Improvements in Roundabouts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MARSHALL 54 Gilpin Street Sheffield Yorkshire, Public
Amusements Caterer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements relate to roundabouts or machines used at fairs &c. for the
purpose of carrying passengers in a circle, such machines either running upon tram-
rails and driven underneath, or being suspended and driven by overhead gearing,
actuated by any suitable form of engine or other motive power.
One part of my invention consists of an improved arrangement of and form of
rocking seat when the platform of the roundabout runs upon a circular tramway.
In this case I employ an ordinary eccentric or eccentrics upon the carriage axle
having a vertical or inclined rod.
At any suitable height above the main carriage of the roundabout I place an
axle or rocking shaft parallel with the carriage axle and which I term the "seat
carrying axle," upon this axle I fix cross levers upon both ends of which levers a
seat or seats may be formed. In order to give these seats an upward and downward,
or rocking motion, I attach the end of the eccentric rod above referred to, to the
said lever or levers at any suitable distance from the "carrying axle so as to give
the necessary amount of motion.
01'
£6
"
By these means I dispense with the use of "rockers rocking arms" in
conjunction with an eccentric and rod from the carriage axle and in place of such
rocker I employ a plain axle supported upon end bearings and upon both ends of
the levers attached to such axle I may fix seats to carry one or more persons as
described.
In some instances I may carry the "seat carrying axle" the full width of the
roundabout platform and I may then place any number of levers upon it and attach
to such levers in the manner described the ends of 2, 3, or more eccentric rods, the
eccentrics being all set at the same relative position upon the carriage axle; in this
way a uniform rocking motion is obtained and a much greater number of passengers
can be carried than by roundabouts constructed with ordinary rocking brackets.
Another form of my invention refers to roundabouts constructed without
tramways or underneath supports and either with or without platforms I employ
similar seat carrying axles" suitably fixed to the platform (when there is one) or
suspended from the framing above, such "carrying axles" having cross levers and
seats as already described but being provided with eccentric rods or crank
connecting rods coming down from the overhead gearing and having their ends
attached to the levers at any suitable distance from the "carrying axle."
My improvements may be said chiefly to consist of a novel way of constructing
rocking seats and of the adaptation of such to ordinary roundabouts and the like,
such seats being moved upwards and downwards by my improved mechanism and
being operated by the roundabout in the manner herein described or by equivalent
means thereto.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MARSHALL 54 Gilpin Street Sheffield, Yorkshire Public
Amusements Caterer, 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:-
My improvements relate to roundabouts or machines commonly called "galloping
horses" and circular "switchbacks," such machines either running upon rails or
being suspended and driven by overhead gearing from any suitable motive power
and for the purpose of brevity classed in this Specification under the general term
of "roundabouts."
One form of my invention consists of an improved description of rocking seats
suitably arranged to work above the platform of a roundabout when it is made to
run upon a circular rail or tramway.
In this case I employ an ordinary eccentric or eccentrics upon the carriage axle,
having a vertical or inclined rod projecting from it through the platform.
At any suitable height above the main carriage of the "roundabout” I place an
axle or rocking shaft parallel with the carriage axle and which I term the seat
carrying axle.
Upon this axle I fix cross-bars or levers, and upon either end, or upon both ends
of these levers a seat or seats may be placed. In order to give these seats an
upward and downward or rocking motion I attach the end of the eccentric rod
above described to the said lever or levers at any suitable distance from the carrying
axle so as to give the required amount of motion.
Another form of my invention applies to roundabouts constructed without rails
or tramways or underneath supports and made either with or without platforms, in
this case I employ similar seat carrying axles suitably fixed to the said platforms
or entirely suspended from the framing above, such carrying axles having cross
levers and seats as already described, the levers being provided with eccentric rods
from eccentrics, or connecting rods from ordinary cranks or from bell cranks
overhead and having their ends attached to the carriage levers at any suitable
distance from the carrying axle.
My improvements as herein described may be applied to the construction of
roundabouts consisting entirely of rocking seats or they may be used in any form
of roundabout where the riders are mounted on galloping horses in such a way that
in place of the horses or in addition to them riders may be accommodated upon
rocking seats such seats being moved upwards and downwards by my improved
mechanism and being operated by the roundabouts in the manner herein described
or by any equivalent means thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the sheet of drawings appended hereunto-
Fig. 1 is a side view of seats rocked from underneath.
In the sheet of drawings appended hereunto-
Fig. 1 is a side view of seats rocked from underneath.
Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view of seats rocked from overhead.
In Figs. 1, 2, & 3, A is a framing, carriage, or platform of the roundabout.
B is the carriage axle. C, the eccentric or crank. D, is the seat carrying axle.
E, the supports for seat carrying axle. F, is the end of eccentric rod with eye.
G, G, are the seats. H the cross-bars or rocking levers. I, is a suspension or
carrying rod for the seats G, G Fig. 3.
My manner of working when there is an underneath carriage is as follows:
The axle B, revolves when the roundabout is set in motion and may communicate
its revolutions by means of gearing to the eccentric or crank shaft C, so that the

page_text: rod eye F, is moved upwards and downwards with each revolution, imparting a
rocking motion to the lever H upon which the seats are fixed. The seats may be
of either form shown but I do not confine myself to any particular form or shape.
The marner of working when there is an overhead carriage and the roundabout
is set in motion is as follows. Let A Fig. 3 represent the overhead travelling
framing. C, is an eccentric or crank which imparts an upward and downward
motion to the eccentric rod eye F, thus causing the lever H to rock upon D which
is a swinging fulcrum equivalent to D in Fig. I.
By these means I dispense with the use of separate rockers, or rocking arms in
conjunction with an eccentric and rod from the carriage axle or countershaft, and
in place of such rocker I employ a plain straight axle supported upon end bearings,
and upon both ends of the cross levers attached to such axle I may fix seats to
carry one or more persons.
In some instances I may carry the "scat carrying axle" the full width of the
roundabout platform and I may place any number of levers upon it and attach to
such levers in the manner described the ends of 2, or more eccentric rods, the
eccentrics being all set at the same relative position upon the carriage axle or
countershaft, in this way a uniform rocking motion is obtained and a much greater
number of passengers can be carried than by roundabouts constructed with ordinary
rocking horses," or as circular "switchbacks."
te
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Firstly. The arrangement on roundabouts of rocking seats, such seats forming an
entire roundabout, or being placed between the horses, forming a combination
roundabout consisting of horses and rocking seats.
Secondly. The arrangement on a roundabout of cross-bars or double ended levers
mounted and driven as described or equivalently thereto, such levers carrying seats
at both ends or in other suitable position.
Thirdly. In or upon roundabouts the combined forms of levers, seats, pedestals,
& rods substantially as herein described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of September 1891.
WILLIAM HENRY MARSHALL.