IMPROVEMENTS IN "STEAM ROUNDABOUTS « OR MERRY-GO-ROUNDS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY TASKER Exhibitor of 16 Buchanan St. Raikes Road Black-
pool in Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN "STEAM ROUNDABOUTS
«
OR MERRY-GO-ROUNDS" to be as follows:-
In the steam "roundabouts" or merry-go-rounds" thus far employed the
vehicles or "horses" go in one direction and on the level. My invention consists
of means or devices for making them go in opposite directions and over gradients
& I carry it out in the following way :-
In the first place I have what I call a floor or bed plate on which the wheels of
my vehicles run & in the second place above this I have a revolving platform.
My floor or bed plate is circular or eliptical in its horizontal section & in its
vertical one it is undulating, that is to say in proceeding over the floor and around
its circumference various inclined places up & down are met with & this floor is
composed of steel of iron of cement or asphalte or other material which will permit
the rolling of wheels upon it with a minimum of friction.
When using only one set of vehicles or "horses" going in one direction only my
platform above the undulating floor consists essentially of a plane or table revolving
upon its centre and driven by steam or other motive power. This platform is
perforated around its circumference at suitable distances with holes through which
ascend bars on the top of which the vehicles or horses are affixed and beneath these
bars & likewise affixed to them are the wheels on which the contrivances are made
to roll. When two sets of vehicles or horses are employed the platform is constructed.
in two parts; concentrically disposed, annular in form & driven in opposite directions
by obvious applications of the motive power.
In conclusion what I claim as my invention is such an arrangement of, the floors.
& platforms of "round abouts" or "merry-go-rounds" as shall permit the vehicles
or horses to ascend and descend gradients & run simultaneously in directions
which are opposite & which has hitherto not been done in connection with these
contrivances.

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I, WILLIAM HENRY TASKER of 16 Buchanan Street, Raikes Road Blackpool,
Lancashire, Exhibitor do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ROUNDABOUTS OR MERRY-GO-ROUNDS," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to steam "round-abouts" which have hitherto been
caused to rotate upon a flat surface, and if two or more rows of horses or vehicles
have been employed they have rotated in the same direction.
My invention consists in making such "round-abouts" rotate over undulating
ground and also to arrange them so that if more than one row of horses are
employed that they shall rotate in opposite directions.
Such being the nature and object of my invention I will now proceed to describe
the same more fully, and for that purpose have annexed the accompanying sheet of
drawings illustrative thereof.
"
Fig. 1 is a side or front elevation, and Fig. 2 plan view of so much of a "round-
about as is necessary to illustrate my improvements. The floor A may be made
of metal, cement, concrete, or other suitable material upon which I fix or form the
inclined planes B preferably four to one row of horses, but the number will vary
according to judgement.
I also employ one, two, or more circular rims or rings Chaving wheel teeth
attached thereto and which are driven by rotary pinions D from any, or by any
convenient means, such pinions revolving in opposite directions so that the faces of
the riders greet each other. The rims C are perforated and receive the vertical
rods a the upper ends of which rods support the horses or vehicles, whilst the lower
end of said rods carry anti-friction bowls b so as to run smoothly over the ground
and up and down the gradients of the inclined planes B.
It is therefore obvious that as the rollers e run over the inclines B the attitude
of the horses and vehicles will be constantly changing, consequently the motions
given to the rider will be very different to what he experiences on a perfectly flat
surface.
Fig. 3 shows detail of horse and the manner it is supported upon the vertical rods a
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,
Firstly In connection with "round-abouts" or "merry-go-rounds" the use of
undulating ground for the purpose of giving to the horses and vehicle an up and
down motion, in addition to the ordinary circular motion, in manner substantially
as herein shewn and described.
Secondly-The arrangement of mechanism substantially as herein shewn and
described whereby opposite rotary motion is given to the platforms carrying the
horses and vehicles.
TOLL
T
L 1000
.