Year: 1888

page_text: 1. JOSEPH JAMES RUGG 9 Spring Hill Birmingham Pattern Maker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This Invention consists of rotating and revolving circular and other shaped Cars
for exercise and amusement.
In my Invention a Roundabout with circular or other shaped Cars suitably mounted
and suspended, are made to revolve obliquely by the muscular exertion of the Riders
applied to a circular hand-rail which revolves horizontally.
The said Cars are mounted on a Carrier and suspended from a Gibbet frame con-
nected with a Centre Post. The said Cars have a circular Tram Plate and a Cable
groove on the under side. The said Carrier is suitably mounted upon three or more
Traction Wheels said Traction Wheels having grooved Pulleys.
The motion of the said Cars is transmitted by means of a Cable to the said Carrier
which is made to rotate obliquely round the Centre Post by the said Traction Wheels
engaging an inclined Circular Rail or Road.
In constructing my improved Roundabout I first make a heavy wooden framework
which i call a Cradle. On said Cradle I build an Inclined Circular Rail or Road.
I also build on the said Cradle a Carrier Guide concentric with the said Inclined
Circular Rail or Road.
On said Cradle I then fix by struts or other supports, a Centre Post about
twenty feet in length and of suitable strength. The said Centre Post being erected in
a vertical position to support a Gibbet Frame concentric with the said Inclined
Circular Rail or Road.
1 now construct from wood or other suitable material a Carrier Frame of suitable
form and dimentions to support the said Cars at a convenient distance from the
Centre Post.
To the said Carrier Frame and at its most supported parts I fix Stanchions to
support stay Roads which extend to extremeties of the said Carrier Frame.

page_text: I now mount the said Carrier Frame on three or more Traction Wheels in a suit-
able manner to engage the Inclined Circular Rail or Road.
To the said Traction Wheels I fix grooved Cable Pulleys.
I now connect the said Carrier Frame to the said Carrier Guide by means of three
or more Guide Wheels of suitable dimentions.
On the arms of the said Carrier Frame I fix suitable Car Centre Guides, and I fit
the said Car Centre Guides with sets of three or more antifriction wheels to form
suitable bearings for the Car Tram Plate.
To each of the Car Centre Guides I fix a Car Pole preferably slanting towards the
Centre Post.
I now construct three or more circular or other shaped Cars, preferably basin
shaped, about fourteen feet in diameter. The said Cars having suitable seats with
backs and protecting rails.
In constructing the said Cars I first form a Car Tram Plate about five feet in
diameter to which 1 attach the framework of the said Cars by means of metallic
brackets or other suitable fittings. On the top side of the said Car Tram Plate I fix
three or more Car Guide Wheels by means of metallic brackets or other suitable
fittings.
To the floor of the said Cars I place foot boards, or foot rails, adjustable to aid the
Riders in pulling upon the Circular Hand-Rail.
I now fix to the said Car Poles the Circular Hand-Rail Centre Guides, which are
formed in part by a pair of tram plates seven inches apart and about three feet in
diameter, and in part by a centre boss about one foot in diameter.
I fix the said Circular Hand-Rail Centre Guide in a horizontal position.
I now form a Circular Hand-Rail about ten feet in diameter, of wood, or metallic
tubing. The said Circular Hand Rail having substantial arms or spokes, the central
portion of the said arms or spokes is suitably joined, and fitted with antifriction wheels
to engage the said Circular Hand-Rail Centre Guide. I now connect the said
Circular Hand-Rail to the said Circular Hand-Rail Guide.
To the Centre Post I fix a Gibbet Suspender Centre Guide concentric with the
Inclined Circular Rail or Road.
I now construct from wood or other suitable material a Gibbet Frame similar in
form to the said Carrier Frame. I fix on the arms of the Gibbet Frame suitable Car
Suspender Centre Guides concentric with the Car Tram Plate. I now fix on the
said Gibbet Frame at convenient parts metallic fittings, for the attachment of
tention rods.
I now form Car Suspenders of suitable form and material to receive antifriction
rollers and fittings for Car Suspender Rods.
I now construct a Gibbet suspender of convenient form and material and connect
the same by antifriction wheels to the Gibbet Suspender Centre Guide.
I now
connect the Gibbet Frame to the Gibbet Suspender by Gibbet Suspender Rods by
means of suitable fittings attached to convenient parts of said Gibbet Frame and said
Gibbet Suspender.
I now fix the Car Suspender Rods to the Car Suspenders and connect the said Car
Suspenders to the Car-Suspender Guides. I also fix the said Car Suspender Rods to
convenient equal sections of the framework of the Cars by suitable fittings.
I now connect the Gibbet Frame to the Carrier Frame by Carrier Rods by means
of suitable fittings.
At the supported parts of the said Carrier Frame I provide suitable brackets to
support steps for access to the Cars.
I now provide on the Centre Post, or supports of said Centre Post, suitable
brackets or framework for the attachment of a hand winch or other motor.
The Cars now being partly suspended at equal distances from the Centre Post by
the Gibbet Suspender Frame, and partly supported by the Carrier Frame, I now
proceed to thread a Cable, about three inches in circumference, round the Cable
Grooves on the under side of the Cars and over the Grooved Pulleys attached to the
Traction Wheels,

page_text: I now fix to Carrier Frame suitable levers and tightening pulleys in convenient
possitions to regulate the action of the Cable.
On the arms of the Carrier Frame I fix brake levers in a convenient position to
operate brake blocks in connection with the Car Tram Plate.
Dated this 21st day of September 1888.
I JOSEPH JAMES RUGG of 9 Spring Hill, Birmingham in the county of Warwick
Pattern Maker, 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 the construction and arrangement of rotating and revolving
circular or other shaped cars, for exercise and amusement, and consists primarily in
providing that two or more cars are made to revolve about a central even inclined
plane, by means of traction wheels supporting a carrier, upon which are mounted
the said cars, the axis of each car having a further or secondary inclination and
capable of a revolving motion also about its own axis, and further, in providing
means whereby the riders themselves may contribute part if not the entire force
necessary for their propulsion, and affording to the said riders a general circular
motion, and also therewith a secondary circular motion about the general circle of
motion, and combined therewith a rising and falling motion by reason of first, the
general circular motion upon the incline plane and also secondly, by reason of the
further inclination of the said cars in relation to the car carrier. I. attain these
objects after the following manner, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a part elevation, of this my invention partly in section.
Fig. 2, is a part view of the machine, showing in detail section, the central inclined
plane, the carrier guide or path, and one of the guide wheels.
Fig. 3, is a sectional plan of part of the machine on the line A, B, (Fig. 1),
shewing the guide wheels upon the lower part of the car.
Fig. 4, is a detached plan view of the hand-rail arrangement, (Fig. 1).
Fig. 5, is a detached plan view of the gibbet frame suspender.
Fig. 6, is a plan view of the carrier with the cars &c. removed.
Fig. 7, is a part elevation of the carrier (Fig. 6).
Fig. 8, is a detached plan of the gibbet frame.

page_text: Fig. 9, is an inverted plan view of the car suspender upon line C, D, (Fig. 1,)
shewing the antifriction and guide rollers.
Fig. 10, is a general plan view of the machine shewing the general relative
position of the cars with the centre of motion &c. Similar letters of reference
throughout the several views refer to the same thing or part.
In constructing this my improved roundabout, I first make a heavy framework A,
of wood or other suitable materials which I call a cradle. Upon the said cradle I
build an inclined circular rail or road b. I also build upon the said cradle a carrier
guide c, concentric with the said inclined circular road b.
On the said cradle I then suitably erect a centre post d, of suitable height and
strength, from the upper end of which is supported the gibbet frame e.
I now construct a carrier frame f, of suitable form and dimensions to support the
cars g, at a convenient distance from the centre post. To this carrier frame f, and
at its most supported parts, I fix stanchions h, or their equivalents (see Figs. 6 & 7),
and connect thereto stay or tie rods i, which extend to the extremities of the carrier
frame, and thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the latter.
I now mount the said carrier frame f, upon three or more traction wheels j, in a
Buitable manner to engage with or roll upon the inclined surface b. To the said
traction wheels or to their rotating axles I fix the grooved pulleys k.
I now connect the said carrier frame f, to the carrier guide c, by means of three or
more guide wheels 7, of suitable dimensions.
On the arms or extremities of the said carrier frame f, I form a suitable car centre
guide or path m, and further provide at this part three or more antifriction wheels n,
to form suitable bearings for the car tram plate o, to revolve upon.
To each of the car centro guides m, I fix a car pole p, slanting towards the centre
post d. It will be here noticed that the vertical centre of the post d, is eccentric
to the inclined track b, but is so placed that its vertical centre line passes centrally
through the frustum of the cone formed by the rotating of the centres of the three
car poles p, at such point of the said cone where the gibbet suspender q, rotates.
I now construct three or more circular or other shaped cars g, (preferably basin
shaped) say about fourteen feet in diameter, having suitable seats r, backs, rails, or
other fittings as may be necessary or desirable.
To
Upon the lower part of the car, as before intimated is formed a tram plate o, say
about one-third the diameter of the car. Upon this tram plate is constructed the
framework &c. of the car g, by means of metallic brackets or other suitable fittings.
On the top side of this tram plate I mount three or more car guide wheels s.
the floor of the said cars I provide foot boards or rails, which may be adjustable in
their position, by which the riders may be the better enabled to exert their power
upon the circular handrail t.
I now fix to or form upon the car poles p, the circular handrail centre guides,
which are formed in part by a pair of tram plates u, u³, say about seven inches apart,
and of a suitable diameter, and in part by a centre swell upon the pole, or the surfaco
of the pole itself may be used, as seen for instance in Figs. 1 & 4. I mount the said
circular hand-rail guides, in a more or less horizontal line, so that its portion nearest
the centre post is farther away or higher from the seat of the riders, than its
opposite side. This difference forms the stroke of motion in which the riders expend
their force for the propulsion or motion of the car, inasmuch as those riders scated
in the car when passing such point nearest the centre post, and having hold of the
rail, in pulling such rail towards them and combining therewith a slight sideway
pull, tend to move the car around in that direction while those upon the opposition
side by exerting a lifting force similarly upon the rail, produce a similar result, the
riders between such two extremes, for the time being, exerting themselves similarly
with approximating similar results. Variation in the said stroke can however be
made if desired and in conformity to the result of experience.
The said circular hand-rail is made of a suitable diameter and structure, and
provided with antifriction rollers, and guides wheels to engage the aforesaid
guides u. u'. &c.

page_text: To the centre post, I now fix a gibbet suspender centre guide v, concentric with
the inclined surface or track b, and further provide the before mentioned gibbet
suspender 7, having antifriction wheels and rollers, for connection to the centre
guide v.
I now connect the gibbet frame e, to the suspender q, by the tie rods w, or other
equivalents, by means of suitable fittings upon convenient parts of the said suspender
and the said frame.
This gibbet frame may be similar in shape to the aforesaid carrier frame f, as seen
for instance in Fig. 8, and suitably provided at x, for connection to the car poles p,
centrally with their revolution.
At or near such connection I provide a car suspender centre guide y, concentric
with the car tram plate o. I now provide the car suspenders 2, (see Figs. 1 & 9),
having antifriction rollers and wheels, (similarly as before described) to work upon
the guide y. The car is connected to the car suspender by means of tie rods a',
suitably connected and arranged so as to receive and sustain the various strains to
which they may be subjected.
Again. I provide and connect rods b¹, (see Fig. 1), or their equivalents, between
the gibbet frame e, and the carrier frame f, in a vertical or angular direction, whereby
a large portion of the weight of the cars &c., is carried from the gibbet suspender q..
This bracing together of the several structures is an important feature in its
construction, inasmuch as the better distribution of weight to the several roller
or traction bearing surfaces, ensure a more perfect and easy motion with economy of
driving power.
At any convenient part of the structure, but preferably upon the carrier frame f,
and near the traction wheels j, I provide suitable brackets &c. to support and carry
steps for access to the cars.
An endless cable g¹, is now threaded over the pulleys k, upon the carrier frame f,
and the pulley upon the underside of the cars g. Preferably this cable has
such an amount of slackness that it will not drive the various parts, except by reason
of the tightening pulleys and levers at ', which may at will produce the required
amount of tension upon the cable to drive the machine. Thus if it is desired to
rotate the car or cars without the frame f, the tension upon the cable would be
accordingly slackened.
At , (Fig. 1,) or other suitable parts of the moving mechanism, brakes and brake
levers of any ordinary convenient kind are provided, to check, stop, or otherwise
control such motion as may be required.
It will be apparent that I may in several parts of this my invention, vary the
construction in detail without departing from its nature, as for instance-in Fig. 1, I
may transpose the roller wheels n, and traction plate or path o, by affixing the wheels
to the car, and forming their path upon the carrier frame f, &c.
Although I have already described a novel means of acquiring and utilizing power
from the riders for driving the cars &c., still I do not confine myself thereto, as I
may apply any ordinary motive power if necessary, and in any ordinary manner, and
therefore I have shown one method, for instance, how such other power may be
applied, that is to say gearing may be used communicating with the carrier frame f,
and imparting a rotary motion thereto, also gearing may be made to communicate
such power to the upper part of the cars, as indicated by the vertical shaft c¹,
wheels d¹, pulleys e¹, and f¹. Further by this arrangement, if desirable, ordinary
clutch gearing can be provided, upon or in connection with the cable pulleys f¹, and
for the purpose of throwing such pulleys into or out of gear at will, so that if
desirable, motion may be imparted to one or more of the cars independently of each
other, and also independently of the motion of the carrier frame f.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1st. The combination in a roundabout of an obliquely revolving car g, having car

page_text: suspender, with the horizontal and vertical antifrictional rollers, moving upon central
paths or guides m, o, p, y, substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated upon the
drawings.
2nd. In a roundabout the combination of an obliquely revolving gibbet e, having
upon it or attached thereto car suspender centre guides p, & y, with an obliquely
revolving carrier frame f, having upon it or attached thereto car centre guides m,
and wheels n, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
3rd. The combination in a roundabout of the carrier frame f, and its superstructure,
having traction wheels j, and guide wheels l, with the central oblique, or inclined
plane, circular path or surface b, substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated, and
for the purposes specified.
4th. The carrier frame f, having a secondary angular path or guide m, n,
to direct the axial motion of the car, at a different angle to that of the prime roller
path b, substantially as shown.
5th. In a roundabout the combination and arrangement of a rotating car, with a
circular leverage handrail t, running in a plane obliquely thereto, substantially as
described and illustrated and for the purpose specified.
6th. In a roundabout the combination of the rotating car pulley 1, and the cable g¹
with and operating upon the combined traction wheel j. and cable pulley k,
constructed and arranged substantially as described and illustrated and for the
purposes specified.
7th. The general combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein-
described and illustrated upon the drawings constituting these my improvements in
roundabouts, that is to say whereby two, three, or more cars are made to revolve
about a central inclined plane, and having a further secondary inclined plane motion
upon their own axis, and receiving motion thereto by means of a circular hand-rail
obliquely to the circular motion of the said cars.
D
000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Applicant's Agent.