Patent GB-351368-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to amusement devices
IPC: A63G7/00
Filed: 1930-10-21
Abstract: 351,368. Amusement apparatus. PEEBLES-MEEHAN CO., Bellefonte Crossing, Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Meehan, J. L. ; 2300, Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.A.) Oct. 21, 1930, No. 31582. Convention date, Oct. 26, 1929. [Class 132 (i).] An amusement apparatus comprises a rotary projector provided with latches which temporarily hold passenger vehicles while momentum is being imparted thereto but which may be released so that they may move by their own momentum over a supporting surface. The vehicles 52, Figs. 1 and 14, are attached by links 49 having latching means to a turntable 24 driven by a motor through a clutch and differential gear. Releasing apparatus 86 may be operated from a platform 114 to detach a vehicle which will then pass around the arena a 4 under its own momentum. The means for coupling the cars to the turntable comprises channel-shaped arms 49, Figs. 2 and 5, each of which is provided with a depending bracket 50 carrying wheels 51 running on the floor 16. Within the channel slides a plate 54 having a depending rib 56 working in a slot 55. To the rib 56 is riveted a plate 57 from which depends a pin 58 carrying a roller 59. An angle-piece 61 on the slide 54 carries a longitudinal bolt 62 around which is wound a spring 64 abutting against an angle-plate 63. Links 68 connected through a lostmotion slot 67 to brackets carried by the slide 54 connect it to a bell crank 69 fulcrumed at 70 and connected by an overset link 71 to a latching rod 73 which engages a carriage 52. A hook 77 on the bell crank having a shoulder 78 to engage the bottom of the channel 49 is engaged by a plate 80 slidably mounted in a guide 81 to releasably retain the rod 73 in its upright position. The slides 80, 57 are resiliently connected through a rod 84 surrounded by a spring 85 secured to a bracket 82 on the slide 80 and engaging a bracket 83 on the slide 57. When it is desired to release a vehicle 52 a cam plate 87 is raised in the path of the roller 59 which causes the slide 54 to move withdrawing the plate 80 from the catch 77 and then allowing the link 68 to turn the bell crank 69 until the pin 72 passes the dead centre when the linkage will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 and the car released. The releasing mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 2, 6 and 7 comprises a cam plate 87 mounted to slide in guides 92 and capable of being raised into the path of the rollers 59. The cam plate carries at its upper end a bracket 97 in which is pivoted a trip lever 99 held against it by a torsion spring 98 and formed at the other end with a bevelled head 102. The trip lever, and with it the plate 87, is retained in its elevated position by a rod 104 operated by link work 107 .. 112 from the platform 114. When the cam 87 engages the roller 59 the carriage is unlatched as described above and the roller engages the bevelled head 102 to swing the arm 99 and allowing the plate 87 to drop, thus preventing the next roller 59 from being engaged by the cam. On lowering the rod 104 the spring 100 returns the lever 99 to its place and thus resets the releasing apparatus.