US716755A - Amusement apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 716,755. v Patented Dec. 23, |902.

E. F. PORTER.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

(Application led Feb. 17', 1902A 3 Sheds-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

WTHESEEE:

Patented nec. 23,1902.

un. nef/'55.

f F. PORTER.

AMUSEMENTAAPPARATUS.

@Application med Feb. 17, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Medel.)

No. 716,755; Pa'tnted nec..2a, |902.

`-|-:.- F. PORTER. y

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

(Applakion led Feb. 17, 1902.) 4 we mman.) l A 3 sheets-sheet' 3.

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EDWIN E. PORTER., OF DOROHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO- THIRDS TO ARTHUR. G. WELLMAN, OF WINOHESTER, AND WILLIAM H. BRYANT, OF REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AM-Usi-:MEN'T APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,755, dated December 23, 1902.

Application tiled February 17, 1902. Serial No. 94,355. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom t may con/067%:- said platform and a gate in said fence, said 5o Be it known -that I, EDWIN E. PORTER, a gate constituting a switch arranged to make subject of the King of Great Britain, residing and break an electric circuit operatively conat Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and `nected withY the motor in the car; and, fur- State of Massachusettahave invented newl ther, the invention consists in attaching to and useful Improvements in Amusement .Apsaid gate a hooked stop which is so arranged paratus, of which the followingis a speciiicaas to engage and look the car in a fixed position. I tion when the gate is open and the circuit This invention relates to an amusement ap` broken. ro paratus, and more especially toV that class of The invention finally consists in the coinamusement apparatus in which a series of bination and arrangement of parts set forth 6o cars or carriages of any desired shape and dein the following specification and particularlyv sign are supported uponarotary carrier-frame pointed out in the claims thereof.

and eacli car supplied with means for apply- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a 15 ing power in order that the saine may be rofront elevation of my improved amusement tated together with said carrier-frame. apparatus, the same being shown as con- The object of the invention is to provide, in structed with four cars; but this number may an apparatus of the character described, a beincreased or diminished without-departing strong, durable, and safe apparatus in which from Vthe spirit of my invention. Fig. 2 is a zo the carsV or carriages not only are supplied detail plan of the platform of the apparatus,

with means by which the riders may propel together with the four cars, showingsaid cars 7o the saine in a circular path, but are also sov locked in position and the gates upon the four constructed that they may be' swung outmain supports of the framework being shown Wardly from said carrier-frame center by cenopen. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed plan of 25 trifugal force as the carrier-frame increases one of the cars, together with a portion ofthe its speed of rotation. By graduating the platform and the fencesurrounding said platspeed of the niotor the occupants of the car form, with one-'of the gates shown open and may vary the path of said car from a perfect the means connected to said gate locking the circle to a curvilinear path, and thus impart car in position. Fig. 4 is a diagram View of 3o variety tothe amusement and produce somethe electrical connections whereby power is what the sensation of flying experienced in supplied to an electric motor carried by said 8o flying through the air. car. Fig. 5 is a plan view, upon a reduced The invention consists, in an apparatus of scale, of the carrier-frame shown in Fig. 1. the character described, ofa carrier-frame ar- Like numerals refer to like parts through- `5 ranged to rotateinahorizontal plane, aswingout the several views ofY the drawings.

ing frame pivotally suspended from beneath In the drawings, 10 is a vertical framework, 85 said carrier-frame in such a manner as to4 preferably constructed of angle-iron cornerswing radially outward therefrom, a car fast supports 11 11, joined together by braces 12 to said swinging frame, a motor carried by` 12 and having a horizontal platform 13 sur 4o said car, and a cylindrical platform located rounding the same and provided with stairinside the path of rotation of and arranged ways le 14, by which said platform is reached 9o to contact with said car and forming a brakfrom the ground. In the center of the frame ing means. 10 is provided a vertical shaft 15, which is The invention again consists in certain arranged to rotate in bearings 16 16 and in a 45 novel means for stopping and locking the car pedestal-bearing 17. The bearings 16 16 are in a xed position to said platform. preferably roller-bearings and the pedestal- The invention again consists in the instrubearing 17 a ball-bearing to reduce theV fricmentalities set forth, in combination with a tion. fence located upon and extending around A carrier-frame 1S is fastened to the upper end of the shaft 15. Said carrier-frame is preferably constructed of iron or steel and is cylindrical, provided with an annular ange 19, and being strengthened and rendered perfectly firm by stay-rods 20. The swinging frames 21 are pivotally supported upon the iiange 19 of said carrier-frame, as shown in Fig. 1. The said swinging frames 21 are preferably constructed of two wire ropes, cables, or rods 22 22, which cross each other diagonally and are joined together at the crossingpoint by a fastening 23 of any desired construction. The upper ends of the rods 22 are each formed with an eye 24, said eyes being supported in staples 25, fast to the ange 19. It will be noted that the staples 25 are equidistant from the center of the carrier-frame 18 and that they are so arranged and located with relation to the eyes 24 that while. said swinging frames can swing outwardly from their normal position (shown in Fig. 1)-viz., in a vertical plane tangential to said carrierframe, as shown in dotted lines-said frames cannot swing tangentially to said carrierframe, being supported upon their upper ends n pon the staples 25 at two points a considerable distance apart. Each of the swinging frames 2l has a car or carriage 26, rigidly fastened thereto by supporting-braces 27. The cars 26 are each provided with an electric motor 28, which imparts a rotary motion to a fanpropelling wheel 29. Said motor is electrically connected through the swinging frames 21, carrier-frame 18, and frameworklO to a dynamo or other source of electric power, as hereinhefore described. Themotors 28 are arranged to be operated by an attendant from the platform 13, and the rapid rotation imparted by said electric motors to the propel- 1ers 29 forces the several cars in a curvilinear path in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. Normally, as hereinbefore set forth, the

swinging frames 21 will hang suspended in a vertical plane tangential to the carrier-frame 18; but as the speed of rotation of thecarrier-frame increases the swinging frames and the cars carried thereby will be swung outward radially from the center of said carrier-frame to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the motors are slowed up by shutting off the current, the cars, together with the swinging frames, will descend to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, the sides of said cars coming in contact with the periphery of the platform 13, which will assist in stopping the cars through friction with the periphery of said platform, and, moreover, at each of the points where it is desired that the car should stop a slight projection 30 is provided withinclined ends 31 and preferably covered with leather 32 to increase the friction between said platform and the side of said car.

Around the platform 13, near the periphery thereof, is provided a fence 33. Said fence is provided with rotary gates 34, one gate being provided for each car. Said gates are fast to a rotary shaft 35, which projects beneath the platform 13 and has fastened thereto a hooked stop-arm 36, arranged to engage an arm 37, rigidly fastened to the car and provided witha hole 38, through which said hooked arm projects when the car is in the proper position, and thus positively locks said car in Iposition when the gate is open. This gate and lock form a safety device, and as an raditional means of safety each of the gates is in electric circuit with the wires connecting the different motors to the dynamo and constitute switches so arranged that when the gates are open, or any of them, the electric circuit is broken and when all are closed the electric circuit is made.

The wires forming the electric circuit are illustrated in diagram in Fig. 4, in which the wire 39 passes from the dynamo or battery through a brush 40 to the shaft 15 and thence through the carrier-frame 18, swinging frame 21, and wire 47 to the motor 28, returning through the wire 41, brush 42, wire 43, wire 44, and through the different switches 45,

`formed by the gates, as hereinbefore described, and wire 46 to the battery or dynamo through which the circuitis completed. Any desired form of switch may be introduced in the electric circuit to make or break the same independent of the switches 45.

The general operation of my improved amusement apparatus is as follows: Assuming the cars to be in the position shown in Figs.1 and2 and the occupants seated therein, an attendant closes each of the gates 34, thus withdrawing the hooked arm 36 from the hole 38in the arm 37 upon the car 26 and completing the electric circuitby means of the switches 45, operated by said gates. The apparatus is now in condition to be started. The attendant completes the circuit with the switch provided for the purpose. The motor rotates the fan-wheels 29, and the cars, togetherwith the carrier-frame 18, are rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. As the speed increases the cars and the swinging frames 2l swing outwardly from the action of centrifugal force, and as the current is shut 0E and the motors stop said cars gradually come to the position shown in Fig. 1, the sides of the cars engaging the incline 3l upon the projections 30, fast to the periphery of the platform 13. As the car approaches the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the attendants throw the gates open and the hooked arm engages the arm 36 upon each of the cars, thus holding and locking the cars in position while the occupants alight therefrom and new occupants enter.

lt is an important feature of my invention that the platform from which the occupant enters the car should be raised above the height of a mans head, and also the cars should be raised so that the lowest portion of the propeller 29 shall not strike any person passing beneath the car. It is rendered especially necessary, on account of the safety IOO IIO

of ,the public, that this feature should be incorporated in apparatus of the nature hereinbefore described,las it is evident thatif the cars were placed near the ground, so that people could step into them, the same would constitute an element of danger, as the cars swing out more or less, as hereinbefore described, owing to centrifugal force. lt is therefore a necessity that the cars should be raised above the height of a nians head, so that they may pass over people standing uponr the ground without causing any injury, and in order to do this l have provided a raised platform 13, so that people may pass under the platform and up the stairway 14 through the opening in the platform, and thus be brought to a height sufficient to step from the platform into the car.

It is evident that the hooked arm for locking the car in a stationary position might be placed upon the car and a fixed arm 37 placed upon the platform or its supports without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim, and desire by Letters Patent to secure, is-- l. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, means to prevent said swinging frame from swinging tangentially in relation to said carrier-frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, and a stop located upon said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said carand lock the same to said stationary platform..

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierfraine in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, means to prevent said swinging frame from swinging tangentially in relation l to said carrier-frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, and a stop piv-l oted upon said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, means to prevent said swinging frame from swinging tangentiallyin relation to said carrier-frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, and a hooked stop pivoted to said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, means to preventsaid swinging frame from swinging langentially in relation to said carrier-frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence located upon the top of said platform and extending therearound, a rotary gate in said fence, and a hooked stop pivoted to said platform, near the periphery thereof, and operated by said gate to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

InV an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a car pivot-ally suspended from beneath said carrier-frame in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, means to prevent said car from swinging tangentially in relation to said carrierframe, a motor carried by said car in electric circuit witha source of power, a platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence located upon the top of said platform and extending therearound, a gate in said fence, said gate constituting a switch in said circuit and arranged to break said circuit when open, and to vmake said circuit when closed.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizont-al plane, a car pivotally suspended from beneath said carrier-frame in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, means to prevent said car from swinging tangenti-ally in relation to said carrierframe, a motor carried by said'car in electric circuit with a source of power, a platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence located upon the top of said platform and extending therearound, a. gate in' said fence, said gate constituting a switch in said circuit and arranged' to break said circuit when open and to make said circuit when closed, and a hooked stop connectedrto and rotated by said gate and arranged to engage and lock said car in a xed position.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swing-4 path of rotation of said car and arranged to contact with said car, and frictional projections fast to the periphery of said platform IIO IZO

and constituting a braking means whereby said car is brought to a stationary position.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, a motor carried by said car, and a cylindrical platform located inside the path of rotation of and arranged to contact with said car and forming a braking means.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal piane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a stop located upon said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said'swinging frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a stop pivoted upon said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

ll. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, a motor carried by said car, a stationary platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, and a hooked stop pivoted to said platform, near the periphery thereof, and arranged to engage said car and lock the same to said stationary platform.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, a motor carried by said car, a platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence extending around said platform, a rotary gate, and a hooked stop connectedy to and rotated by said gate and arranged to engage and lock said bar in a fixed position.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-'frame arranged to rotatein a horizontal plane, a car pivotally suspended from beneath said carrier-frame in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a motor carried by said car in electric circuit with a source of power, a platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence extending around said platform, a gate in said fence, said gate constituting a switch in said circuit and arranged to break said circuit when open, and to make said circuit when closed.

let. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane, a car pivotally suspended from beneath said carrier-frame in such a manner as to swing radially outward therefrom, a motor carried by said car in electric circuit with a source of power, a platform located inside the path of rotation of said car, a fence extending around said platform, a gate in said fence, said gate constituting a switch iu-said circuit and arranged to break said circuit when open and to make said circuit when closed, and a hooked stop connected to and rotated by said gate and arranged to engage and lock said car in a fixed position.

l5. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier-frame arranged to rotate in a horizontalplane, a swinging frame pivotally suspended from beneath said carrierframe in such a manner as to swing radially loutward therefrom, a car fast to said swinging frame, a motor carried by ysaid car, a cylindricalplatform located inside the path of rotation of said car arranged to contact with said car, and frictional projections fast to the periphery of said platform and constituting a braking means whereby said car is brought to a stationary position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED WIN F. PORTER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GooDING, ANNIE J. DAILEY.

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