Improvements in Round-abouts or Merry-go-rounds, the Invention being also applicable to Racing Games.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1895-Accepted 29th June, 1895
Improvements in Round-abouts or Merry-go-rounds, the Invention
being also applicable to Racing Games.
A communication from abroad by FRANZ VERRUE, Engineer, of 50 Rue de la
Source, Brussels, Belgium.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in round-abouts or merry-go-rounds the
invention being also applicable to racing games in which the tracks are straight or
otherwise and in which model horses or vehicles ridden by persons or jockeys or
carrying persons are employed or in which model horses vehicles or the like may
sent along tracks.
In the drawings accompanying this Specification
be
Figs. 1 and 6 show model horses adapted to be ridden by persons or jockeys.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show a board for increasing the speed of the hoises at a distance
from same, while
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement whereby the rider of the horse can increase its
speed if skilful enough.
According to this invention whatever the number of horses may be, the owner or
Jessee of apparatus of this class is not in a position to tell beforehand which horse
will win the race, the victory being gained either by the skill of the rider or by
chance as may be desired.
Each horse is independent of the other and mounted upon au electrical motor-
carriage A, arranged to travel along a track as shown in Fig. 1.
The track may be laid down in the shape of a circle, polygon or it may be a
straight track or of other shapes. Current is supplied from a dynamo provided
with a switch-board enabling currents of equal intensity or strength to be sent
through the various lines; means being also provided for supplying current for
illuminating the structure with electric light.
Each of the currents sent through the several lines has resistances provided for
it, adapted to operate either at the moment when the circuit is closed by the
operation of the switch on the board, or immediately after that, such resistances
being placed in any convenient situation along the line; such resistances being,
however, capable of being removed or cut out, as before stated, either by the
voluntary action of a more or less expert rider, or simply by chance. All of the
horses are originally set in motion at the same rate of speed, and will continue so
to move as long as their respective currents retain an equal intensity; but as soon
as a more powerful current is sent through one line, than through the others, the
electrical carriage supporting the horse will necessarily be propelled at a greater
speed. That horse, therefore, will reach the winning post first, and its rider will be
the winner of the race.
(1.) For resistances, the operation of which is controlled by chance alone, the
arrangement, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, may be employed.
This consists of a stationary circular plate or disc B divided into as many notched
or slotted metal segments (properly insulated from each other) as there are parallel.

page_text: lines of track; their number being consequently equal also to the number of horses
which the game may comprise; and of another annular board or tray C as shown
in Figs. 3 and 4. This last mentioned board or tray is, like the first, divided into
segments, and has recesses k provided in it.
The two plates are connected or made integral with each other, though insulated
from each other electrically. The arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4, where
it will be seen that the segment a is above the segment a', the segment above the
segment, and so on.
Assuming that a metal ball is introduced, as in the roulette game, into the case
or cir le formed by the lower tray or board C, then such ball may stop rolling in one
of the recesses & between any one of the several pairs of segments a a, b b', c c', etc.,
and thereby make connection between the members of any one pair a connection
which will, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, cut out the resistance R on that
particular line, and accordingly increase the intensity of the current passing through
such line.
(2.) For resistances, the operation of which is controllable by the skill of the
rider, the arrangement described in the preceding paragraph is omitted, and in its
stead, there are provided, at any convenient points along each line, resistances
which it will be within the rider's power to destroy by the exercise of a certai
amount of skill.
This arrangement consists of a pair of spring arms a bed, Fig. 5, the arm a b
being connected to the current conductor on one rule of the resistance R, while the
arm c d is connected therewith at a point past the resistance. These arms have a
tendency to move nearer to each other, at bd, in consequence of the pressure of
suitable springs, such as g g', as soon as the ring K which carries a piece K' of
insulating material, interposed between the said arms, is removed. When the
points bd thus come into contact the resistance is cut out and there is a consequent
augmentation of the strength of current along the corresponding line. Thus it will
be seen that it is a question of skill for the rider himself to be able to remove by
hand or otherwise as he passes it the insulating ring from between the spring
arms a b c d and thus to secure victory for his horse.
Arrangements such as these may be placed at différent points of the line, so that
the rider may, by his own dexterity; progressively increase the speed of his progress,
as he travels along, or the arrangement may be reversed by putting in resistances
the speed of one horse being decreased by the rider of another horse or by chance.
Each of the horses may be arranged to carry round with them other horses or
vehicles; and they may be so constructed as to be capable of being driven at a
gallop or canter by the action of rods such as t t (Fig. 6) provided with rollers
travelling along undulating rails which may be laid, for the purpose, within or
between the main rails of each line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner, the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I.declare that what I claim is :-
1. In round-abouts, merry-go-rounds, or racing games, the employment of means
whereby the speed of the horses, vehicles or the like, may be controlled either by
the skill of persons riding on or in same or by chance substantially in the manner
described.
2. The improved construction of round-abouts merry-go-rounds, or racing games,
and the means for controlling the speed of the horses (or vehicles) by shill or by
chance substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated the 23rd day of May 1895.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.