Improvements in Roundabouts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
Improvements in Roundabouts.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM SAVAGE of 11 St. Nicholas Street, King's Lynn in
the County of Norfolk, Engineer and Commission Agent do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to roundabouts wherein a circular platform or device or
devices by which the riders are supported is or are rotated around a central support
and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient arrangement
whereby the platform or the like can be rotated by a steam engine or other suitable
motor and so that it is free to swing from side to side as it rotates as hereinafter
explained. According to my invention I make the upper part of the central
support in two parts (independently of the joint usually provided for lowering the
centre pole for travelling) and on the lower of these parts I fix brackets which
support the part usually called the "cheese" which is driven by any suitable
arrangement from the steam engine or other motor. In the said "cheese" I make
a central opening of sufficient size to accommodate the upper part of the central
support and the arrangement hereinafter described to allow of it oscillating freely
in either direction.
The "cheese" is supported by rings of live rollers both vertically and laterally.
In the central opening of the "cheese " I mount a ring by means of trunnions
diametrically opposite each other and within this ring is received the lower end of
the upper part of the central support which is connected to the said ring by another
pair of trunnions diametrically opposite each other and at right angles to the
trunnions by which the ring is supported in the "cheese." On the upper part of
the central support thus connected to the "cheese I fix a frame with radial arms
which are connected to the rods which extend from the upper part of the central
support to the platform or the like and support the latter. In this arrangement
the engine gives rotation to the "cheese" and upper part of the central support
and to the platform or the like whilst the said upper part and the platform or
support can oscillate or swing freely from side to side as they are rotated.
Dated this 29th day of March 1893.
"
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM SAVAGE of 11 St. Nicholas Street, King's Lynn in
the County of Norfolk, Engineer, and Commission Agent 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 :-
My invention relates to roundabouts wherein a circular platform or device or
devices by which the riders are supported is, or are, rotated, around a central
support, and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient arrange-
ment whereby the platform, or the like, can be rotated by a steam engine, or other
suitable motor, and so that it is free to swing from side to side as it rotates as
hereinafter explained. According to my invention I make the upper part of the

page_text: central support in two parts (independently of the joint provided for lowering the
centre pole for travelling) and on the lower of these parts I fix brackets which
support the part usually called the "cheese" which is driven by any suitable
arrangement from the steam engine or other motor. In the said cheese I make a
central opening of sufficient size to accommodate the upper part of the central
support and the arrangement hereinafter described to allow of it oscillating freely
in either direction.
"
"
The "cheese is supported by rings of live rollers both vertically and laterally.
In the central opening of the cheese I mount a ring by means of trunnions
diametrically opposite each other and within this ring is received the lower end of
the upper part of the central support which is connected to the said ring by another
pair of trunnions diametrically opposite each other and at right angles to the
trunnions by which the ring is supported in the "cheese." On the part of the
central support above the aforesaid connection to the "cheese I fix a frame with
radial arms which are connected to the rods or bars which extend from the upper
part of the central support to the platform, or the like, and support the latter. In
this arrangement the engine gives rotation to the "cheese and upper part of the
central support and to the platform or the like whilst the said upper part and the
platform or the like can oscillate or swing freely from side to side as they are
rotated.
The two parts of the central support can constitute the chimney of the motor
the connection between the parts being such as to allow of the rotation and
oscillation of the upper part.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in elevation partly in section
so much of a roundabout as is necessary to illustrate my invention and Figure 2
shews in plan, drawn to a larger scale, the arrangement for admitting of the
oscillatory or swinging movement of the platform or the like.
A is the lower part of the central support round which the platform or devices
which carry the riders rotate. This support above the usual joint at a (provided
for lowering the support for travelling) is made in two parts A2 A³ the part A³
being supported by, and so as to rotate with, the rotating part C known as the
"cheese.
The cheese C which may be rotated by gearing b and c from the motor das
usual is provided on its under side with a ring of live rollers D to reduce friction,
which rollers run on a track E carried on brackets E' fixed to the upper part A²
of the central support, the track E carrying also a ring of rollers F against which
a flange or ring G secured to the opening in the centre of the cheese has its
bearing. On diametrically opposite sides of the interior of the ring G are bearings H
for the reception of trunnions I formed on or fixed to the exterior of a ring or
frame K which is free to oscillate inside the ring G as shewn in Figure 2. On the
interior of the ring or frame K but at right angles to the trunnions I are other
trunnions on which rest, so as to be free to oscillate thereon, bearings M on a
ring or socket N fixed on the lower end of the upper part A³ of the central support.
By this arrangement of trunnions and their bearings the upper part A³ of the
central support is free to oscillate in any direction in the central opening in the
cheese C which opening is made sufficiently large to admit of the said oscillatory
motions.
Fixed on the upper part A³ of the central support is a frame O with radial
arms P connected at their outer ends to the rods or bars R by which the platform
or the like is connected to, and supported by, the upper end of the part A³ of the
central support, so that as the cheese C is rotated rotary motion is given through the
trunnions I and L and bearings H and M to the upper part A of the central support
and through the arms P and rods or bars R to the platform or the like whilst at
the same time the part A³ of the central support being free to oscillate on the
trunnions I and L the platform or the like can be swung from side to side and up
and down in addition to receiving a rotary motion round the central support, the
arms may be connected to each other so as to constitute a firm frame. I have

page_text: shewn the central support as constituting the chimney of the motor the part A'
being connected to the part A' by a yielding joint a³ of asbestos or other suitable
material but the said support need not constitute the chimney.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a roundabout the combination with the central support or chimney round
which rotates the platform or the like on which the riders are carried of an upper
part which is capable of being rotated with the platform and which is also free to
oscillate relatively to the stationary part of the support or chimney substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. In a roundabout the combination with the cheese and the upper part of the
central support or chimney of the frame or ring (K) and trunnions and bearings so
arranged that the said frame or ring can oscillate in the "cheese" and the said
upper part of the support can oscillate in the said frame or ring all the said parts
rotating with the cheese and driving the platform by means of connections
substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improvements in
roundabouts substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the accompanying
drawings.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.