Improvements in Sliding Hills and Toboggans to be used therewith.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sliding Hills and Toboggans to be used therewith.
I, BYRON BROOKS FLOYD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, in
the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING HILLS AND TOBOGGANS TO BE
USED THEREWITH, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statements :-
My invention relates to a class of sliding hills adapted for use in halls, rinks, and
at seaside or other places of summer resort.
My invention consists of the peculiar construction and arrangement of a sliding hill
of elliptical or other similar form, and having the starting point at substantially the
highest elevation, adjacent to or to one side of an elevator, and the terminal point at
substantially the lowest plane but extending beyond the starting point and in rear of
another elevator and a truck or carriage interposed between the terminal point and
the said last mentioned elevator to convey a toboggan to the first mentioned elevator
for lifting the same to the starting point again for another trip.
My invention further consists of the peculiar construction and arrangement of
wheels and trucks for a toboggan to be used on such type of sliding hills; and
My invention further consists of the construction, arrangement and combination of
parts in a sliding hill and in a toboggan for such a hill as hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.
The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more particularly
understood taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof;
and in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the superstructure showing the sliding bills
embodying the features of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan or top view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the elevators and the mechanism for actuating the same
propelled by suitable motive power.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the upper end portion of the tracks adjacent to the
elevators.
Fig. 5 is a plan or top view thereof.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the supported tracks of the superstructure
and an end view of a toboggan.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a toboggan, showing the wheels and trucks embodying
the features of my invention.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively end, side and plan views, of one of the wheels or
trucks and its connections, drawn to a larger scale; and
Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of tracks of the super-
structure or sliding-hills for the toboggans to run over.
Referring now to the drawings for a further description of my invention A, is the
superstructure or sliding hills elliptical or spiral in form. These sliding bills are
supported by posts or pillars B B, and they may be provided with any preferred form
of tracks supported upon suitable frame-work, and if the superstructure or sliding-hills
are to be erected in a hall or rink, they may be suspended from the roof or from
brackets secured to the walls of the building.
C and C, are two elevators by which the toboggans are lifted to the upper ends of
the tracks a. The platforms of the elevators are provided with inclined ways upon
which the toboggans rest and are held in position by means of a spring bolt (not
shown in the drawings,) or by any other convenient means. In the drawings two
elevators have been shown and arranged so that as one elevator is being raised with a
toboggan the other is descending ready to receive another to lift the same to the
starting point.

page_text: The elevators C and C¹, (Fig. 3) are secured respectively to the ends of a rope or
cable 2. The end of the rope or cable c² attached to the elevator C passes around
a pulley c³, to a grooved drum e, mounted on a shaft c. The rope or cable.c², is
wound two or more times around said grooved drum and fastened at the centre
thereof and the other part of the rope or cable then passes from this drum c¹ to
and around the pulley, and thence to the other car or elevator C'. The drum c
mounted on the shaft c, is provided with a fast pulley c8, and two loose pulleys c
and 10. Onto the loose pulleys are mounted straight and cross belts ell and c¹², in
connection with an engine, whereby motion may be communicated to said drum c.
A belt shifter of any preferred construction may be employed to shift either the
straight or cross-belts c¹¹ or c¹², onto the fast pulley 8, whichever may be preferred
and of course this will depend entirely upon what car is to be lowered or raised from
or to the starting point of the course.
Each of the elevators connects with the sliding hills A, by means of a forked
section A¹, the rails or tracks a, on the upper ends of said section are hinged at a¹, to
the main tracks and the other ends a², project beyond said section A', so that when
an elevator is raised, said end portions of the tracks a² will be lifted a short distance
as illustrated in dotted lines in fig. 4, and form a continuation of or connection
between the inclined ways of the elevator and the rails of the sliding hill or incline
plane A. At the lower end of the forked sections A¹, is provided a platform D
upon which run the small wheels of the toboggan, to be hereinafter more particularly
described, and at a point where the outer rails of the forked section A¹, joins the
main track, an opening or space b, is formed to permit the flanges of the wheels
on the toboggan to pass through. The said openings b, being closed on the outer
sides by hinged gates or flaps c.
From the highest or starting point the sliding hills or descending planes assume
elliptical or spiral forms until the terminal or lowest point A², is reached beyond the
superstructure and in rear of an elevator C¹ as shown in figs. 1 and 2.
At the terminal point of the course sufficient space is left between the ends of the
tracks and the elevator C¹, to permit of a truck or carriage E, being interposed
between them. The truck or carriage E provided with wheels c, is mounted upon
short sections of rail f, so that when a toboggan has completed its course over the
sliding hills the same may be run onto the ways of the truck or carriage E, corre-
sponding with those of the sliding hill or descending planes A, and be readily brought
into connection with either the elevator C or C³, or the toboggan shifted onto the side
tracks F, to either side of the respective elevators.
The extremity of the slide or incline may terminate immediately opposite either
elevator or beyond or within the same as may be preferred. In the drawings have
been illustrated in full lines the slides or descending curvilinear planes terminating
opposite the outside elevator, but they may terminate outside thereof as shown in
dotted lines or within the same, whichever plan may prove most convenient.
The tracks consist of a series of angle irons G bent or caused to assume the form
shown in fig. 6, and supported by rods H, from bars extending from the respective
posts or pillars B, B, or from the roof of the hall or other place wherein the sliding
hills may be erected. On each side of the upright portion of these angle irons are
secured friction strips I, onto which are secured the rails J. A layer of felt or other
soft or flexible material K, is interposed between the strips I and rails J, to deaden
the sound as the toboggan travels over said rails of the course. Instead of the angle
irons bent into the forin as shown in fig. 6 to form the track of the inclines, pieces G¹,
may be employed as shown in fig. 11, in which instance the friction strips 1, carrying
the rails J, are secured to the top of the cross-pieces G¹, and held in position by
brackets or stays g.
The toboggan L is mounted upon trucks, the construction and arrangement of which
are fully illustrated in figs. 8, 9 and 10. These trucks consist of a frame M of saddle
shape. The inner portion m, of this frame being extended downward beneath the
bottom of the toboggan and is secured thereto. To the upper portion of the frame M,
is pivoted a saddle N, provided at its upper end with a bolt n, which passes through

page_text: the frame M, and is held to place by means of a nut n¹. P is a wheel provided with
flanges on both sides thereof and adapted to embrace the rails J. This wheel is
suitably journalled to the sides of the saddle N. R is a rod extending downward
adjacent to the side of the toboggan and to the lower end of which is secured an arm S,
having journalled to the respective extremital portions thereof friction rollers T. To
the bolt n, is secured an arm q, and to the top of the rod R, is secured a corresponding
arm q', the outer ends of which are connected together by means of a bar q². The
arms q, on opposite sides of the toboggan are connected or bound together by means
of a rod or bar U, so that when the toboggan is passing around a curve, the friction
wheels T, being in contact with the friction strip I, will cause the wheel P, to assume
its proper relative position to the curve and by the rod U, the wheels P, on both sides
of the track will be turned in the same direction thereby running in unison with each
other. The saddle-shaped frame M, is recessed by preference around about the
bottom of the aperture for the reception of the bolt 12,
and a cushion w, of rubber or
other preferred material introduced therein with the lower portion of the cushion
resting upon the top of the saddle N, thereby lessening the jar incident to the use of
the toboggan running over the sliding hills or descending planes and ensuring
greater comfort to the riders.
To each of the depending side pieces m, are cast lugs u, forming bearings for the
journal v, of the roller V. These rollers V, when the toboggan is passing from the
forked section A', of the track run upon the platform D, which is sufficiently elevated
for said rollers V, to come in contact therewith, without the outside wheel P, leaving
the rail J.
The mode of operation of my invention is as follows:-
A toboggan L, is raised by one of the elevators (or C, and upon reaching the
highest elevation of the course or starting point, the hinged sections a, of the rails are
raised thereby forming a connection between the inclined ways of the elevator and
the main tracks, the spring bolt is then withdrawn and the toboggan passes onto the
section A¹, and when the inner wheels of the toboggan leave the rails, the small
wheels V, rest upon the platform D, and the toboggan guided by the outside wheels,
which do not leave the rails, when the wheels arrive at the end of said platform, while
the outer flanges of the inner wheels pass through the openings b, and the gates or
flaps c on that side, yielding to allow the same to pass onto the rails of the slide. The
toboggan then passes along the descending planes or slides to the lowest or terminal
point, where the toboggan is stopped. It is then run onto the truck or carriage E,
and can be readily shifted opposite the elevator C to be again raised to the elevated
starting point or run onto either of the side tracks F, if not required for another trip
over the sliding hills.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The sliding hill A, in combination with the elevators C, C, and the truck or
carriage E, interposed and capable of running between the terminal point of said hill
and said olevators, substantially as shown and described.
2. A sliding hill of elliptical or spiral form and having the starting point at sub-
stantially the highest elevation and adjacent to an elevator and the terminal point at
substantially the lowest plane and extending beyond and curving to the rear of an
elevator adapted to receive a toboggan for its elevation to the starting point, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
3: A sliding hill A, provided with a forked section A¹, and hinged rails a, having
projecting outer ends a², raised by an elevator to form a connection between the
incline ways of said elevator and tracks of said sliding hill, substantially as shown
and described.
4. In combination with a sliding hill, a forked section A¹, with inner rails termi-
nating on a platform D, and the outer rails at their junction with the main tracks

page_text: having openings b, which are closed by hinged gates or flaps c, substantially as shown
and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a sliding hill, tracks or ways consisting of friction strips .I, rails J, and felt
or other material K, interposed between them, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
6. A sliding hill consisting of a series of angle irons G, as shown and supported
by rods H, friction strips I secured to said angle irons, rails J, secured to said friction
strips and felt or other material K, interposed between said strips and rails, sub-
stantially as described.
7. In the. sliding hill A having tracks or ways consisting of flat rails, the
toboggan I, provided with flanged wheels, as described, and permitted to travel over
said hill, substantially in the manner shown and described.
8. In combination with a toboggan provided with a saddle-shaped frame M, a
saddle N, mounted in said frame and a double flanged wheel P, substantially as shown
and described.
9. The combination in a toboggan of trucks consisting of a saddle-shaped frame M,
adapted to be secured to the side of said vehicle, a saddle N, mounted in said frame
and having a flanged wheel P journalled thereto, a rod R, having at its lower
extremity an arm S, with friction rollers T, arms q and q', bar q², and a rod U
forming a connection with said arms g¹ on each side of said vehicle, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
10. The combination with a toboggan provided with trucks consisting of a
frame M, adapted to be secured to the side of the vehicle and the inner arm of said
frame extending beneath the bottom of said vehicle and a roller journalled thereto, a
saddle mounted in said frame and a flanged wheel journalled to said saddle, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
11. A sliding hill of elliptical form having the starting point at the highest eleva-
tion, an elevator disposed adjacent thereto and the several courses of said hill
terminating at a lower plane beyond the starting point and curving to the rear of
another elevator and a toboggan with its trucks and wheels, arranged as described, to
travel over said hill.
12. A sliding hill of elliptical or similar form having the starting point at the
highest elevation and adjacent to an elevator and the series of courses of the hill
disposed beneath one another and terminating beyond the starting point in rear of
another elevator, a truck or carriage interposed between said terminal point and
elevator, and a toboggan as described to run over the courses of said bill, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
13. A sliding hill, two elevators disposed adjacent to the starting and terminal
points of said hill, a drum, cable and motive power for operating said elevators,
substantially as shown and described.
14. A sliding hill, elevators arranged contiguous to the starting or terminal point,
a cable or rope wound around a grooved drum and passing over pulleys to said
elevators and means for permitting of the actuation of said drum, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
15. A siding hill, elevators disposed adjacent to the starting and terminal points
of said hill, means, substantially as described, to raise and lower said elevators and a
truck or carriage interposed between the terminal point of said hill and said elevators,
substantially as shown and described.
D DLLLLL
D
L107
1000
day of October A.D. 1889.
BYRON BROOKS FLOYD.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.