Year: 1888

page_text: We JAMES WALTER STANSFIELD Contractor of Wellington Terrace, Todmorden,
Yorkshire and ALBERT NUTTALL Engineer of Tyldesley Terrace, Blackpool,
Lancashire do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is a new game or pastime by means of which persons
may enjoy the sensation of riding, as in a balloon and at the same time to give them
a fairly long journey in the air without going to too great a height.
For the purpose of our invention we first erect a hollow post or pillar of wood or
iron with 2, 3 or more arms projecting horizontally or nearly so from the top of it.
and to which are fixed ropes or chains connected to posts or arms fixed in or on the
ground, for keeping the pillar perpendicular.
A sliding frame is made to fit easily around the pillar so that it may be caused to
slide up and down it.
Upon this sliding frame is fixed a grooved pulley or ring with diameter large
enough to allow of its revolving freely upon and around the sliding frame or upon a
collar fixed round the latter and from the pulley as a boss we have 2 or more arms
(equidistant preferably) extending outwards horizontally, say 10 feet or more and
upon the free ends of which we fix or suspend seats or cars for passengers.
The first mentioned sliding frame is caused to slide up and down (without revolving)
by a chain or rope connected to steam or other power and passing up the inside of
the central pillar or shaft and connected to two ropes passing over 2 pullies fixed one
on each side of the top of pillar, the ropes passing thence down the outside to two
hooks fixed on the sliding frame.
Another rope on the outside fixed at top and bottom of pillar is passed round a
series of pullies first 1 vertical and then 1 horizontal fixed to the non revolving sliding
frame and thence on to and round the pulley or grooved ring of revolving part to
which are fixed the car carrying arms, thence back from this pulley to a small
horizontal pulley and from that to another vertical pulley (both these latter and the
two first mentioned being fixed to brackets on the sliding frame) thence from the
second vertical pulley down to fast point at base, the rope after leaving the pullies
being taken down the inside of the revolving frame work so as to be clear of it.

page_text: '
This arrangement causes the arms and cars to be carried round the central post
(round-about style) as the sliding frame is by the power before mentioned twisted up
the pillar or lowered down it.
In addition we suspend a balance weight inside the pillar so that less power may
be required to hoist the revolving and sliding frame up and down. We fix circular
or other springs at top and bottom to prevent too sudden stoppage.
The hooks which connect the sliding frame to hoisting ropes are arranged so that if
the rope breaks they will automatically cause a catch or catches to dig into planks
fixed in two opposite sides of pillars and thus hold the sliding frame and revolving
part until the rope is repaired.
The large horizontal pulley which surrounds and travels upon the sliding frame is
provided with roller or other bearings fixed to reduce the friction on inside or bottom
side or both.
We also make use of other methods of attaining the spiral motion, such as a toothed
rack and cog wheel arrangement; or a spirally twisted track fixed round the central
pillar or cut out of it if desired, the revolving part being made to travel round this
track whilst being hoisted up or lowered down, either or both.
Dated this 97th day of Fahr 1888
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. W. Stansfield
and A. Nuttall.

page_text: A Novel Aerial Game or Pastime and Apparatus for the Purpose.
We JAMES WALTER STANSFIELD Contractor of Wellington Terrace, Todmorden,
Yorkshire, and ALBERT NUTTALL Engineer of Tyldesley Terrace Blackpool, Lancashire,
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:
The object of this invention is a new game or pastime by means of which persons
may enjoy the sensation of riding as in a balloon and at the same time to give them a
fairly long journey in the air without going to too great a height.
For the purpose of our invention we first erect a hollow post or pillar of wood or
iron with two, three or more arms projecting horizontally or nearly so from the top
of it and to which are fixed ropes or chains connected to posts or arms fixed in or on
the ground for keeping the pillar perpendicular.
A sliding frame is made to fit easily around the pillar so that it may be caused to
slide up and down it.
Upon this sliding frame is fixed a grooved pulley or ring with diameter large
enough to allow of its revolving freely upon and around the sliding frame or upon
a collar fixed round the latter, and from this pulley as a boss we have two or more
arms (equidistant preferably) extending outwards horizontally say 10 feet or more and
upon the free ends of which we fix or suspend seats or cars for passengers.
The first mentioned sliding frame is caused to slide up and down (without revolving)
by a chain or rope connected to steam or other power and passing up the inside of
the central pillar or shaft and connected to two ropes passing over two pullies fixed one
on each side of the top of pillar, the ropes passing thence down the outside to two
hooks fixed on the sliding frame.
Another rope on the outside fixed at top and bottom of pillar is carried down and
passed round a series of pulleys first two vertical fixed to the nonrevolving sliding frame
and thence on to and round the pulley. or grooved ring of revolving parts to which
are fixed the car carrying arms, thence back from this pulley to two other vertical
puliies and from one of these to fast point at base.
This arrangement causes the arms and cars to be carried round the central post
(roundabout style) as the sliding frame is by the power before mentioned hoisted up
the pillar, or lowered down it by power or by gravitation.
In addition we suspend a balance weight inside the pillar so that less power may be
required to twist the revolving and sliding frame up and down. We fix circular or
other springs at top and bottom to prevent too sudden stoppages.
The hooks which connect the sliding frame to hoisting ropes are arranged so that
if the rope breaks they will automatically cause a catch or catches to dig into planks
fixed in two opposite side of pillars and thus hold the sliding frame and revolving
part until the rope is repaired.

page_text: The large horizontal pulley which surrounds and travels upon the sliding frame
may be provided with roller or other bearings fixed to reduce friction on inside or
bottom side or both.
We
e may also make use of other methods of attaining this spiral motion such as a
toothed rack and cog wheel arrangement or a spirally twisted track fixed round the
central pillar or cut out of it if desired the revolving part being made to travel round
this track whilst being hoisted up or lowered down either or both.
As an example of the manner of carrying my invention into practice and as herein-
before described will be understood by annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation, Figure 2 a partial plan view, Figures 3, 4
and 5 details of some of the parts.
A, A, are base or foundation timbers. B a foot piece of sufficient depth to give
solidity or fixity to an upright C, this being hollow and surrounded at one part by a
loose framing D, D, having arms E, E, projecting radially therefrom and having at
their outer ends, cars, boats, or frames F, F, in whicb, people can be seated, said
framework being preferably shaped somewhat after the car of a balloon and to the
upper rail of which, balloons G, G, are affixed, said balloons being distended by air
or otherwise.
The frame D can rise upon the upright or pedestal C when hauled up by the rope H,
which rope H passes up the interior of the pedestal and is connected to two other
ropes I, I, these passing over pullies J fitted to the head K of the pedestal C, the
ropes 1, I, terminating outside the apparatus and connected to wedge levers L. which
wedge levers, should the rope or ropes I break when the frame D is towards
the top, will act as brakes and stop the descent of the frame D, arins E, and loaded
cars F
The head K carries two other rollers M, M, seen more particularly in the plan view,
Figure 2, and ropes N connected to a balance weight P which free to ride up and
down in the pedestal C, forming a counter-balance to the frame D arms E and cars F.
The opposite ends of the ropes N are attached to the frame. D at Q, so that the
bauling rope in lifting, has only to lift the weight of the persons seated in the cars,
thus far the frame D, arms E and cars F have only an upward and downward motion,
the pedestal C acting as a guide.
Around the frame D, we however prefer to fix the inner ends of the arms E to a
kind of sleeve or skeleton frame R, this being in connection with a grooved wheel S,
round which a rope T is rove, said rope T being guided by small rollers U, U, around
other wheels V and from thence to other guide wheels W as seen more particularly
in the detail view, Figure 3, for producing, during the rising of the frame D, a
turning round motion of the frame R, arus E, and cars F giving a kind of helical
travel to the occupants of the car, the same motion being given in the downward
travel of the cars but in the reverse direction.
The rope T is fast at both ends, one at the lower part of the pedestal, or say, the
foot plate B, the other to the head K.
We can, if desired, give an undulatory motion to the cars in addition to the
combined rising and circular travelling action and Figure 4 will explain this.
Underneath the wheel S, we attach lugs X provided with rollers which ride upon
an undulatory cam or rail Y, so that as the wheel S, arms E, and cars F are ascending
or descending and turning circular-wise, they have during each rotation a falling and
rising motion alternately.
The undulatory way or rails Y form part of the frame D and a portion serves for
carrying the bracket Z by which the wheels V, V, are held.
To prevent undue concussion at the end of the up lift we provide a spring or
cushion a and a similar spring b for like purpose, on the foot B.
Any means can be adopted for giving rigidity to the structure or for steadying the
pedestal C and according to Figure 1, we have shown arms c projecting from the
head K and these by means of tie rods d and guys e the lower ends of which, are
connected to the foundation or base A, or they may be severally attached to timbers
driven into the ground at a distance.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we.declare that what
we claim is
1. As a means for obtaining an Aerial Game or Pastime, an apparatus consisting
of an upright pillar as a guide to a frame having an upward travel and having or not
another fraine as part of same, carrying cars, in which, persons can be seated and
have a circular travel or motion simultaneously with the uprising motion in the manner
described and substantially as indicated by the annexed drawings.
2. In combination with an uprising and travelling round apparatus, when guided
by a hollow pillar or post, the employment of balloons distended by air or otherwise
and forming part of cars, in which, persons can be seated to enjoy an aerial ascension
and circular movement, whether said circular movement be effected on the plane of a
curve or have an intermediatory up, and down action in combination with the uprising
circular travel as hereinbefore described.
3. The construction of apparatus and its method of action, by which a novel aerial
game or pastime can be afforded to persons seated in cars for enjoying a sensation
similar to that of riding or ascending and descending in a balloon substantially as
described.
The 27th day of November 1888.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said James Walter Stansfield
and Albert Nuttall.