the power necessary to drive the same.

The device may be provided with entrance and exit ass-gem steps or platform means 68 for facilitating the entry and exit of persons riding the device. The transverse end members 36 may be eliminated since the

rods

38 and 42 will generally rigidity the construction sufficiently and this will enable better access to the chairs or carts. It is also pointed out that the chair or carts may be provided with any acceptable safety'bar, strap or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly jjall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An amusementride device comprising upstanding support members, a transverse r'od mounted stationarily thereon, a stationary gear mounted on said transverse rod, a plurality of radially extending arm assemblies rotatably mounted on said transverse rod, means for rotating said arm assemblies about the transverse rod, an enlarged gear rotatably mounted on each radially extending, arm, an occupant cart rigidly mounted on said enlarged gear to rotate therewith, an idler gear in meshing engagement with the stationary gear and the enlarged gear for driving the enlarged gear as the radial arms rotate so as to maintain said occupant cart upright, and means for rotating the occupant chair about a vertical axis during movement of the arms and the enlarged gear thus providing rotation of the occupant about a vertical axis while the occupant is revolving about the stationary rod and the rotational axis of the enlarged gear.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for driving the occupant cart includes a stationary bevel gear, a radially extending drive shaft having a driven bevel gear mounted thereon in engagement with the stationary bevel gear, a pair of bevel gears interconnecting said drive rod and said cart for rotating the cart upon rotational movement of the enlarged gear.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cart is mounted on an L-shaped bracket, said bracket journalling said driverod, said cart having a support shaft journaled on said bracket, one of said interconnecting pair of bevel gears being mounted on said support shaft.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said stationary bevel gear is mounted on a non-'rotative shaft extending UNITED STATES PATENTS 900,820 Becker Oct. 13, 1908 1,640,038 Johnson Aug. 23, 1927 2,437,000 McBride Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 409,620 Great Britain May 3, 1934