Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs, Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs,
Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
1, FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON, of St. Ann's Works, Cookridge Street,
Leeds, in the County of York, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry
go-rounds, and like macliines, all of which are hereafter termed and included in
the term "the machine."
Hitherto it has been customary to work roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-go-
rounds, and like machines, either by manumotive power, or by means of a steain
engine placed in or near the centre of the ring, and the requisite power for
rotating the cars, horses, boats, and other parts composing the ring (all of which
are hereafter termed cars) being imparted fliereto through gearing and a radiating
wooden frame, to the outer ends of which the cars are attached.
Now the object of this invention is to dispense with the use of a central steam
engine and to drive the said machine or machines from a central electro-motor
or motors arranged at or near the centre of the ring.
According to this invention the general arrangement of the machine so far
as regards the track, horses; cars, boats, or the like, the framework of the
machine, its central driving wheel, and support, as well as the means for suspend-
ing the horses, cars, bouts, or the like froin the spars of the central framework,
may all be of the usual and ordinary construction.
But instead of employing a steam engine for driving the same direct; I arrange
say the following means;
An electro-motor or motors of any suitable construction may be arranged,
say, on the ground level, or mounted upon a truck or other suitable foundation.
From a pulley or pinion on the shaft or shafts of the motor or motors I transmit
motion by means of a belt, chain, gearing, or equivalent means to a pulley or
wheel mounted, say, on a counter shaft carried in bearings on the same or other
truck or foundation on which the steam boiler and engine now in use are mounted
and fixed. On the counter shaft another pinion may be fixed and gears with a
wheel on an intermediate shaft. A second pinion may also be mounted upon the
intermediate shaft and arranged to gear with a wheel mounted upon a vertical
shaft, ou the upper end of which may be fixed a second pinion arranged to gear
with the main driving wheel of the machine, and which rotates around the
chimney of the steam boiler and engine or the central support of the machine.
The electro-motor or motors may also be arranged to act as a brake or brakes
for the machine.
The herein described improvements may be adapted to trucks and steam
engines and boilers now in use, and the electro-motor or motors may be driven
from the steam engine and dynamos now employed for electric lighting purposes,
and which may stand either inside or outside of the ring and be electrically

page_text: connected to the electro motor or motors by conductors arranged in any convenient
manner.
A small electro-motor may also be employed for working the organ inside of
the ring.
FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.
Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs,
Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
1, FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON, of St. Ann's Works, Cookridge Street,
Leeds, in the County of York, Electrical Engineor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-
go-rounds, and like machines, all of which are hereafter termed and included in
the term the machine."
Hitherto it has been customary to work roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-go-
rounds, and like machines, either by manumotive power, or by means of a steam
engine placed in or near the centre of the ring, and the requisite power for
rotating the cars, horses, boats, and other parts composing the ring (all of which
are hereafter termed horses or cars) being imparted thereto through gearing and a
radiating wooden frame, to the outer ends of which the cars are attached.
Now the object of this invention is to dispense with the use of a central steam
.eugine and to drive the said machine or machines from a central electro-motor
or motors arranged at or near the centre of the ring.
In the drawings hereunto annexed:―
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a. portion of a roundabout provided with a
fixed top and track with this invention applied.
Fig. 2 a part plan of same.
Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of a portion of a roundabout with a revolving top
with this invention applied.
Fig. 4 a part plan of same.
Corresponding parts are marked with similar letters of reference in all the
views:
A is the chimney or central support which at Fig. 1 is a fixture, and at Fig.
is divided into two portions so that its upper part is capable of revolving. B the
top which is also a fixture at Tig. 1, but af Fig. 3 it is fixed to the central support
so as to revolve therewith. The lower portion of the chimney is in either case
fixed. to the wheeled carriage C, which in turn is mounted either upon the ground
or upon a foundation or platform D.
E the circular pin wheel is mounted upon the boss of fixing F which receives
the inner ends of the radiating spars G forming part of the framework of the
top. At Fig. 1 the fixing F is mounted upon the central support A so as to be
capable of revolving thereon. But at Fig. it is made to form a kind of sleeve
into which the upper end of the fixed portion of the central support passes, whilst
the lower end of the upper and revolving portion of the same support A impinges
upon the top of the fixed portion, as well as being keyed or otherwise secured
to said fixing F. His the pinion which gears with the pin wheel E on either

page_text: its inner or outer periphery. In the drawings the pinion H is shown to gear
with the inner periphery. The pinion II is mounted upon the vertical shaft I
attached to the central support A by the bearings J, and armed at its lower
end with a bevel pinion K. L are the horses, which at Fig. 3 are suspended
from the spars G by the rods M. But at Fig. 1 where a fixed track N is eniployed
cars are shown in the place of horses, and they are also marked L. The cars L
are attached to the pendant rods or spars M by rods O provided with knuckle
or universal joints. P is a revolving platform (Fig. 3) which is attached to tlie
spars G by the rods Q.
All the above named parts are of the usual and ordinary construction.
But instead of employing a steam engine for driving the same direct, I arrange
suy the following means.
Ris an electro-motor of any suitable construction shown mounted upon thic
truck C, or it may be arranged, say, on the ground level or other suitable found-
ation. If desired more than one motor R may be employed.
From a pulley or pinion on the shaft S of the motor (or motors) I transmit
motion by means of a belt, chain, gearing, or equivalent means to a pulley or
wheel mounted, say, on the intermediate counter shaft T carried in bearings on
the same truck C as the motor R or upon the same or other truck or foundation
as that on which the steam boiler and engine (not shown in the drawings) now
in use are mounted and fixed.
In the drawing I have shown gearing for transmitting this motion arranged
as follows:-
On the motor shaft S another pinion U may be fixed and gears with a wheel V
on au intermediate counter shaft T. A second pinion W. is also mounted upon
the intermediate counter shaft and arranged to gear with the pinion or wheel K
mounted upon the vertical shaft I.
The motor (or motors) R may be electrically connected with the dynamo, or
generator or electrical storage, by means of the cables X Y for supplying the
current to the motor, having a speed controller % of ordinary construction for
starting, stopping, and reversing the motor interposed between the motor and
dynamo.
The electro-motor (or motors) R may also be arranged to act as a brake or
brakes for the machine.
The herein described improvements may be adapted to trucks and steam
engines and boilers now in use, and the electro-motor (or motors) R may be driven
from the steam engine and dynames now employed for electric lighting purposes,
and which may stand either inside or outside of the ring and be electrically
connected to the electro motor (or motors) by conductors X Y as described,
arranged in any convenient manner.
A small electro-motor, not shown in the drawings, may also, in some cases,
be employed for working the organ inside of the ring.
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:―
The arrangement and combination of the various parts constituting the means
for electrically driving roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-go-rounds, and like
machines, substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dal 1
انسل
1000