Improvements in Roundabouts or Merry-go-rounds.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1898
Improvements in Roundabouts or Merry-go-rounds.
I, ARTHUR METHERINGHAM, of Chilwell, in the County of Nottingham,
Lace Manufacturor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in roundabouts or merry-go-rounds for
public amusement.
In carrying out this invention the base of the roundabout may be formed by an
annular platform arranged at a suitable height from the ground. This platform inay
be supported on wheels mounted on axles carried in suitable bearings on its underside
and running ou a circular track or tracks carried by an under framing, or be
supported in the manner liereinafter described.
Mounted loosely on a central pillar which may be formed by, or be used as a
smoke stack for the boiler, is a boss or framing, and radiating from this boss or
framing are preferably four horizontal fixed shafts. The outer ends of these shafts
are supported in pillars or columns secured near the outer edge of the annular
platform, and these pillars may be carried to a suitable height above the ends of
the shaft so as to form a support for a framing to carry a cover or awning.
Mounted loosely on each of the radial fixed shafts, which are arranged a suitable
height above the annular platform is a boss or framing provided preferably with
two pair of arms of a suitable length placed diametrically opposite to each other,
the outer ends of each pair of arms are connected by a shaft or stay and suspended
from this stay is a car, boat or other vehicle. The boss or framing together with.
the arms and cars are rotated in a vertical plane round the radial fixed shaft ns:
the said shaft is moved round the central pillar, by an arrangement hereinafter
described.
If preferred flanged wheels may be also mounted on the fixed radial shafts,
preferably on the inner side of the framings for carrying the cars, and a raised
circular track employed for the said wheels to run upon and support the shafts,
and the annular platform connected thereto, this track may be carried by pillars
secured to the underframing on the inner side of the annular platform.
This arrangement may be employed in addition to or instead of the track on the
underside of the annular platform.
The cars and annular platform are rotated round the central column by means
of a portable engine preferably placed in the space in the centre of tho annular
platform. Motion may be communicated from the engine to the cars and annular
platform by a vertical shaft provided at the upper end with a pinion engaging with
a toothed wheel secured to the radial shaft or the ceutral framing to which the,
said shafts are secured.
In addition to their movement round the central column the cars rotate about
the horizontal radial shafts and this movement may be communicated to them in
the following manner.
Above each fixed radial shaft and parallel thereto is a shaft carried in bearings
secured preferably to the upper framing for carrying the awning, the inner ends of
these shafts are provided with 'toothed wheels which engage with a fixed toothed,
wheel on the central column; the outer eads of the shafts are each connected to
its respective rotating framing on the liorizontal radial shafts, by chain or toothed,
gearing
mi.
"

page_text: By this arrangement as the cars are rotated round the central column they also
receive a rotary movement round the radial shafts and the relative speed of the
two movements may be regulated by means of the gearing.
In order to provide a ready means of access to both cars in each set at the same
time, a raised annular fixed platform may be arranged outside the moveable
platform, this platform may be fixed at a height which corresponds to that of the
cars when they are level with each other, steps being provided to give access to the
platform.
Or if preferred independent platforms and stops may be provided for each car,
and be secured to the pillar or columus for supporting the ends of the radial fixed
shafts and rotate thorewith, or raised platforms may be constructed on the annular
platform between each set of care at the same height-as the annular raised platform
previously described, and be provided with gangways that may be raised and
lowered as required.
In addition to the cars mounted in the manner described, horses, cars, or other
objects or vehicles may he mounted on the annular platform in the usual manner,
it is also obvious that both the number of cars in each set and the number of the
sets of cars employed may be increased or reduced.
Dated this 21st day of October 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts or Merry-go-rounds.
1, ARTHUR METHEringham, of Chilwell, in the County of Nottingham, Lace
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :—
This invention relates to improvements in runodabouts or merry-go-rounds for
public amusement.
"
...L
•
'
The invention will be best nnderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, .3
in which :—
Fig: 1. is a sectional elevation, and
Fig. 2. a plan. of a segment of a roundabout constructed according to my
invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throngliout the drawings.
In carrying out this invention the base of the platform is formed by an annular
platform A. which is preferably built up on innor and outer circular angle iron
rail A' A'.
The platform A. is mounted on wheels 13 which run on the rails,C' of a circular
track C. The journals of the wheels B may be mounted. in bearings B' secured to
the rails A A
•
.Mounted loosely on the central pillar D, which may be formed by or used as a
smoke stack for à boiler furnace, is a boss E and secured to this boss are preferably.
four horizontal radial fixed shafts E. The outer end of each shaft E' is carried
in a boss or bearing E' which is in turn supported by stays E extending from the
rail A to the upper framing F of the roundabout
Each shaft, Eis also carried by an intermediato boss or bearing Ewhich is
supported on stays or pillara E secured to the inner rail,A';
'Mounted loosely on each of the radial, shafts E' and between the bosses or
bearings are tiro bosses ( G each provided with two arms ( of a convenient
length placed diametrically opposite to each other. The outer ends of the two

page_text: pair of arms G' are connected by shafts G and suspended from these shafts Gª by
links G are cars, bonte, or other objects or vehicles H.
The bosses G G together with the arms G' and cars H are rotated in a vertical'
plane round each shaft E' as the said shaft moves in a horizontal plane-round the..
central pillar D, by the following arrangement.
Seanred to each of the inner bosses G is a toothed wheel J, this wheel engages.
with a second wheel J', secured to a radial shaft J'.
The shaft is carried in bearings J secured to the fixed radial shaft 'D' and
secured to the inner end of the said radial shaft is a toothed bevel wheel J
engaging with a second bevel wheel J' fixed on the central column D. The wheel J
being fixed, rotary motion is imparted to the shafts J' as they are moved round the
central column D in a horizontal plane, and this movement is communicated by the
Bots of wheels J J' to the bosses G.
The radial shafts E', the platform A, and the whole of the mechanism connected
thereto may be moved round the central column D by a portable engine proferably
placed within the space in the middle of the platform A. The motion of the crank
shaft of the engine may be communicated by suitable gear to a vertical shaft K
provided at its upper end with a pinion K' which engages with an annular wheel K*
eecured to either of the radial shafts El, or the boss E, or both.
With the arrangement described the cars H rotate round the central column D
and simultaneously rotate round the radial shafts E¹ and the relative speed of the
two movements is determined by the proportions of the toothed gearing.
If desirable, flanged wheels may be mounted loosely on the fixed radial shafts E',
preferably at a point on the inner side of the platform A, and a raised circular
track employed for the said wheels to run upon and thus support the shafts. The
track may be carried by pillars secured to the circular track C or underframing,.on
the inner side of the platform A. This arrangement may be employed in addition
to or instead of the rails C¹ on the underside of the annular platform.
In an alternative arrangement the shafts E' instead of being fixed may he
arranged to rotate in the same manner as the shafts J and communicato this
movement direct to the bosses G G' thereon, and arms G' from which the cars are
suspended.
"
In order to provide a ready means of access to both cars in each set at the
same time, a raised platform L is placed between each set of cars. This platform
may be fixed at a height which nearly corresponds to that of the cars when they
are level with each other as shown, a step H may also be placed on the side of
the cars H to fill the space between the edge of the platform and the side of
the car.
The platform L is partly surrounded by rails L', steps L are also provided,
extending from the outer edge of the platform A to the platform L to give access
to the latter.
The platform A may be surrounded by a railing M carried by pillars secured to
a raised step C' on the circular track C, gaps being left at the points where the
steps L' will stop.
It is obvious that the number of cars in each set may be increased by increasing
the number of arms G' and also the number of sets of cars increased if found
desirable.
When four cars are employed in each set it may be necessary to stop in two
positions in order to fill all of them. In this case I may employ raised platforms
of the same form and height as the platform L, or I may place the platforms level
with the two lower cars in each set when the arms G' are at an angle of 45° with
the platform A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-

page_text: or vehicles for carrying passengers rotate simultaneously about two axes, one-
being at right angles to the other or nearly so, substantially as described.
2. A roundabout or merry-go-round in which the cars, boats or other objects or
vehicles for carrying passengers rotate about a horizontal axis, simultaneously
with their rotation about a vortical axis, substantially as described.
3. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a pillar such as D,
and radial arms or shafts such as E, about which the cars H. rotate of a platform
such as A, connected to the said shafts El by stays or pillars E' E' substantially
as described.
4. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a pillár such as D.
and radial arms or shafts such as E, about which the cars rotate of a platform
such as A connected to the said shafts E by stays or pillars E' E' and provided
with wheels B and a circular track C C'for the wheels B to run upon, substantially
as described.
5. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a pillar such as D
of radial arms or shafts such as E¹ bosies G G' on said shafts El provided with
arms G* links G and vehicles, boats or cars such as H. substantially as described.
6. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a pillar D of
radial arms or shafts such as Ef arms such as G mounted on said shaft E',
links G, cars or vehiclos such as H, shaft J'and gear wheels J J' J¹ & J* the
latter being fixed on the pillar D substantially as described.
7. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a platform A and
cars H rotating round a radial shaft E¹ of a raised platform such as L substantially
as described.
8. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination with a pillar such as D
and radial arms or shafts such as El about which the cars H rotate, of an inner
raised track and wheels on the radial arms or shafts El to run on the said track,
Bubstantially as described.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete round-
about or merry-go-round substantially as described and illustrated in accompanying
drawings.
DALL
T
A. METHERINGHAM..
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.