IMPROVEMENTS IN ROUNDABOUTS OR CAROUSSELS."
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1881.
A communication from Wilhelm Stuhr, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN ROUNDABOUTS OR CAROUSSELS."
A communication from Wilhelm Stuhr, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
These improvements in roundabouts or caroussels relate, firstly, to the con-
struction of the frame, allowing a double platform or story to be used for the
reception of chairs, seats, or carriages; and, further, to the construction of the
carriages or part of the carriages in such manner that a rocking up and down
motion is or can be imparted to each chair or seat besides and independant from
the roundabout motion of the machine.
The construction of the framework and supporting parts is as follows:-The
central main shaft is a fixture at its lower part, whilst a second prolongated part
of the central shaft is turnable, and moves with the roundabout when the latter is
operated. The fixed part of the central shaft is fastened with its bottom end to a
cross frame placed upon the ground or foundation, and is further supported at
about half its height or length by a pyramidical shaped bracket made of wood
or iron.
Above this bracket a boss supported by a collar is placed, turnable upon
the central shaft, and from this horizontal beams forming the support for the floor
of the upper story extend radially as far as to the outer circumference of the
machine or apparatus. These beams are supported by rods or beams passed from a
boss or box placed loosely and turnable upon the point of the central shaft in
slanting direction downward to about the middle of the horizontal beams. The
before mentioned prolongation shaft is supported by a step bearing formed to the
upper part of the box or boss placed on top of the fixed shaft, and a second row of
radial horizontal beams are passed from the outer wall of the box, to which they
are attached outward to the circumference of the machine. These beams are by
means of cross beams supported from the top of the turnable central shaft, whilst
two concentrically arranged rows of iron rods reaching downward from the upper-
most set of radial beams to the first floor radial beams, and further to the bottom
frame structure of the lower platform, support both floors or stories of the machine.

page_text: These improved roundabouts or caroussels may be driven by animal or motive
power in a similar manner as those now commonly in use, and the Invention does
not extend to the mode of giving circular motion to the machine.
The chairs, seats, or carriages, or some of them, receive a rocking motion
besides the roundabout motion, and are for this purpose constructed as follows:-
Each of these chairs, seats, or carriages is by means of bolts hung up or pivoted
in cast iron or other brackets placed to the sides of same. To the both ends of the
chair, seat, or carriage the ends of a chain or rope are fastened, which chain or
rope is passed around a drum placed in bearings underneath the seat or carriage.
By means of gearing and a handle the drum can be turned by a person standing
at the inner side of the chair or carriage in either one or other direction, in con-
sequence of which the chain or rope is alternately from one or other end wound up
upon the drum. The chair or carriage must follow the movements of the rope or
chain, and receives a rocking backward and forward motion. By turning the
drum during the roundabout motion of the machine each chair receives such double
motion.