USRE12377E - Phoio-lirhogbiphhbs - Google Patents

Description

REISSUED AUG. 8, 1905.

W. R. SNYDER.

y ROTARY PLEASURE TOWER.

APPLIOATION FILED IAB. 9, 1905.

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W. R, SNYDER. l

ROTARY PLEASURE TOWER.

APPL'IGATION FILED MAR.9,1905.

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REISSUED AUG. 8. 1905.

W. R. SNYDER. ROTARY PLEASURE TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED IAB.9,1905.

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REISSUED AUG. 8, 1905.V

W. R. SNYDER. ROTARY PLEASURE TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1905.

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REISSUED AUG. 8,l 19.05.

W. R. SNYDER. ROTARY PLEASURE TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MARh9,1905.

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UNITED STATES AIILLIAM SNYDER, OF KIINIBERTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, rI`O REVOLVIN-G AIR SHIP TOWER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY PLEASURE-TOWER.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.v

Ressued Aug, 8, 1905.A

Original No. 750,717, dated January 26, 1904. Application for reissue filed March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249,328.

T0 a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WlLLIAM R. SNYDER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kirnberton, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Pleasure- Towers, of which the following is a full,clear,

curtailed general plan of the tower, indicating the locations of the upright posts, parallel guideways, central driving-shaft, pneumatic brakes, elevating-carriages, and in dotted lines the cornerswhere the swings project. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken on line ma@ of Fig. 5 with parts broken away, showing the top of the tower and one of the elevating-carriages on a level with the lookout-platform, also mechanism for carrying the carriages up and down the tower. Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken on line y y of Fig. 5 of the base of the tower with parts ont away to show the general arrangement of the operating-gear,

track, and flanged wheels. Figs. 3 and 3b are detail Views of the gearing hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the rotating tower, showing the driving-gear, flanged wheels, and in dotted lines the track and supporting-timbers in relation thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base-Hoor lof the tower, showing in section' the upright posts of the tower and in dotted lines the locations of the elevating-carriages in relation thereto. Fig. 6-showsa detail section of one of the four corners of the rotating tower with aA `revolving swing and shaft attached thereto. Fig. 7 is adetail side elevation of one of the elevating-carriages at rest at the base of the rotating tower, showing in dotted lines the inclination and position of the pneumatic cylinder and plunger. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the carriage through line m, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a tension-regulator carrying the lower end of Vthe sprocket-chainv which raises and lowers -the elevating-carriage. is a sectional detail.

vSimilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, and the plural number is used when there is a plurality of parts not shown in the drawings being described.

In the drawings, A is the base-floor, upon vwhich the tower rests, and Bis a vertical driving-shaft which extends the entire height of the tower and is journaled at intervals through- Fig. 10

out its `entire length to cross-beams or diagonal stay-rods b.

C represents an elevating-carriage, one of which is to be located in each guideway between posts D Don each side .of the tower, and c c are Lwire-protected doors to the car- .,riages. Q D and D arethe corner-posts of each of the corner-sections of the tower, D forming the parallel guideways for the carriages,

E represents cross-beams at the top of the tower, Fig. 2, the said beams Ecrossing each other at right angles. From these beams E hangers e are suspended, said hangers having journaled thereon shafts e', carrying gearwheels e, and sprocket-wheels f.

E is a central pinion keyed to driving-shaft B and meshing vwith ygear-wheels e". p

F represents sprocket-chains which extend from the base to the summit of the tower and are driven by shafts e. Only one of the chains .is shown; but each carriage-is equipped in like manner.

Gr is a sheltered lookout-platform at the top of the tower.

H is a connecting-arm located at the base of each elevator-chairand carrying at its top end a wrist-pin t, which is kbolted to the sprocket-chain F, `the said Wrist-pin having a swivel movement. in the end of said connecting arm H.

I is a yoke, Fig. 8, located under the seat J. Said yoke is pivotally journaled at its forked ends r1 beneath the seat J, while its rear extremities embrace a shaft t', which .has

vshaft la.

L represents track-rollers which bear against wooden tracks Z, which tracks are bolted lto the guideposts D, the said rollers L being located at the sides of the carriages.

Z' represents stay-irons bolted to the back of each carriage and bearing loosely against the guide-posts D, the said stay-irons obviating any possibility of outward movement of the carriage, and thus preventing the trackrollers L from jumping olf the track.

M is a plunger securely and rigidly bolted beneath the seat J. The said plunger M when at the bottom of the tower enters an air tube or cylinder M, thus forming a pneumatic brake and providing for gradual landing at the base of the tower and also a safetycushion in case of the remote possibility of the carriage falling to the bottom of the tower. The air-tube M is formed in two parts -a cast socket, which is securely bolted to the base of the tower, its upperthreaded end being iiush with the floor of the tower,

and a tube screwing into said threaded end of the socket and rising above the floor. as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. This permits of theremoval of the upper portion ofthe air-cylinder, if desired.

M" is a petcock at the bottom of the aircylinderM and is used to regulate the resistance of the air.

Suitably fastened to the framework of the tower at its base and in the rear of each carriage is a take-up or tension-regulator, Fig. 9, carrying a sprocket-wheel f', said apparatus being used to regulate the tension of the sprocket-chains. 'As will be seen in Fig.

" 9,' this tension-regulator consists of a sliding bar n, seated in a-chann'el-iron n', said bar n carrying the'sprocket-wheel f. To the base of the sliding`r bar 72, is socketed a screw m, said screw m" passing through a threaded block m', removably bolted to the channeliron n'.

'g is a grip-bolt which is provided with a grip nut g. When'V the` tension of the sprocket-chain F is to be increased or diminished, the grip-nut g is loosened and the screw m is turned in the direction desired, and when this is accomplished the grip-nut is tightened.

The grip-bolt serves totake the strain off of the screw m and holds the sliding bar n rigidly to the channel-iron 'it'.

of frame for suspending the swing-seats is not here shown. Any desirable construction may be used, and the number of revolving swings on the same shaft may be increased as desired.

R represents supporting-beams beneath the tower. Journaled to these beams are track flanged wheels r.

r is a circular track (shown in section in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. t) upon which the track-wheels r run.

9" represents'k'eepers or flanges which are securely bolted to the supporting-beams R. These keepers are situated directly back of the track-wheels and extend downward and then at right angles beneath the wheels and flanges of the track, thus forming a safeguard against the wheels leaving the track.

S is a gear-wheel which is rigidly boltedto the beams of the tower truck or base, and S' is a gear-wheel mounted upon the shaft B. The gear-wheel S' hasa limited movement up and down the shaft, but cannot revolve upon it. This is for'thepurpose of shifting in and out of gear.

s is a pinion keyed to shaft s. This shaft s' transmits the power which revolves the tower, said pinion s meshing with gear-wheel S.

Shaft s may be so arranged as to be thrown out of gear with gear-wheel S and in gear only with gear-wheel S', thus permitting the tower to remain at rest while the shaft is operating the carriages and swings.

T ,is a lever hinged at 15'; The gear-wheel S is supported in the bearing t.

WV is a foot-bearing upon which the lower end of the shaft B revolves.

s" isasleeve through which shaft B passes, 4thus forming a long bearing for the lower end 'of said shaft, stifening it at that point, reducing the vibration upon the gear-wheels, and aiding the shaft B to act as an effective pivotal point around which the tower revolves upon its circular track.

In operation the rotating movement of the tower is imparted by shaft s and pinion s to gear-wheel S. The rotation of shaft B is also effected through pinion s when in gear with gear-wheel S. Shaft B rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation of the tower; but said shaft B may remain at a standstill while the tower continues to rotate. This is effected by slightly lowering the lever T, thus throwing gear-wheel S' out of gear with the pinion s. When shaft B rotates, pinion O, which is meshed with gears 0, revolves the swing-shafts o, of which there are four, revolving the four sets of swings P. The said shaft B also revolves the pinion E', meshing with gear-wheels e", thus revolving shaft@ and sprocket-wheel f. The shaft s can be lowered to move the pinion s out of gear with the gear-wheel S, fixed tothe tower, so that the latter comes to a standstill, while the pinion s is still in engagement with the gear-wheel S', (likewise lowered by lever T,) so that the carriages travel up and down and the swings keep going while the tower is at a standstill, as before described. The sprocket chain travels up land down the tower, carrying the carriage with it by means of the connectingarm H and wrist-pin t. To insure `the safety of the carriages no matter at what position on the tower they may be located in case the sprocket-chain should break, the spring 7c" instantly forces down the yoke I, which has also a tendency to lower by its own gravitation, and throws the grip-clutch K firmly into the wooden track through the medium of the crank-leversy' and j' and it. In case the gripclutches K should prove ineffective the plunger M beneath the seat J when the carriage reaches the bottom will enter the air-cylinder M, thus providing an air-cushion which would lessen the shock Other well-known safety devices may be added as occasion may demand.

It will be understood from the above description that while the tower is rotating the carriages moving up and down the inclined parallel guideways will' travel a vertical spiral course, permitting the passengers to view the surroundings while in transit, and the revolving swings will travel a horizontal spiral course. Thelookout house or platform at the top Lof the tower upon which the passengers land from the elevating-carriages rotates with the tower, permitting the passengers to view the surroundings without changing their positions.

There are to be four elevating-carriagesone at each of the four sides of `the tower-and while two of the carriages are ascending two will be descending. The carriages may hold two or more persons.

The tower may be built to any height required and which the strength of materials may permit, and the exact construction of the tower-trusses may be varied without depar- 'turefrom the spirit of the invention. For instance, three upright posts at each ofthe four corners may be lused if found lstrong enough for the height of the tower which may be erected. Further, the structural iron used in the upright posts and braces may be of any form tubular or angles-most suited to the purpose, and no attempt is intended in the drawings to regulate this feature.

It will be readily understood that the swings at each corner of the tower may be sets of four or more revolving upon each shaft.

1t is obvious that the entire tower would be under the control of a competent engineer stationed below.

What I claim isl. A rotating' tower having a pluralityof sides, provided with inclined guideways, ele

vvating-carriages mounted to travel up and down in said guideways while the tower is rotating, and a ycircular track upon which the ytower -rotates as described. Y

2. A tower having a plurality of sides, a

`corners of the tower, and horizontal shafts diverging from a central vertical driving-shaft within the tower and upon which the swings revolve as described.

4. A tower, a circular track upon which the tower rotates, elevating-carriages arranged to travel up anddown the sides of the tower, revolving swings projecting from each of the extreme corners of the tower, and a sheltertop and lookout-house upon the summit of the tower, vsaid lookout-house rotating with the tower, asA shown and described.

5. In combination with a rotating tower, 'a central vertical driving-shaft extending from the base to the top of the tower, a shifting gear-wheel upon the lower end of said shaft beneath the floor of the tower, a horizontal power-shaft beneath the floor of the tower and provided with a pinion with which said gear-wheel is adapted to be thrown inand out of mesh, means for shifting said gear-wheel,

and a cog-wheel bolted to the tower beneath the base, said cog-wheel meshing with the said pinion upon the power-shaft, as yshown and described. y

6. A rotating tower having a vertical central driving-shaft extending from the base to the top of the tower, a pinion on said shaft at an intermediate point between the base and top of the tower, a plurality of gear-wheels meshing i with said pinion, horizontal shafts diverging from the center of the tower and carrying said gear-wheels, and revolving swings carried directly by said shafts, as shown and described.

7. A rotating tower,having avertical central driving-shaft extending from the base to the top of the tower, a pinion at the upper endof said shaft, a plurality of cog-gears with which said pinion meshes, a plurali-ty of horizontal shafts disposed at right angles to each other, and carrying said cog-gears, sprocket-wheels mounted on the shafts at the outer ends thereof, endless sprocket-chains carried by said sprocket-wheels, sprocket-wheels at the base of the tower around vwhich said sprocket-chains pass, said sprocket-w heels being each mounted upon a tension-block and elevating-'carriages adapted to move up and down in guideways on the tower and connected with the said sprocketchains, as described. v

8. A rotating tower having inclined guideways, a plurality of elevating-carriages each adapted to be moved up and down one o f said inclined guideways, .an-endless sprocket-chain for moving each carriage, a' connecting-arm,I

a wrist-pin secured to the sprocket-chain and having a swivel connection with the upper end of the connecting-arm, and a supportingyoke having a shaft to which the lower end of the connecting-arm is pivotally joined, the said yoke terminating at its forked yends in pivotal bearings beneath the carriage-seat, substantially as shown and described.

-9. A rotating tower having inclined guideways, a plurality of elevating-carriages, each carried up and down one of said guideways, an endless sprocket-chain carrying each of said carriages, a connecting-arm. a wrist-pin connecting the upper end of said arm to the sprocket-chain, a yoke having a shaft end pivotally connected to said connecting-arm,

.said yoke being provided with forked ends having pivotal bearing beneath the carriageseat, a spring having its free end situated i above and engaging the shaft end of said yoke,

a crank-lever pivotally attached to the side of said yoke, a clutch shaft with the endA of which the said lever is rigidly connected, and

an eccentrically-disposed tooth-clutch attached to the outer end of said shaft, the said clutch being adapted to engage with the wooden track of the guideway, should the sprocketchain break, as set forth.

10. A rotating tower, a circular track upon vwhich said tower rotates, a central vertical driving-shaft for said tower, a sleeve passing through the floor and base of the tower for receiving the lower part of said vertical shaft Vand formingalong bearing for the same, andv a foot-.bearing for receiving the lower end ofV the vertical shaft, as shown and described.

, 11. A rotating tower having inclined sides provided with guideways, and a plurality of elevating-carriages adapted to travel up and down said inclined sidesin said guideways,`

the said elevating-carriages in their transit,

i while the tower is rotating, describing a vertical cone-sbaped spiral, and revolving swings diverging from the corners of the tower, the` said swings while revolving describing a horizontal circular spiral when the tower vis rotating, as described.

12. A pleasure-tower, flanged wheels carried at the base of the tower, a circular track upon which the wheels run and keepers at therevolving swings diverging from the corners` of the tower, said elevating-carriages and revolving swings being adapted to remain at rest or to be in motion while the tower revolves, or while the tower is stationary, as

described.

14. A rotating tower having a vertical central driving-shaft extending fromr the base to the top of the tower, a pinion at the upper end of the shaft, a plurality of horizontal shafts disposed at right angles to each other and provided with gear-wheels meshing with saidk pinion, a plurality of elevating-carriages arranged to travel up and down the sides of said tower, means actuated from the said horizontal shafts for moving said carriages, a pinion on said vertical driving-shaft at a point between the base and top of the tower, horizontal shafts driven from said pinion and revolving swings carried by said shafts, as set forth.

15. A rotating tower having a central vertical driving-shaft, extending from the base to lthe top of the tower, pinions on said shaft,

elevating-carriages mounted to travel up and down in guideways in the sides of the tower, revolving swings projecting from the tower, and means for actuating the said carriages and swings from the said pinions on the vertical driving-shaft, as set forth.

16. A rotating tower having a plurality of sides, provided with guideways, elevating-carriages mounted to travel up and down in said guideways while the tower is rotating, and a circular track upon which the tower rotates, as described. y

17. A rotating tower provided with upright guideways on its exterior, an elevating-carriage mountedl to travel up and down said guideways, and means for simultaneously rotating the tower and moving said carriage up and down.

18. In combination, a tower provided with iguideways, carriages adapted to move up and down thereon, mechanism for simultaneously rotating the tower and operating the carriages, and means whereby the tower may be permitted to rest while the carriages continue to move, or vice versa.

1,9. In combination, a tower provided with guideways, carriages adapted to move up and down thereon, mechanism whereby the tower is rotated simultaneously with the vertical movement of the carriages, and means whereby the carriages may be held at rest while the tower continues to rotate.

20. In combination, a rotary platform or I table carrying a tower structure, observationcars adapted to move up and down on the tower structure, mechanism for simultaneously rotating the tower and its platform and vertically moving the carriages, and safety dash-pot devices carried by the rotary table so as to rotate therewith.

2l. In combination, al rotary table or platform carryinga tower structure, carriages adapted to move up and down thereon, means for simultaneously rotating the platform and operatin g the carriages, and safety devices for each carriage consisting of a socket secured in said table below each carriage, an extensiontube removably secured in said socket, and a piston carried by each carriage and adapted to enter said extension-tube, for the purpose set forth.

22. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotary tower, an observation-car in the nature of an elevator, and means for moving said car up and down the tower, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a rotating tower, guideways secured upon the exterior of the tower, and observation-cars mounted to travel up and down the exterior of the tower upon said guideways, substantially as described.

24. The combination with a continuouslyrotating tower, having elevator-cars, of a rotating platform from which the ears may be loaded and unloaded without stopping the tower, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a rotating` platform, of a tower having an elevator-car and mounted upon the platform to rotate therewith, the elevator-car having a landing upon the platform at which the passengers may enter and leave the car without interfering with the rotary movement, substantially as described.

26. The combination with a rotating platform and a tower mounted upon the platform to rotate therewith, of elevator-cars mounted to travel up and down the tower and arranged to land upon the platform, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a rotating tower, of an elevator-car, means on the tower for raising and lowering the elevator-car," and a rotating platform from which` the car may be loaded and unloaded without stopping the tower, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this'lSth day of January, 1905.

WM. R. SNYDER. Witnesses:

CHARLES D. DAVIS, UTLEY E. CRANE, Jr.

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