Improvements in and relating to Roundabouts.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Roundabouts.
We, CARL WILKENING, and JOACHIM BROHMANN, both Carpenters of Linden
near Hanover, Germany, 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 :-
The present invention consists of a roundabout in which chairs, chaises, coaches
or the like are caused to move round an elongated course having semicircular ends,
horizontal chain wheels being arranged at each end of the said course, over which
the chain carrying the chairs etc. runs and by means of which the same is set in
motion. The invention further consists of a figure arranged in the centre of the
course described by the chain, said figure being spring actuated and retained by a
pin or bolt, in such manner that when the latter is struck out by the inmates of the
coaches, chairs or the like in passing the said figure shall spring back and explode
a detonating cartridge.
And in order to make this Specification more easily intelligible reference is had
to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters denote similar parts
throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the chairs etc., being left out for the sake of
greater clearness.
Fig. 3 is a section through the bearings of one of the seats on an enlarged
scale.
Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation showing the figure in the centre of the
course.
Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4, Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections.
The course a having semicircular ends consists of rails, which are bent between
the ends to form an uneven or up and down way, the said course being either
horizontally arranged or arched as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The course can
be lengthened or shortened by removing or inserting lengths of rail in the parallel
sides and adjusting the length of the chain to correspond. The horizontal chain
wheels bare mounted at each end of the course on vertical shafts, the shaft of one
of the wheels being lengthened downwards, and having driving gear B arranged
underneath the course. Such driving gear may consist of a worm and worm wheel
as illustrated, or any other suitable kind of gearing may be employed, and driven
by a motor. The chain consists of the upper and lower rows of links kk and the
cross ties 1, each alternative link carrying a sleeve f for the chair spindle. Fig. 3
shows a detail section of such chair spindle and sleeve. The spindle g is attached
to the chair underneath the seat and extends downward through the sleeve f. The
said spindle is squared to prevent rotation of the seat in the sleeve whilst rolls or
balls are provided in the sleeve to decrease the friction between spindle and
sleeve as much as possible. The lower end of the spindle is formed to a fork d in
which is mounted the roll upon which the chair runs on the rail a. A spring his
arranged between the upper end of the sleeve f and the bottom of the seat of the
chair, which compresses and expands as the roll traverses the uneven course.
form of the chain wheels is made to fit the shape of the chain having alternate
depressions m n to fit the links and the sleeves f as may be clearly seen at Fig. 2.
P and
One chain wheel b may be shifted to tighten the chain by the hand wheel
spindle o.
The
The second part of the invention relates to the figure P mounted in the centre
of the course (Figs. 4-7). This figure is mounted on the rotary disc S driven
from the chain wheel by means of pulleys and band R R'. As shown in the drawings

page_text: the figure may represent a horse and is arranged on the disc S with a spring under-
neath its belly, the back legs of said horse being hinged to the disc and its front
legs being held down on the same by a loop extending through the disc and secured
by a pin v. A barrel representing a gun may he attached to the side of the horse
in such a manner that its end will contact with a pint when the horse springs back
(Fig. 7) and fire off a blank cartridge. When the whole roundabout is in motion,
the occupants of the chairs will have to try to strike out the pin v in passing the
figure and, when this is achieved the figure will spring back and fire off the
cartridge.
The rotating disc must not necessarily be mounted in the centre of the course, it
can also be arranged outside the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A roundabout having a course adjustable in its length and consisting of two
parallel lines joined at each end by a semicircle, the parallel sides of the course
being either horizontal or arched substantiaily as described.
2. In combination with a roundabout having a course as described, the arrange-
ment of the sleeves f for the chairs and the rolls i to decrease the friction between
sleeve and chair spindle substantially as described.
3. In combination with a roundabout as described, the polygonal chain wheels
having notches m n as described for the purpose specified.
4. In combination with a roundabout substantially as described, the arrangement
of the rotating disc S, the spring actuated figure thereon retained by a bolt
and
a gun barrel on the said figure to contact with the pin t in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as described.
5. A roundabout of the construction substantially as described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of October 1893.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.