Improvements in Round-abouts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Improvements in Round-abouts.
We, FRANÇOIS GRANGE and EUGENE VITAL MICHAUD, both of St. Chamond,
Loire, France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved round-about or carousel which has the
special advantage of enabling the persons riding on it to be constantly changed
without it being necessary to stop or even to slacken the pace of the whole. A
slackening of the pace is effected automatically merely at the place where the
persons take and leave their seats.
Our improved round-about consists of a fixed platform on which the cars for
the passengers are propelled on a winding endless track, describing a course
similar to shuttle bobbins in lace-making.
The outside appearance of this machine resembles that of the large round-
abouts as now used.
A central mast or standard supports the iron or wooden framework of the
structure. This mast rests on a floor placed directly on the ground. A second
floor is sufficiently raised above the first' to allow of the motive mechanism
being placed between them. On this floor the cars for the passengers travel,
which cars may be either simple seats or arm-chairs with one or more places.
They can of course be ornamented, or in the form of animals, or of any other
design.
These seats follow a course traced on the upper floor and following a line
formed of a series of arcs of a circle joining and crossing each other.
This course may vary in its design; but in all cases it must be composed of
parts of a circle forming a course of a certain length for the half journey, which
course returns on itself following the corresponding configuration in order to
return to the starting point.
It will be understood that all the cars have to follow all the serpentine wind-
ings thus formed, and form long trains following and crossing each other.
The course is cut out in the thickness of the floor, sufficiently wide to allow a
guide or boat on rollers to pass which is fixed in the frame of the seat, and
having on its lower portion a vertical lever terminated by a fork.
A roller mounted on the said fork moves on a rail supported by a sham ceiling.
The lever attached to the guide piece of the seat engages in one of the notches
of the transport platforms.
These transport platforms, the movements of which are synchronised by suit-
able gearing, are provided with slots on their periphery for the lever of each
guiding boat to pass: in revolving they carry along this lever and conse-
quently the corresponding seat following, the curve described, with the axis of
rotation as centre. These platforms may be actuated inversely with regard to
one another and the speed of retation and other details may be variously modified.

page_text: At various points of the course curves of greater length give to the cars a
speed inversely proportionate to the size of their radius.
This arrangement permits of curiosities, pictures and other attractions for
rendering the trip more pleasant being placed at three points.
The parts subject to friction (shuttles, shuttle levers and the like) are prefer-
ably provided with ball-bearings.
The mounting and dismounting of the passengers takes place at a chosen part
of the course which forms a kind of terminus.
Instead of a slotted disc the boat levers are carried along by a larger platform
having radial grooves and the corresponding floor is opened out in a spindle
shaped aperture the pointed end of which is tangential to the toothed disc, the
other end having a curve corresponding to that of the grooved platform.
The cars carried along by the slots of the platform approach the centre on
arriving on this platform (return position) and recede in going off (position of
departure); the circumferential speed of the platform decreasing with the radius,
each seat engaged in a slot will be led to the determined point, according to
the speed of the platform, and this speed can be sufficiently reduced for persons
to mount and dismount with safety.
The motive power can be of any kind, electrical or otherwise and actuate the
driving shafts at one or more points either directly or indirectly.
In this case the movement of the seat would have to be co-ordinated electri-
cally to that of the boat. The boat and the seat not being mechanically connected
the latter is exempt from shaking, especially as this electro-dynamic arrangement
renders unnecessary the grooving crossing the grooving of the floor which is
indispensable in mechanical traction.
For the proper direction of the seat in its subjection to the movement of the
boat their extremities have electro-magnets and also make a slight groove in
the floor, sufficient to guide the rollers of the seat.
Another advantage of this arrangement is to reduce the work of the mechanism
which has to effect the distribution alone.
According to another arrangement the movement of the seat simultaneously
with its operation, can be obtained magnetically by providing both the boat
and the seat with one or several electromagnets. The movement being thus
obtained in the same manner as that of a pin or metal pen placed loose on a
sheet of paper and subjected to the influence of a magnet.
In this case, the mechanism being the conductor and not merely distributor
as in the preceeding arrangement, it should be sufficiently strong to move the
seats on the floor without grooves.
Having thus described the working of the round about, we reserve the right
of making it comportable and attractive from an architectural point of view,
adding for example, a promenade round the sides on the level of the seat floor
separated from the track by a barrier in order to prevent accidents, and one or
more other promenades at different stages.
The attractions can also be multiplied in order to transform this round-about
into a place for rest, recreation or refreshment, and various other objects. Like-
wise we can arrange on the track arches, tunnels, rockeries, illuminated foun-
tains and the like so as to present the appearance of a labyrinth; and also cover
the sides of the seat with looking-glass or place looking-glass in all suitable
places giving by means of the reflection of moving objects and electric lighting,
the appearance of greater speed and pleasing optical effects.
We may likewise place at the entrance means for facilitating access to the
different stages, one being placed tangentially to the platform at the point of
least speed for taking the passengers on and off.
Our track system can be placed in a horizontal or inclined position and take
any preferred form.
We reserve the right of providing all the moving seats or merely one of them
with devices such as brooms, brushes and the like for clearing the track of

page_text: obstacles such as confetti, flowers, orange peel and the like which would obstruct
the course of the cars.
D1 the 19th
T
1900
We, FRANÇOIS GRANGE and EUGENE VITAL MICHAUD, both of St. Chamond,
Loire, France, Engineers, 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:--
Our invention relates to an improved round-about or carousel which has the
special advantage of enabling the persons riding on it to be constantly changed
without it being necessary to stop or even to slacken the pace of the whole.
slackening of the pace is effected automatically merely at the place where the
persons take and leave their seats.
A
Our improved roundabout consists of a fixed platform on which the cars for
the passengers are propelled on a winding endless track, describing a course
similar to shuttle bobbins in lace-making.
For the better explanation of the invention, we have illustrated as an example
on the accompanying drawing one of the forms it can take.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a section in elevation shewing a roundabout arranged according
to our invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the flooring giving the course followed by the cars.
Figure 3 represents on a larger scale a suitable mechanism for carrying the
Figure 4 is a side view, and
car.
Figure 5 a plan of the car illustrating a chair shewn in front view, Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a diagram shewing the course of a car from one curve to the next.
Figure 7 is a plan of the platform or landing with the special arrangement
provided at this point for slackening the pace of the cars.
The outside appearance of this machine resembles that of the large round-
abouts as now used.
A central mast or standard A supports the iron or wooden framework of the
structure. This mast rests on a floor B placed directly on the ground. A
second floor C is sufficiently raised above the first to allow of the motive mech-
On this floor the chairs or cars for the
anism being placed between them.
passengers travel, which chairs or cars may be either simple seats or arm-chairs
with one or more places as shewn in the drawing. They can of course be orna-
mented or in the form of animals, or of any other design.
These seats follow a course traced on the upper floor C (see Fig. 2) and follow-
in a line formed of a series of arcs of a circle, joining and crossing each other.
This course may vary in its design; but in all cases it must be composed of
parts of a circle forming a course of a certain length for the half journey, which
course returns on itself following the corresponding configuration in order to
return to the starting point.
It will be understood that all the cars have to follow all the serpentine wind-
ings thus formed, and form long trains following and crossing each other.
The course is cut out in the thickness of the floor C, sufficiently wide to allow

page_text: a guide D on rollers to pass which is fixed to the frame E of the seat, and hav-
ing on its lower portion a vertical lever G, terminated by a fork H.
A roller I mounted on the said fork, moves on a rail J supported by an inter-
mediate flooring K.
The lever G attached to the guide piece of the seat engages in one of the
notches of the transport platforms L. These transport platforms L, the move-
ments of which are synchronised by suitable gearing, are provided with slots on
their periphery for the lever of each guiding boat to pass; in revolving, they
carry along this lever, and consequently the corresponding seat following the
curve described, with the axis of rotation as centre. These platforms may be
actuated inversely with regard to one another, and the speed of rotation and
other details may be variously modified.
The diagram (Fig. 6) shews two consecutive notched platforms a b; these
platforms situated in the same horizontal plane are fixed on parallel shafts M
provided with gear-wheels N.
The direction of the rotation of the discs is inverse, so that the lever which
is engaged in the notch 1 of the platform is carried along by this to point 3,
where it arrives at the same time as the notch 31 of the platform a; in this
position the guide 1) to which the lever is fixed becomes engaged in that part
of the course cut out in the floor (which has its centre on the axis of the plat-
form a, and the lever is constrained to follow this course while engaging below
in the notch 31 of the platform a.
In the same manner the lever engaged in the toothing 21 of the platform a
will arrive at the tangent point 31 at the same time as an empty toothing 2 of
the platform b, and will be carried along by it.
This operation is repeated as often as necessary for completing the journey of
the seats.
At various points of the course curves of greater length give to the cars a
speed inversely proportionate to the size of their radius.
This arrangement permits of curiosities, pictures and other attractions for
rendering the trip more pleasant being placed at these points.
The parts subject to friction (such as the platforms and the guide D) are
preferably provided with ball bearings.
The mounting and dismounting of the passengers takes place at a chosen part
of the course which forms a kind of terminus. The diagram (Figure 7) shews
in plan the arrangement adopted at this place in order to permit a slackening
of the seats.
Instead of a slotted dise the levers G are carried along by a larger platform O
having radial grooves R, and the corresponding floor is opened out in a spindle
shaped aperture S, the pointed end of which is tangential to the toothed disc L',
the other end having a curve corresponding to that of the grooved platform, 0.
The chairs or cars carried along by the slots of the platform approach the
centre on arriving on this platform (return position) and recede in going off
(position of departure); the circumferential speed of the platform decreasing
with the radius, each seat engaged in a slot will be led to the determined point,
according to the speed of the platform, and this speed can be sufficiently reduced
for persons to mount and dismount with safety.
The motive power can be of any kind, electrical or otherwise, and actuates
the driving shafts M with gearing N at one or more points, either directly or
indirectly.
In Figure 3 we have shewn an electric motor T keyed directly on one of the
vertical shafts.
We reserve the right of moving the chairs or cars by electricity.
For instance, we may actuate these seats electro-dynamically by making the
mechanism placed under the floor (perform the exclusive functions of distri-
butors of energy.
In this case, each seat V is not made solid with the corre-
sponding guide 1). This latter taking current from the rail J, transmits it to

page_text: a small dynamo placed at any part of the seat V, for instance on the frame E,
in order to actuate the rollers X and move the seat. The ends of the frame E
of the seat and the ends of the guide 1) can be provided with electro magnets
in order to ensure the seat V moving in a direction corresponding to that of
the guide D. We may also make a slight groove in the floor sufficient for
guiding the rollers of the seat V.
It will be seen that the mechanism placed under the floor C has only to exer-
cise sufficient force for moving the guide D. These guides distribute current
to the dynamos placed on the seats for moving said seats.
The grooving in the floor is always necessary in order to guide the guide D,
but it can be covered over on the upper part of the floor C by a plate, the lower
surface of which is in contact with the electro magnets of the guide D. the upper
surface being in contact with the electro-magnets of the frame E.
The move-
ment is thus obtained electro magnetically in the same manner as that of a
needle or metal pen placed loose on a sheet of paper and subjected to the influ-
ence of a magnet.
In this case the mechanism placed under the floor (being the conductor, that
is to say, means of traction and not merely distributor as in the preceding arrange-
ment, it should be sufficiently strong to move the seats on the floor ('. In this
arrangement the guiding grooves of the guide D can be also covered over by a
plate serving as contact for the electro-magnets.
Having thus described the working of the round about we reserve the right of
making it comfortable and attractive from an architectural point of view, adding
for example, a promenade round the sides on the level of the seat floor sepa-
rated from the track by a barrier in order to prevent accidents, and one or more
other promenades Z at different stages.
The attractions can also be multiplied in order to transform this roundabout
into a place for rest, recreation or refreshment, and various other objects. Like-
wise we can arrange on the track arches, tunnels, rockeries, illuminated foun-
tains and the like so as to present the appearance of a labyrinth; and also cover
the sides of the seat with looking-glass or place looking-glass in all suitable
places giving by means of the reflection of moving objects and electric lighting,
the appearance of greater speed and pleasing optical "effects.
We may likewise place at the entrance means for facilitating access to the
different stages, one being placed tangentially to the platform at the point of
least speed for taking the passengers on and off.
Our track system can be placed in a horizontal or inclined position and take
any preferred form.
We reserve the right of providing all the moving seats or merely one of them
with devices such as brooms, brushes and the like for clearing the track of obsta-
cles such as confetti, flowers, orange peel and the like which would obstruct the
course of the cars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
:-
1. In a roundabout a floor provided with a slot following a waving course of
the kind described together with means for propelling the cars along said course,
substantially as described.
2. In a roundabout means for driving the cars consisting of a train of plat-
forms adapted to propel the cars along a waving course substantially as des-
cribed.
3. Means for driving the cars in a roundabout, of the kind described in Claim 1
consisting of transport platforms L forming a train provided with notches at
their circumference for engaging with a lever attached to the cars, substantially
as described.
4. In a roundabout with means for driving the cars as described in Claim 1

page_text: the radially grooved and rotating platform O adapted to co-act with the aper-
ture S in the floor C to decrease the speed of the cars at the terminus, substan-
tially as described.
5. The electric and magnetic means for guiding and propelling the cars of a
roundabout, substantially as described.
Deted the 12th day of Vorah 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.