Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 invention relates to certain improvements in that class of pleasure railways.
used extensively at sea shore resorts and like places, and has for its object to provide
a new construction which will combine the advantages of several of the devices
now in use, and at the same time, present certain novel features which will tend to
improve the device and render it more attractive and entertaining.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation, on the line 1-1, Fig. 2, of a cycloidal chariot
constructed in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional elevation illustrating a modification, and
Fig. 4, is a diagram illustrating the preferable method of raising the device on
an inclined supporting track.
The device in general comprises two wheels of large diameter coupled together
and carrying any desired number of swivelled passenger carrying chariots or cars,
which, in the operation of the device, move in a cycloidal line. These wheels are
adapted to supporting and guiding tracks which may be arranged on a horizontal
line or may be inclined as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the wheels may run by
gravity, or where a horizontal track is used, may be mechanically propelled. The
wheels revolve and carry with them the chariots or cars, so that the passengers
have an enjoyable ride.
Referring to the drawings, A, A¹, represent two wheels of large diameter,
which are coupled together by a central shaft B and a series of cross bars b
in such manner as to form a solid unyielding structure. The wheels are
formed of suitable rims a and central hubs B', the latter being connected to
the rims by tension rods 6' both wheels being mounted upon hut not secured to the
central shaft B, the ends of which preferably project some little distance beyond
the lines of the wheels.
At a point parallel to the line of travel of the shaft B and preferably slightly
below the centre of the shaft is arranged to one side of the pair of wheels, a guiding
track F which may be provided with a suitable electrical conductor or may itself
be formed of metal suitable for the purpose of conducting a current from a dynamo.
On that end of the shaft nearest the guiding track F, the shaft B is secured.to a

page_text: frame G, carrying wheels g, placed one on either side of the centre of the shaft
and adapted to hear upon the guiding tracks, so that as the wheels A, A', travel,
these small guiding wheels will be travelled along the guiding track and keep the
shaft from rotating.
To this frame G is also hung a wheel g' which travels against that face of the
track F opposite the supporting wheels and serves to keep the wheels in
position.
On the central shaft B is hung a frame H on which are mounted two electric
motors I, the shafts of which carry pinions i intermeshing with the teeth of a
large gear wheel J secured to one of the large supporting wheels so that the
revolving movement of the armatures may be transmitted to the supporting wheels
to drive the same.
From the motors extend conducting wires to the wheels g which rest upon
the track F and serve as a means for conducting the current of electricity from
the track to the motors, or an ordinary contact brush may be employed for the
purpose.
In some cases where it is not desired to place the conductor on the track Fa
supplemental conductor may be employed at the opposite side of the wheel, and
the central hollow shaft B is in such cases provided with an arm f¹ carrying a
trolley wheel at its outer end which bears upon the conductor.
Above the frame H is a platform M provided with suitable seats in which
passengers may ride, although it is preferred to utilize this central position for a
band of musicians to add to the enjoyment of the ride.
The chariots O are each provided with rods o, extending to and swivelled upon
the bars b so that the weight of the chariot will always ensure its remaining in
position immediately below the bar to which it is attached.
The supporting tracks P are arranged in any desired manner either on a level
or on an incline, and in one modification of the invention are so disposed as to form
a series of alternately arranged ascending and descending planes, as shown in the
diagram, Fig. 4, the wheels in such cases running down the descending planes by
gravity and being hauled up the ascending planes by any suitable mechanism,
preferably by a link belt R running over sprocket wheels disposed at the top and
bottom of the inclines and provided with teeth r which may engage with the ends
of the central shaft B.
In order to provide for the loading and unloading of the various passenger
carrying chariots, the tracks P are interrupted at intervals, say at the various
stations along the line of travel of the wheel, and at these points are arranged a
pair of supporting wheels S so disposed that the upper portions of their peripheries
will be on a line coincident with the level of the tracks, so that the carrying
wheels may run from the tracks onto these smaller wheels and he free to turn
thereon, the operator in the central car H so operating the rotating mechanism as
to slowly revolve the wheels and bring the passenger carrying chariots down to a
position on a level with the ground so that the passengers may enter or alight
therefrom.
As the momentum of the wheel is such that some difficulty is experienced in
immediately stopping it at these stations we prefer to provide a swivelled lever T'
carrying a wheel t, adapted to come into contact with the periphery of the large
carrying wheel and acted upon by a tension spring which will tend to move the
lever in a direction opposite to the line of travel of the wheel, and thus, as the
lever is moved back and the tension of the spring is gradually increased
the travel of the wheel will be stopped. Normally the lever is in a horizontal
position so that it will not interfere with the forward movement of the carrying
wheels and it is only moved to the stopping position when it is desired to stop the
supporting wheels at that particular station.
7
Normally the supporting tracks P are extended in a straight line, but as in some
cases it may be desirable to curve. the tracks to travel the wheel in a circular line

page_text: we provide on one of the large carrying wheels a flange U' forming a supporting
wheel, the diameter of this latter wheel being much less than the diameter of the
larger wheels, the relative proportions of the two being increased or decreased in
proportion to the radius of the curved track on which it is desired to travel. The
curved portion V of the track is on a plane considerably higher than the plane of
the main track P so that the smaller wheel may travel directly upon such curved
track V and leave the main supporting track without in any manner altering
the position of the main carrying wheels, and after the curve has been travelled
the wheel U leaves this curved supporting track and at the moment of leaving the
periphery of the main supporting wheel again comes into contact with the main
supporting track.
In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a construction of brake apparatus in which levers L.
pass through the hollow shaft B and are provided with brake shoes for contact
with guiding rails K, a guide rail, in this instance, being provided on each side of
the wheels.
It will be understood that various modifications of the structure may be made.
without departing from the spirit of my invention, as for instance the motive
power may take the form of a gas or other engine or the wheel may be travelled
along the track in any other suitable or convenient manner, as will be readily
understood.
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 correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A wheel having one or more passenger carrying chariots pivotally hung
thereon, and a supporting track on which said wheel may travel.
2. A wheel having one or more passenger carrying chariots, a supporting track
or tracks on which said wheel may travel, and a guiding track or tracks running
parallel with the main supporting track.
3. A wheel having one or more passenger carrying chariots hung thereon, and
inclined supporting track on which said wheel may travel, and mechanism for
hoisting said wheel up said inclined track.
4. In combination, a pair of wheels, passenger carrying chariots pivoted
between said wheels, a central stationary shaft on which said wheels may turn, a
guiding track for said shaft, a motor carrying frame hung from said shaft, a motor
carried thereby, and gearing connecting said motor to said wheels, substantially as
specified.
5. In combination, the wheels, supporting tracks therefor, passenger carrying
chariots pivotally hung to said wheels, a gear wheel secured to one of said wheels,.
a central stationary shaft on which said wheels may turn, a motor frame depending
from said shaft, and a motor carried by said frame, and geared to said gear wheel,.
substantially as specified.
6. The combination of the supporting wheels, the track therefor, a stationary
shaft on which said wheels may turn, a guiding track extending on a line parallel.
to the line of travel of the wheels, and guiding wheels carried by said shaft and in
contact with said guiding track, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of the carrying wheels, supporting tracks therefor,.
passenger carrying chariots pivotally hung to said wheels, a stationary hollow
sbaft on which said wheels may turn, an electric motor supported by said shaft and
operatively connected to the supporting wheels, an electric conductor, a trolley arm
carried by said hollow shaft, and conducting wires extending from the trolley arm.
through the hollow shaft, and from thence to the electric motor, substantially as
specified.
8. The combination of the supporting wheels, passenger carrying chariots.
carried thereby, supporting tracks for said wheels, said supporting tracks being
interrupted at the stations at which it is desired to stop, and wheels provided at

page_text: such interrupted portions of the track to receive and support and permit the free
-rotation of said supporting wheels, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.