Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
I, THOMAS HURST of 54 Back Mawdsley Street, Bolton in the County of Lancaster
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to an improved circular oscillating roundabout intended to be
used as a means or source of amusement and pleasure at sea-side resorts, fair grounds,
and other places and consists of certain novel features in the arrangement and con-
struction of the same for the purpose of carrying passengers in a circular or other car
or platform round a fixed centre in an oscillating manner, the latter being effected by
means of ascending and descending planes. The circular or other car or platform is
mounted on a centre pillar or its equivalent provided at its upper end with a ball on
which sits a socket attached to the underside of the car or platform or vice versa, which
may be substituted by other equivalent means. The underside of the car or platform
is fitted with radiating arms to allow of the movements of the same, which are
operated or driven by rollers mounted on arms attached to a spur or other wheel on
the fixed centre. The ascending and descending planes encircle the underside of the
car or platform, and are provided in channel form in which travel suitable wheels or
rollers as the car or platform revolves. The rollers or wheels can be provided with
flanges on each side to allow of the same riding on a raised projection on the ascending
and descending planes. These rollers or wheels are mounted loosely on arms extending
from the framework of the car or platform; the arms being sufficiently long to slide
in or out through the wheels or rollers as demanded by the oscillating movements of
the same.
The car or platform is fitted with seats in any suitable manner and is
driven by gearing working into the spur or other wheel mounted on the fixed centre.
The whole is constructed so as to be readily fixed or removed with the least possible
delay. When the car or platform is fixed it is encased for a convenient height to
protect the outside public from danger; the upper side being utilized as a platform to

page_text: facilitate filling and emptying, which is effected in a systematic manner by means of a
hurdle or other equivalents dividing the ascending and descending stairs, thereby
saving time and the annoyance at present existing in machines employed for pleasure
or amusement. If desired the engine and boiler for driving the same can be fixed
under the car or platform to save room and ensure compactness; the chimney passing
up the centre in any convenient manner.
Dated the 10th October 1887
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Circular Oscillating Roundabout.
I, THOMAS HURST of 347 Bridgman Street, late of 54 Back Mawdsley Street, both
in Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention, relates to an improved circular oscillating roundabout intended to be
used as a means or source of amusement and pleasure at sea-side resorts, fair grounds,
and other places and consists of certain novel features in the arrangement and
construction of the same for the purpose of carrying passengers in a circular or other
car or platform round a fixed centre in an oscillating manner, the latter being effected
by means of ascending and descending planes. The circular or other car or platform
is mounted on a centre pillar or its equivalent provided at its upper end with a ball on
which sits a socket attached to the underside of the car or platform or vice-versa, which
may be substituted by other equivalent means. The underside of the car or platform
is fitted with radiating arms to allow of the movements of the same, which are operated
or driven by rollers mounted ou arms attached to a spur or other wheel on the fixed
centre. The ascending and descending planes encircle the underside of the car or
platform, and are provided in channel form in which travel suitable wheels or rollers
as the car or platform revolves. The rollers or wheels can be provided with flanges on
each side to allow of the same riding on a raised projection on the ascending and
descending planes. These rollers or wheels are mounted loosely on arms extending
from the framework of the car or platform. The car or platform is fitted with seats
in any suitable manner, and is driven by gearing working into the spur or other wheel
mounted on the fixed centre. The whole is constructed so as to be readily fixed or
removed with the least possible delay. When the car or platform is fixed it is encased
for a convenient height to protect the outside public from danger. If desired the
engine and boiler for driving the same can be fixed under the car or platform to save
room and ensure compactness; the chimney passing up the centre in any convenient
manner.
Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of my improved circular oscillating roundabout
through line A' B¹ in Fig. 3-Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation of same through
line D, and Fig. 3 is a part plan showing the means employed for driving the plat-
form or car round the fixed centre.
A is a circular or other car or platform constructed in any convenient manner, and
provided with the seats B. The floor of the car or platform A is mounted on the
joists C secured to the metallic centre piece D; the latter being constructed to carry
the centre pole E to which is fixed the rods F employed for carrying the awning
covering the car or platform. To the underside of the centre piece D is attached the
socket G which sits on the ball H on the upper end of the centre pillar I. The
socket G is secured on the ball H by the cap J; the latter being bolted to the

page_text: flange K as shown in Fig. 1. The socket and cap are lined internally with anti-friction
metal to reduce friction to a minimum. To the joists C are fixed the frames or
arms L carrying the centres M on which are mounted loosely the wheels N ; the latter
travelling round the circular track of ascending and descending planes. The
circular track O is provided on its upper side with the metallic plates M³, being
secured thereto by the bolts N' with countersunk heads. The circular track O
is formed as shown or in any suitable manner to facilitate removal and fixing.
In case the plates M2 are made of 1 iron the wheels N2 are constructed with the
double flanges O' as in Fig. 6. The centre pillar I is fitted with the flange or plat-
form P on which travel the rollers Q mounted on the ring R. These rollers carry the
platform S to which is attached the spur wheel T, & the latter is driven by the
pinion U on the shaft V. The shaft V is mounted in the bearings W and is driven
in any convenient manner by any suitable motor. The centre pillar I is provided
with the feet or claws X to attach the same to the cross-stays Y forming the base of
the track. The platform S is fitted with the fixings Z in which are mounted the
radiating arms A³, which allow of the up and down movements of the oscillating plat-
form or car A. The radiating arms A are pivoted to the fixings Z by the pins or
centres B³; the outer ends of the said arms having the forks and pins C carrying the
swivelling arms or links D³, which are connected to the eye-bolts E' on the joists C
by the rods F, and by which the circular or other car or platform A is revolved on the
track O as the radiating arms A travel round the fixed centre I. The rods F are
provided with right and left hand screws and jointed by the shackles W to allow, of
adjustment..
The car or platform, when fixed, is encased by the hoarding G³ to protect the outside
public from danger when the roundabout is in motion.
The car or platform may be circular or dodecagon as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,
or of any other form or shape as desired.
In lieu of the ball bearing H and socket G I substitute their equivalent consisting
of the universal joint as in Fig. 4. The pillar H2 is provided with the centres I
mounted in the bearings in the eye-shaft J; the latter having the centres K² mounted
in the bearings L on the platforu S. The platform S is supported and driven as
before described.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the universal joint through line G' H' in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a part sectional elevation of another modification of my improved round-
about, and Fig. 8 is a plan of same.
In lieu of the circular or other car or platform I substitute the small cars A mounted
on the wheels N by means of the bearings L and centres M. The cars A travel on
the rails M² on the double track O composed of ascending and descending planes as
in Fig. 1. The cars A are fitted with the fixings B³ to which are pivoted the swivelling
sockets (by the pins D³.
A³ is a vertical boiler in the centre of the track and I is the chimney on which is
mounted the spherical casting H, being secured thereto by the rings E³. On the
spherical casting H is mounted the swivelling socket G with the sockets F3; the latter
being for the purpose of receiving the radiating arms C. The outer ends of the
arms C are fitted with the spindles G³ which fit and slide in the swivelling sockets C³
according to the up and down movements of the cars A as they are driven round on
the circular track Ó. The swivelling socket G is made in two parts to admit of its
being placed on the spherical casting H, and is bolted together as shown in Fig. 8
by the bolts H. On the chimney I is fixed the platform P on which travels the
rollers mounted on the ring R. These rollers carry the platform S and spur
wheel T which are driven or revolved by the pinion U on the shaft V; the shaft V
being driven by the bevel gearing Is on the crank shaft J of the engine K on the
boiler A³.
The platform S is fitted with the fixings Z, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8, in which
are mounted the radiating arms A²; the latter being coupled to the arms C driving
the cars A by the rods F as before described.

page_text: The cars A are provided with the openings L³ to admit persons therein. The
cars A are braced together by the rods M³ as shown or in any other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a roundabout the use of the circular track 0 with ascending and descending
planes to give an oscillating motion to the car A in travelling round the same on the
wheels N, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
2. In a roundabout the use of the ball H and socket G to allow of the car A
oscillating according to the position of the wheels N in travelling round on the circular
track 0, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2.
3. In a roundabout the use of an universal' joint to allow of the car A oscillating
according to the position of the wheels N in travelling round on the circular track O,
substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 4 and 5.
4. In a roundabout the use of the car A provided with the seats B, and the wheels N,
the whole being mounted on the circular track O and the fixed ball H, substantially as
described and as shown on the drawings for the purpose specified.
5. In a roundabout the use of the double circular track O with ascending and
descending planes to give an oscillating motion to the cars A in travelling round the
same on the wheels N, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in
Figs. 7 and 8.
6. In a roundabout the use of the ball H mounted on the chimney I in combination
with the swivelling socket G provided with the sockets F³ to receive the arms C for
driving the cars A on the double circular track O, substantially as described and as
shown on the drawings.
7. In a roundabout the use of the swivelling sockets C³ in combination with the
spindles G³ on the arms C, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings
and for the purpose specified.
8. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts forming my
improved roundabouts, applied and operating, substantially as described and as shown
on the drawings.