Improvements in Roundabouts of the class known as Whirligigs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts of the class known as Whirligigs.
I FREDERICK SAVAGE of St. Nicholas Iron Works, Kings Lynn in the County
of Norfolk Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to "whirligig" roundabouts, and has for its object to
provide means whereby they are rendered safer than as hitherto proposed to be
constructed. The said "whirligig" roundabouts consist of a number of revolving
and rotating platforms, or equivalent devices, inclined at an angle to the horizontal
plane and on these platforms are carried seats for the riders.
According to my invention I support each platform, or the like, near or under
its central part by means of a ring of rollers or runners, carried by framing built
upon the main driving levers, and driven by the central engine or other motor,
these levers being supported at their outer ends by brackets carrying larger
rollers running upon a circular tramway, in turn supported preferably by the main
frames extended inwards for that purpose.. Or the main frames may carry the
rollers and the levers may carry the track..
The framing upon the main driving levers which carries the ring of rollers or
runners below the platform, also carries the central axis upon which the platform
revolves, and by which the platforms are driven round the main centre of the
roundabout. This axis or driving pin is round where it passes through the plat-
form to admit of the platform revolving freely upon it, and below the platform, it
is square or equivalently shaped in section and passes downwards through a bracket
or holder secured to the framing on the main driving levers, the hole through
which this driving pin passes is lengthened in a radial direction, to admit of the
driving pin sliding a certain distance, so that the outer edges or peripheries of the
revolving platforms may always have an equal pressure against the circular track
which is fixed to the main frames, for the purpose of supporting the weight of the
platforms, which being inclined to the horizontal plane, have always a tendency to
press outwards away from the centre, and this pressure coming upon the outer
circular track, causes each platform to revolve on its own axis as it is driven round
the circle. The bracket or holder through which the squared part of the driving
pin passes is preferably rounded at its outer part to form a track for an inner ring
of rollers to run against, to admit the first nained ring of rollers to revolve freely.
Dated the 14th day of February 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts of the class known as Whirligigs.
- I FREDERICK SAVAGE of St. Nicholas Iron Works Kings Lynn in the County
of Norfolk Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to "whirligig" roundabouts and has for its object to
provide means whereby they are rendered safer than as hitherto proposed to be
constructed. The said "whirligig" roundabouts consist of a number of revolving
and rotating platforms or equivalent devices, inclined at an angle to the horizontal
plane and on these platforms are carried seats for the riders.

page_text: According to my invention I support each platform or the like, near or under its
central part by means of a ring of rollers or runners carried by framing built upon
or connected to the main driving levers, and, driven by the central engine or other
suitable motor, these levers being, supported at their outer ends by brackets or
frames carrying larger rollers for running upon a circular tramway in turn
supported preferably by the main frames extended inwards for that purpose. Or
the main frames may carry the rollers and the: levers, may carry the track. The
frames having the large rollers may be employed for, carrying from place to place
the parts of the roundabout when taken to pieces.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed,
more particularly to describe the same and for, that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a plan of so much of a whirligig
roundabout as is necessary to illustrate my invention, and Figure 3 is a view
similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modification of the wheeled supporting frames or
carriages for the platforms on which the riders sit.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A is the main axis on which the roundabout rotates
and which (as shewn in the drawing) may be the funnel or chimney in connection
with the motive power engine by which the roundabout is operated. B is a frame
fitted to turn on the axis A and connected by bars C to frames D carrying the
platforms E.
It also
The frames D are provided with wheels D' which run on a circular track D³ and
Each frame D carries a
support the weight of the frames D and the platforms E.
ring of anti-friction rollers or runners a on which the platform E rests.
carries the axis bupon which the platform revolves and by which the said platform
is carried round the main axis A of the roundabout. The axis is made round at its
upper part 6 where it passes through a socket c in the platform E to admit of the
platform revolving freely upon it and at the part 6 below the platform, it is square
or equivalently shaped in section and passes downwards through a hole e in a
bracket or holder d secured to the framing D. The hole e is lengthened to admit
of the axis sliding a certain distance so that the outer edges or peripheries of the
whole of the revolving platforms E employed on the roundabout may always have
an equal pressure against a circular track F which is fixed to the main frame G.
The platforms E being inclined to the horizontal plane have always a tendency
to press outwards and this pressure coming upon the outer circular track F causes
each platform to revolve on its own axis b as it is driven round the main axis A.
The bracket or holder d through which the squared part of the axis 6 passes is
preferably rounded at its outer part as shewn in Figure 2 to form a track for an
inner ring of rollers f to run against and thereby admit of the ring of rollers a
revolving freely.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 3 each frame D is mounted on a truck or
trolly, D having wheels D to run on two parallel or concentric circular tracks D'
which trucks or trollies may be employed for carrying the roundabout from place
to place when taken apart. To enable the parts of the roundabout to be packed
closely for transport the platform E may be made in separate pieces hinged
together so as to fold one part onto another as shewn by dotted lines, in. Figure 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a whirligig roundabout a rotatable inclined table or platform mounted
on a stud or axis and supported at or near its centre by a ring of antifriction
rollers carried on a frame or carriage having wheels to run on a circular track or
tramway substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1' and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a whirligig roundabout the combination of a rotatable inclined table

page_text: or platform caused to rotate on its axis by its frictional contact with a stationary
circular track and supported on a ring of antifriction rollers carried on a frame
mounted on a trolly or carriage provided with running wheels and capable of being
employed to support the platform and its adjuncts when the roundabout is at work
and also as a vehicle for transporting the roundabout from place to place when out
of use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
Third. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting improvements in
whirligig roundabouts substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting improvements
in whirligig roundabouts substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1891