A New or Improved Roundabout or Merry-go-round.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Roundabout or Merry-go-round.
I, THOMAS GIBSON BARLOW-MASSIOKS, of Imeson Terrace, Middlesborough in the
County of York, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus commonly known as a
roundabout or merry-go-round, the cars of which shall have a rising and a falling
motion communicated thereto combined with a revolving motion, the said revolving
motion taking place in one direction as the cars or their equivalents rise, and in an
opposite direction as the said cars descend.
The construction of the apparatus or roundabout according to my invention is as
follows: I provide a contral hollow column which may conveniently be made of iron
or steel plate, and cylindrical in shape; around the exterior surface there is formed or
fitted a screw thread or threads which may be regular in pitch throughout or may
quicken or become less at either end all as desired.
Around the central column I provide a collar the interior of which is provided with
grooves or projections which take onto the before mentioned screw thread or threads;
the collar forms a central boss from which radiate arms, which may act as cantilevers and
carry cars affixed on the ends thereof. By the word car I intend to imply any suitable
vehicle or apparatus for the conveyance of passengers.
On the upper rim of the collar there is a flange which rests on a flanged ring having
for example anti-friction balls interposed between the two flanges, and on the outer
edge of the flanged ring I fix trunnions or projecting heads onto which the ends of
steel ropes or their equivalents are secured. These steel ropes pass over pulleys on
the top or upper part of the column and into the interior of same where their other
ends are secured to a counterbalance weight, to which latter a rope is connected
leading down through the column, under a pulley, and to a hauling machine for
example.
When the hauling machine is operated, the counterbalance weight will be drawn
down and the flanged ring drawn up the column causing the collar and parts connected
therewith to revolve, the bearing made by the flanges allowing the said collar to
revolve without revolving the ring, and thus preventing the ropes from becoming
twisted. During the descent the cars will revolve in an opposite direction.
Instead of using a hauling machine for raising and lowering the arms of cantilevers,
a steam or hydraulic ram might be applied in the centre of the column or in any other
convenient position.
•
1000
T. G. BARLOW-MASSICKS.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Roundabout or Merry-go-round.
[, THOMAS GIBSON BARLOW-MASSICKS, of Imeson Terrace, Middlesborough, in the
County of York, Iron Merchant 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 my invention is to construct an apparatus commonly known as a
roundabout or merry-go-round, the cars of which shall have a rising and a falling
motion communicated thereto, combined with a revolving motion, the said revolving

page_text: motion taking place in one direction, as the cars, or their equivalents rise, and in an
opposite direction, as the said cars descend.
My invention will be most readily understood by describing same with reference to
the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of which shows in side sectional elevation so
much of a roundabout or merry-go-round, constructed according to my invention, as
will be necessary to explain same, Figure 2 is a detail sectional elevation, showing a
ball bearing collar forming a part of the apparatus as hereafter described, and drawn
to a larger scale than the previous figure, and Figure 3 is a sectional plan of
Fig. 2.
According to my invention I provide a central hollow column A which may con-
veniently be made of iron or steel plate and cylindrical in shape, and this column may
be made in sections or lengths, if desired, for the convenience of transport, or it may
be made in one piece as shewn ; around the exterior surface there is formed or
fitted a screw thread or threads B, which may be formed of a rail or bar of an
approved section, which is bent to the required helical curve and rivetted or secured
to the outer surface of the column A, or the column may be cast with the screw
thread or threads thereon. This thread or threads may be regular in pitch
throughout, or may quicken or become less at either end or any other portion, all as
desired.
Around the central column I provide a collar the interior of which is provided
with grooves or projections or their equivalents, one mode of construction of such
grooves or projections being shewn at Figures 2 and 3, where angle iron pieces B¹
are bent and rivetted to the interior of the collar, and take on to the before men-
tioned screw thread or threads, this collar C forms a central boss from which radiate
arms D, which may act as "cantilevers," and carry cars E affixed on the ends thereof.
By the word car I intend to imply any suitable vehicle or apparatus for the conveyance
of passengers.
On the upper rim of the collar there is a flange F (see Figs. 2 and 3) which
rests on a separate flanged ring G and on the outer edge of the said ring G I fix
trunnions or projecting heads H, on to which the ends of steel or other ropes I or
their equivalents, are secured.
Between the flange of the ring G and the flange F of the collar C, I interpose,
for example, antifriction balls, in order that the collar C may revolve as it is drawn
up the cylinder, but without causing the ring G to revolve with it, and I may
with this object, in some cases employ a key fixed in the inside of the flanged
ring G and working in a slot cut vertically in the outer service of the column,
and extending from top to bottom of same, in order to further prevent the ring G
being revolved and thus twisting the ropes I. These steel ropes I pass over
pulleys KK on the top or upper part of the column A, and into the interior of
same, where their other ends are secured to a counterbalance weight L, to which
latter, a rope M is connected, leading down through the column, under a pulley N
and to a hauling machine for example, indicated in the drawing by the letter O.
When the hauling machine O is operated the counterbalance weight L will be
drawn down, and the flanged ring G, drawn up the column A, causing the collar C
and parts connected therewith to revolve, the bearing made by the flanges allowing
the said collar to revolve, without revolving the ring, and thus preventing the ropes
from becoming twisted; or the key and slot hereinbefore described may be employed
in order to prevent any possibility of such twisting. During the descent the cars
will revolve in an opposite direction.
Instead of using a hauling machine for raising and lowering the arms of canti-
levers, a steam or hydraulic ram might be applied in the centre of the column or
in any other convenient position.
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 :-

page_text: or revolving motion, combined with a vertical rising and falling motion to the
carriages from a spirally or helically constructed column substantially as set forth.
Second: In roundabouts or merry-go-rounds, the hollow column A having screw
threads on the external surface thereof with collar C, carrying arms D, and cars E
working on flanged ring G, with trunnions H connected by ropes I, passing over
pulleys K at top of column A, and down inside same to a counterbalance weight L,
the latter connected by another rope M passing under a pulley N at base, and thence
to hauling machine O or equivalent, all substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Dalth: 19th 1.
1000
THOS. G. BARLOW-MASSICKS.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.