AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE HAVING A ROTATABLE, SWIVELLING AND TILTABLE RIGID GONDOLA

Abstract: An amusement device comprising two supporting columns (21, 22) with a carrier arm (27, 28) mounted on each column (21, 22) by means of a horizontal rotation shaft (25, 26) so as to be drivable for rotation thereon. The two carrier arms (27, 28) are rotatable in substantially parallel planes, each carrier arm (27, 28) extending on either side of the associated rotation shaft (25, 26), with a counterweight (29, 30) mounted on the one end and a three-dimensional rotation joint (33, 34) mounted on the other end for attachment to one end of the gondola (35). The arrangement is such that the gondola (35) is carried on each end by a separate carrier arm (27, 28). A joint (36) mounted in at least one of the two carrier arms (27, 28) is in such a manner that the gondola-carry­ ing arm portion (32) swivels about a shaft perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft (26).

Description: This invention relates to an amusement device having two supporting columns with a carrier arm mounted on each supporting column by means of a horizontal rotation shaft for rotating and driving purposes, said two carrier arms being rotatable in substantially parallel planes, each carrier arm extending on either side of the associated rotation shaft with a counterweight mounted on the one end and a three-dimensional rotation joint on the other end for attachment to one end of a gondola in such a manner that the gondola is carried on each end by a separate carrier arm and further comprising adjusting means in such a manner that, on mutually asynchronous drive of the shafts, the gondola is capable of performing any associated combined rotating, swivelling and tilting movement. A similar device is known and is used in a stationary arrangement in recreation parks. Owing to the possible mutu­ ally asynchronous drive of the carrier arms, the gondola is capable of performing spectacular rocking, rotating, swivelling and tilting movements, thereby rousing maximum feelings of excitement in the occupants of the gondola. In the known devices, the gondola is of two-part design. The two gondola parts can slide towards and away from one another by means ofa sliding mechanism connecting the gondola parts. Such a sliding movement is necessary for taking up the variations in distance between the points of attachment of the two carrier arms to the gondola during the various movements of the gondola. Such a telescopic gondola with a sliding mechanism has a number of drawbacks, the first being that the sliding mechanism is to be mounted in the centre of the gondola. However, the gondola centre is precisely one of the most heavily loaded parts of the entire construction, so that the sliding mechanism should be heavy and rigid. This require­ ment applies all the more as owing to the extension of the gondola, the weight load exerted by the gondola's occu­ pants comes to lie more outwards from the centre of the gondola. As a result, the sliding mechanism will be loaded still more heavyly. A second drawback connected with the extension of the gondola is that the gondola will get out of balance more quickly by virtue of this extensi . Therefore, allow­ ance should be made continuously, when allocating seats, for a well-balanced weight distribution over the gondola. This is highly unpractical, since such devices are used mostly by groups, with the group members preferably wishing to sit next to each other, which is not always possible in the known devices. A third drawback is that the heavy and rigid sliding mechanism should be provided with corresponding guide means. Between the sliding portions and the guide means, there should be sufficient clearance to take up deformations of the gondola. On the other hand, this clearance is highly undesirable, as it greatly increases the chance that the sliding portions will be pulled out-of-square in the guide means. This may result in seizure of the gondola, with all disastrous results of that. The prior device is not quite reliable in this respect. A fourth drawback is that objects and even parts of the body of occupants or others may get jammed between the two portions of the gondola as they telescope together. Finally, a fifth drawback is that the prior device, owing to the heavy construction of the gondola, should be of heavy and rigid construction throughout. Such a heavy construc­ tion cannot be made both mobile and reliable, but notably requires a solid and stable foundation. Its use remains therefore restricted to stationary arrangements in amusement parks. The known device is not suitable as a mobile funfair attraction. It is an object of the present invention to remove the above drawbacks. To this end, a device according to the present invention is characterized in that the adjusting means comprise a joint mounted in at least one of the carrier arms in such a manner that the gondola-carrying arm portion is pivotal about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft. Some embodiments of the invention will now be de­ scribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a side view of a known machine; Fig.2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig.3 is a top view of the apparatus of Fig.2 with 90° phase difference; Fig.4a diagrammatically shows a joint in a carrier arm; Fig.4b is a part-sectional detail view of the joint of Fig.4a; and Fig.5 shows a ball joint for attachment of the gondola to a carrier arm. The known machine shown in Fig.1 comprises two columns 1,2 with a carrier arm 3,4 mounted on each column. The two carrier arms 3,4 are mounted for rotation on the columns through shaft 5,6. Said shafts 5,6 may be driven for example mutually asynchronously. The two shafts 3,4 are provided on one end with a counterweight 7,8. The other end of the shaft 3,4 is connected to one end of the gondola 11 by means of joints 9,10. Gondola 11 comprises two portions 12.13 interconnected through a sliding mechanism 14. This construction allows the gondola to perform within certain limits random rotating, swivelling and tilting movements in a cylindrical, three-dimensional space defined by the carrier arms during rotation. The embodiment of a device according to the present invention shown in Fig.2 also has two columns 21,22. Column 22 is arranged at an acute angle to the connecting line between the bases of the two columns. On top of the two columns are mounted drive motors 23,24 e.g. electric motors, which are adapted to drive horizontal shafts 25,26. Mounted on said shafts are carrier arms 27,28 each being provided on one end with a counterweight 29,30. Carrier arm 27 is rigid in this case, whereas carrier arm 28 has a joint 36, mounted at the level of rotation shaft 26, is designed in such a manner that the portion 31 of the carrier arm provided with the counterweight is rotatable in a stationary plane substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of carrier arm 27. However, portion 32 of the carrier arm which, jointly with one end of carrier arm 27, carries a gondola 35, is pivotal about a horizontal axis defined by joint 36, said axis being perpendicular to rotation shafts 26. Gondola 35 is connected to carrier arms 27,28 through three-dimensional joints 33,34. With a mutually synchronous drive of the two motors 23,24, the two carrier arms will swing or rotate about rotation shafts 25,26 from the step-in position of Fig.1 in parallel and in-phase relationship. The gondola 35 suspended between the carrier arms will then proceed to swing or rotate with the top surface of the gondola remaining horizontal. When the two motors rotate mutually asynchronously the carrier arms will get out-of-phase with one another. Depending upon the control of the two motors and within certain limits the gondola between the carrier arms can be caused to perform any combined swinging, rotating, swivel­ ling and tilting movement. The pivoting arm portion 32 ensures in that case that no differences in distance occur between the two attachments of the carrier arms to the gondola. A specific situation wherein the pivoting arm 28 has rotated through 180° is shown in thin lines in Fig.2. The gondola then is at an acute angle to the horizontal. Another instantaneous situation is shown, also in thin lines in Fig.3. In this case, the two shafts have rotated through 90°, but in opposition phase. In the step-in position in Fig.2, the swivelling arm portion 32 is placed at an angle to the vertical. This position defines the outermost swivel position of the arm portion 32. The innermost swivel position of the arm portion 32 occurs when the pivoting arm has rotated from the step-in position through 180°, whereas the carrie arm 27 has remained in the step-in position. By swivelling the arm portion 32, this will in general not be in alignment with the station­ ary arm portion 31. As a result, the load of the construction becomes more unfavorable and the more so as the acute angle between the swivelling arm portion 32 and the stationary arm portion 31 is larger. The load of the construction can be optimized by making it such that the swivelling arm portion 32 encloses the same acute angle to the station­ ary arm portion both in the innermost and the outermost swivel position. This acute angle, and hence also the angle which the swivelling arm portion 32 makes with the stationary arm portion 31 in the step-in position, depends upon the other dimensions of the construction, such as the length of the gondola and the length of the carrier arms. In order to be able to place the swivelling arm portion in the step-in position at an angle, it is desirable to place column 22 carrying the pivoting arm 28 also at an angle. It will be clear for that matter that within the scope of the present invention it is not necessary for the swivelling arm portion and the column to be placed at an angle to the vertical. A swivelling arm portion directed vertically in the step-in position and a vertical column, as in the known machines, will be quite satisfactory. The adjustment of the gondola position to the position of the carrier arms is entirely taken up with, and enable by, the combination of the joints between the gondola and the carrier arms and the joint in the carrier arm. The joints between gondola and carrier arms should permit a three-dimensional relative rotation. To this end, universal joints or ball joints are highly suitable. Fig. 5 shows a ball joint 50 which is adjustable, with the ball 51 being rotatable in the bearing parts 52,53. Bearing parts 52,53 are mounted in the bearing housing 54 so as to be slidable and fixable therein. The bearing housing is mounted in either of the carrier arms 27,32. The swivelling range of the ball joint can be adjusted by shifting the bearing parts 52,53 in the bearing housing. Mounted on the ball joint is a mounting arm 55 for the gondola. Fig.4 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a joint for the pivoting carrier arm. Mounted on rotation shaft 26 which is connected to motor 24, is the stationary arm portion 31. Extending radially through rotation shaft 26 is a pivot pin 41 fixed relative to shaft 26. On said pivot pin 41 is mounted fork portion 44 of the end of the swivel­ ling arm portion 32, by means of bearings 42,43 for taking up radial forces. It will be clear that a similar construction is mounted at the radially opposite end of shaft 26 and at the other end of shaft 41. On shaft 41 are also mounted, on either side of fork portion 44, two bearings 45,46 for taking up radial forces. It is observed that various modifications of the device described will readily occur to one skilled in the art. For instance, the columns may be placed in off-set relationship and be provided adjacent the foundation with a fixable joint so that the columns can be swung down one along the other on to the foundation. This construction can be moved in a simple manner and is quite well usable in mobile fashion due to this arrangement and partly owing to the relatively light construction, e.g. as mobile funfair attraction. Such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: 1. Amusement device comprising two supporting columns with a carrier arm mounted on each column by means of a horizontal rotation shaft so as to be drivable for rotation thereon, said two carrier arms being rotatable in substantial­ ly parallel planes, each carrier arm extending on either side of the associated rotation shaft, with a counterweight mounted on the one end and a three-dimensional rotation joint mounted on the other end for attachment to one end of the gondola, the arrangement being such that the gondola is carried on each end by a separate carrier arm, and further comprising adjusting means such that, upon mutually asynchro­ nous drive of the shafts, the gondola is capable of performing any associated combined rotating, swivelling and tilting movement, characterized in that said adjusting means comprise a joint mounted in at least one of the two carrier arms in such a manner that the gondola-carrying arm portion swivels about a shaft perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft. 2. An amusement device according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint is mounted in the carrier arm at the level of the rotation shaft, and that the counterweight-carry­ ing arm portion is rotatable in a stationary plane substan­ tially perpendicular to the rotation shaft. 3. An amusement device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the swiveling arm portion, in the outermost swivel position, with the gondola in the vertically lowest position,is placed at an acute angle to the vertical. 4. Amusement device according to claim 3, characterized in that the swiveling carrier arm portion is placed at an angel to the vertical that is as large as the angle of the swivelling carrier arm portion, in an innermost swivel position, to the vertical. 5. An amusement device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the column carrying the pivoting carrier arm is positioned at an acute angle to the vertical and that this acute angle is larger that the acute angle between the swivelling arm portion and the vertical. 6. An amusement device according to claims 1-5, charac­ terized in that the pivoting carrier arm comprises a portion affixed to the rotation shaft and carrying the counterweight, and a gondola-carrying swivelling arm portion swivelling about a fixed pivot pin extending radially through the rotation shaft. 7. An amusement device according to claim 6, character­ ized in that the end of the swivelling arm portion remote from the gondola terminates in a two-prong fork, with the prongs being mounted for rotation on the pivot pin. 8. An entertainment apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the forks are mounted on the pivot pin by means of radial and/or axial bearings. 9. An entertainment apparatus according to claims 1-7, characterized in that the joint in the pivoting carrier arm is provided with means limiting the angle of swivel.

Inventors: KNIJPSTRA, HETTE
Applicants: KNIJPSTRA KONSTRUKTIE B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A63G27
IPC codes: A63G27, A63G9