Improvements in Roundabouts or Merry-go-rounds.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application. 19th June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts or Merry-go-rounds.
We, THOMAS WALKER of Oldbury Works, Tewkesbury, in the County of
Gloucester, Engineer, and GEORGE FREDERICK ALDER, of Tudor Place, Barton
Street, Tewkesbury, in the same County. Draughtsman, 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 of improvements in roundabouts or merry-go-rounds has reference
to constructing the same with a compound platform able to rotate about the centre
or axis of the machine and hereinafter called the revoluble platform; it is composed
of a number of parts hereinafter called segments through which work the depending
rods that carry the horses, boats, vehicles, or other seats used to carry the riders
and which rods are caused to move up and down as well as to travel about the
centre of the roundabout, as well understood, the movements where horses are used
somewhat resembling the galloping or jumping of horses.
The revoluble platform is so constructed that it is capable of expanding or
increasing in its diameter under the influence of the centrifugal force generated by
the rotary motion of these portions of the roundabout that travel in an annular path
around its central vertical axis. The revoluble platform is used to guide or steady
the horses, boats, vehicles or other seats during their various upward downward
and angular movements as they travel round the centre of the roundabout as above
mentioned.
For the purpose of describing the nature of this invention and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect we will describe it as applied to a roundabout
provided with horses for the use of the riders, these horses having imparted to them
what is called a galloping motion through cranks of shafts able to rotate in bearings
carried upon the revoluble framework of the roundabout and driven in any con-
venient way for example through universal joints and bevel gearing attached to the
centre pole or supporting column, the horses being connected to the cranks by
universal or swivelling joints which allow for all angular movements of the
depending or horse rods (hereinafter called the horse rods) which pass through the
horses aud extend below the same through suitable orifices in the revoluble platform
such as will allow the horse rods to partake of the up and down and angular motions
caused by the rotation of the cranks or by the segments of the platform moving in a
radial sense when driven outward by centrifugal force.
The revoluble platform is carried upon slides carriers or rails which are attached
to depending rods (hereinafter called platform rods) ench being connected to the
revoluble frame by means of a hook and eye, swivel joint or other suitable device so
as to allow the lower end of the platform rod to move towards or from the central
vertical axis of the roundabout; or the platform rod may be allowed to move bodily
in a radial direction by adapting its upper end to slide or roll upon suitable guides
or rails secured to the revoluble frame. If the last mentioned arrangement be
adopted the inner and outer platform rods may advantageously be coupled together
ear the top ends by a connecting rod or equivalent means to enable the two rods
to move together; the guides or rails may be fixed in angular positions such as to
allow the platform rods to move more readily towards the central axis as the round-
about is brought to rest.
The platform rods are of sufficient length to hold the platform below the horses
so as to allow the horses to partake of all movements imparted to them by the
rotation of the cranks or by other gear used to operate them; at the same time by

page_text: passing the bottom ends of the horse rods through the platform the horses and rods
are thereby guided in all their angular movements and also in a radial direction
when moved to or from the central vertical axis under the action of centrifugal
force.
When cranks are used to operate the horses the number of segments composing
the compound platform will usually be determined by the number of crank shafts
or sets of cranks used; there may be any convenient number. In the accompanying
drawings the platform is shown as composed of twelve segments with three horse
rods passing through each, but we do not confine ourselves to these numbers which
are only shown by way of example.
In this example the segments of the platform are coupled together by rods
passing horizontally through or across the framework of the segments suitable
springs being provided which allow the segments to move away from each other
under the influence of centrifugal force thus expanding the platform in opposition
to the action of the springs which subsequently act to bring the segments together
again thus contracting the platform as the revoluble portions of the machine are
brought to rest; means are provided for increasing or decreasing the compression
or tension of the springs so as to enable their action to be suitably adjusted
according to the amount of centrifugal force acting to expand the platform. In the
drawings one coupling rod is shewn between every two segments, but there might
be more than one. Also springs are shewn that act in compression; but springs in
tension might obviously be employed. Slippers or rollers on the framework of the
segments constituting the platform work upon the slides, carriers or rails the con-
struction being such that the platform is kept in proper position and the platform
rods are maintained at their proper distances apart radially.
To prevent the platform from dragging and ensure its moving properly with the
horse rods suitable stays are provided such as stay rods passing diagonally from the
revoluble frame to the platform on the inside these rods moving with the platform
radially and in its circular path.
To guard against accidents resulting from there being openings between the
segments when the platform is expanded suitable sliding covers having holes or slots
through which the platform rods may pass, are or may be provided.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a half plan of a revoluble expanding
platform in its normal or contracted condition.
Fig. 2 shows a half plan of the same platform expanded.
Fig. 3 shows in sectional elevation the relative positions of platform and platform
rods when at rest.
Fig. 4 is a like view showing the relative positions the parts occupy when the
platform is expanded.
Fig. 5 shows to a larger scale a plan of two segments of the platform showing
the corresponding platform rods and carriers the coupling rod adjusting springs and
sliding covers.
Fig. 6 shows partly in section partly in elevation portions of a platform rod the
corresponding carrier slides and parts of the platform together with the sliding
cover and also part of the revoluble frame to which the platform rod is attached.
Fig. 7 shows partly in elevation and partly in cross section in line R S of Fig. 6
the platform part of the revoluble frame the corresponding platform rods, carriers
and other parts.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the coupling of the platform segments by
rod and adjustable springs.
Fig. 9 shews to a smaller scale partly in elevation and partly in cross section a
portion of the revoluble frame with crank shaft, horse rods, horses, platform and
ball and socket guides for guiding the horse rods.
Fig. 10 shows in section to a larger scale a ball and socket guide for guiding a
horse rod.
Eig. 11 shews an inverted plan of same.
Fig. 12 shows in section part of a platform segment and horse rod with a plain

page_text: eye having a countersunk or convex sided hole through it for use in lieu of ball
and socket or other guide to guide a horse rod but we consider the ball and socket
guide more efficient and substantial.
A A are segments or parts which form when together as ilustrated in Fig. 1 an
annular platform. It is shewn as being circular but the exact shape might
obviously be modified. The platform as will be seen is so constructed that as
already stated it can be expanded under the influence of centrifugal force, when
the segments will assume positions more or less apart as for example see Fig. 2.
G G are slippers attached to the frames of the platform segments; they rest upon
and are able to slide on the carriers or rails C³, carried by the rods which are
attached to parts D of the revoluble frame by hooks and eyes C or other suitable
joints the arrangement being such that as well understood the platform revolves
around the central pole B.
The carriers or rails C are fastened to the platform rods C by cotters H; the
collars C on the rods are intended to prevent the platform sections tipping on the
carriers when unequally loaded. Rollers may be used in lieu of the slippers G
and be adapted to roll upon the carriers or rails C² so as to reduce the friction.
E, E are the coupling rods used to connect together the segments of the platform
so as to normally hold them together in the form of a circle (Fig. 1) but so
nevertheless that under the influence of centrifugal force generated by the rotation
of the revoluble frame platform and other parts expansion of the platform will
take place its segments then sliding along the carriers or rails C2 and connecting
rods E, which latter are surrounded by the sockets I which form slides for the
purpose of facilitating the movement of the segment and also are made to receive
each one end of one of the springs E' which serve the purpose already mentioned,
and which act with a force the extent of which can be adjusted by means of the
wing nuts on the coupling rods E. FF are sliding covers to cover the openings
between the platform segments A when expanded and are attached to the segments A
by hinges F so as to fold up when packed for travelling; these covers may be
made in any suitable form; for example light woven metal or twine covered frames
would answer the purpose.
D' D' show parts of the revoluble frame which support the bearings for
carrying the crank shaft K' (Fig. 9) the cranks K giving the galloping motion to
the horses which are carried upon the horse rods J and connected to the cranks K
by the joints J' as well understood.
The horse rods J are extended below the horses and pass through the balls L
each of which moves to suit the angle of the rod J in a socket L' or in place of the
balls L and sockets L' the holes in the platform segments A through which the
horse rods J pass may be fitted with guiding bushes or eyes such as M (Fig. 12).
As will be evident the details of .construction may be more or less varied from
those shown in the drawings in order to suit any special roundabout or merry-go-
round to which it may be desired to apply a platform constructed in segments or
parts capable of being caused to expand or move apart under the influence of the
centrifugal force as above set forth, and the segments or parts may be made to
serve for guiding the depending rods carrying the horses, boats, vehicles or other
seats for riders whether these rods be caused to receive their motions from cranks
or other known or suitable devices for imparting such motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a roundabout or merry-go-round a revoluble platform comprising a number
of segments or parts such as A able to move radially under the influence of
centrifugal force due to rotation and resuming their normal relative positions when
not so influenced.
2. A. roundabout or merry-go-round wherein depending rods that carry horses,
boats, vehicles or other seats for riders are guided during their various movements

page_text: by means of radially movable segments or parts such as A of a revoluble
platform.
3. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination of a series of segments or
parts such as A forming an annular platform adapted to rotate or travel with
depending rods that carry horses, boats vehicles or other seats and their actuating
gear about a common axis the segments or parts A being capable of movement in
a radial sense and having orifices with suitable guides such as L L' through which
the before mentioned depending rods pass and wherein they are guided and the
arrangement being such that the said depending rods may be capable of the required
angular and other movements and also will move with their respective segments or
parts of the platform in a radial sense so that the depending rods will be suitably
guided as they travel around the centre or axis of the roundabout.
4. In a roundabout or merry-go-round the combination of segments or parts
such as A adapted to form a circular or annular platform, slippers such as G
attached to said segments (or wheels or rollers in lieu of the slippers), slides,
carriers, or rails such as C and rods whereby said slides carriers or rails are
connected to the revoluble frame of the machine substantially as described.
5. The combination with the segments forming the platform and means for
supporting them so that they are able to move radially under the influence of
centrifugal force of the coupling rods E guides I and springs El substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
6. Our improved roundabout or merry-go-round as hereinabove described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 10th dow of Iuno 1802
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.