Improvements in Pleasure Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
Improvements in Pleasure Railways.
I, JOHN ANDERSON, of Commercial Building, St. Louis, State of Missouri,
United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 improvements in pleasure railways, and it consists in
the novel combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more
particularly described and claimed.
In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a side elevation of my complete invention, Fig. 2,
is a horizontal longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line - of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3. is an end view of my complete invention, Fig. 4, is a horizontal longi-
tudinal section of one end of the cylinder, showing more clearly the arrangement
of the track and partition, and the car located therein, Fig. 5, is a side elevation
of a modification of my invention, and, Fig. 6, is a vertical transverse section,
taken on the line y-y of Fig. 5.
The object of my invention, is to construct a simple and practical cylindrical
conveying railway, more especially adapted for pleasure purposes, whereby an
optical illusion is obtained by the person or persons so conveyed, it being observed
from the detail description of the construction of the railway hereinafter to
follow, that the car or cars contained within the cylinder, or rotating body
apparently travelled at a high speed, owing to the rapidly moving scenery or
other scenic effects, painted or otherwise formed or arranged upon the moving
partition, the car or cars practically assuming the same position within the
cylinder while the latter is being revolved, the wheels of the trucks however,
turning in the usual manner, giving a further impression to persons upon the
car, that they are travelling with considerable speed. A further and very
important feature of my invention, is the safety with which the railway can be
operated, as it is evident that it is impossible for a collision or other accident to
happen, while the railway is in operation.
Referring to the drawings, 1. represents a cylindrical body, which is con-
structed of suitable material and design, and arranged along the outer periphery.
and encircling the same, are a series of grooved bands or rings 2, the grooves of
which are adapted to receive rollers 3. journalled in pedestals 4, mounted upon
and secured to the ground or other bed. said pedestals being arranged on either
side of the cylinder, the rollers thereof forming bearings upon which the said
cylinder bears, and is supported at a suitable distance above the ground. The
boxes which form the upper ends of the pedestals 4. are provided with springs 5.
which cause the rollers 3, to be vielding to a certain extent, whereby the latter
will always be in contact with the grooved rings 2, carried by the cylinders 1.
notwithstanding the irregularities of the said cylinder in constructing the same.
Secured to the outer periphery of the cylinder 1, and secured at suitable
intervals along the length of the same, are toothed rings or bands 6, which mesh
with gear wheels 7, fixed upon the longitudinal shaft 8, mounted upon bearings 9,
the latter of which are centrally located, and arranged between the pedestals 4,

page_text: a belt pulley 10, being secured to one end of said shaft over which a belt may be
passed from any suitable engine or motor for rotating the cylinder 1.
Centrally located within the cylinder 1, and secured thereto by the partition
wall hereinafter to be described, is a smaller cylinder 11, which runs the full
length of the cylinder 1, and is open at both ends, and passing entirely through
said cylinder 11, projecting a suitable distance beyond the ends of the same,
is a bridge 12, the lower portion of which is provided with rollers 13, which
rest upon, and are in contact with the inner periphery of the said cylinder, the
opposite ends of said bridge being secured to the ground or other support, by
braces 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, stair-way 15, or its equivalent being located
at the ends of said bridge, whereby persons may walk over the bridge 12, and
view any advertising matter or other scenic effects that may be painted or other-
wise forined upon the inner periphery of the cylinder 11, it being observed that
the said cylinder also revolves with the large cylinder 1, during the operation of
the railway. A further object of the bridge, is to hold the cylindrical body 1,
in its proper operative position upon the rollers 3, when the same is revolved or
in operation, whereby a rigid and practical construction is obtained.
Secured within the body or cylinder 1, and to the inner periphery of the same,
are rails 16, which when arranged in a parallel manner, form a spiral track
throughout the entire length of the cylindrical body 1, and located between each
track and extending from the inner periphery of the cylinder 1, to the outer
periphery of the cylinder 11, in a spiral partition wall 17, upon the surfaces of
which is painted or otherwise formed suitable scenic effects or advertising matter,
as may be desired. As shown in Fig. 3, the rails 16, which form the track,
may be provided with any number of raised portions 18, along their length in
order to give the usual rolling effect to the car 19, during the travel of the
cylindrical body 1.
Located on the outside of the cylindrical body 1, is an inclined track 20, the
cylinder which connects with the track at the beginning of the first spiral inside,
as shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, upon which the cars 19, are first placed before
they enter said cylindrical body, and pass into the latter in a backward position
until they are located entirely within said cylindrical body, after which the cars
will apparently move in the opposite direction as the cylindrical body is moved
in the direction as shown by the arrow in said Fig. 3.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen, that after the cars enter the
receiving end of the cylindrical body, they are conveyed slowly in a lateral
direction to the delivery end of the cylindrical body, where they are delivered to
an inclined track (not shown), and carried again to the receiving end of the said
body.
A revolving cylindrical body constructed as described, may be provided with
any suitable advertising matter upon the outer periphery of the same, or scenic
effects as may be desired, and consequently, it is evident that an unlimited
amount of amusement is obtained, and that further, the advertising matter that
may be contained thereon will be of considerable value.
Should it be desired at any time to remove the passengers from the cylindrical
body, the spiral partition wall 17, is provided with doors 21 which are on a
line with one another, which are capable of being opened, whereby a free passage
may be obtained throughout the entire body.
In Figs. 5, and 6, I have shown a modification of my invention, in which is
shown a cylindrical body 22, which is constructed in the form of a wheel, the
central hub portion 23, of which is fixed to a transverse shaft 24, the opposite
ends of which are mounted in bearings 25, forming the upper ends of the
supports 26, the latter being located on the opposite sides of the cylindrical
body 22, whereby the latter is free to be revolved between the said supports, the
latter being anchored or otherwise secured to the ground or other support.
Secured to the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 22, are rails 27, which
form two circular concentric tracks upon which are placed cars 28, which

page_text: normally assume the position as shown in the drawings when the said cylindrical
body is revolved, whereby the same effect is produced as in the preceeding
description, with the exception that the cars are not conveyed along the length
of the body, but assume the same relative position. The opposite sides of the
cylindrical body, are each provided with doors 29, which are adapted to be opened
for admission of the passengers to the cars located within the cylindrical body,
the said doors being preferably closed while the said cylindrical body is being
revolved.
In order to revolve a body of this construction, I preferably employ an endless
belt 30, which passes over the outer periphery of the same, and over a drive
pulley or wheel 31, to the shaft 32, of which is applied any suitable motor power,
an idle pulley 33, being employed in connection with said belt for causing the
latter to remain in its operative position in respect to the revolving body.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of the parts
as herein shown and described, as the same may be varied in some respects with-
out departing from the nature of my invention, the principal object being to
provide a revolving body of suitable construction, having tracks or guide-ways
located within the same, upon which cars are adapted to travel, whereby con-
siderable travel is apparently given to the passengers in a comparatively small
amount of space.
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:-
-
1. In combination with a suitable revolving body, of rails secured to the inner
periphery of the same forming a track of spiral construction, throughout the
entire length of said body, the ends of said tracks terminating adjacent to the
ends of said body, and ears adapted to be placed upon said track, as and for the
purpose described.
2. In combination with a cylindrical revolving body, of rails secured to the
inner periphery of the same forming a track of spiral construction throughout
the entire length of said body, the ends of said tracks terminating at the ends of
said body, cars adapted to be placed upon said tracks, and means for guiding
said cars to the tracks located within the body, as and for the purpose described.
3. In combination with a cylindrical rotating body, of rails or guide-ways
secured to the inner periphery of the same forming a track of spiral construction
throughout the entire length of the said cylindrical body, and a spiral partition
located between said tracks, and running the full length of the said body, as and
for the purpose described.
4. In combination with a rotating body, of rails secured to the inner periphery
of the same forming tracks of spiral construction, upon which cars are adapted to
travel, and a spiral partition located between said tracks, and separating the
latter. as and for the purpose described.
5. A pleasure-railway, comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder centrally
located within the same, rails secured to the inner periphery of said outer
evlinder, and forming a track upon which cars are adapted to travel, and a par-
tition located between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder and the inner
periphery of the outer cylinder, as and for the purposes described.
6. A pleasure-railway, comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder located
within the same. rails secured to the inner periphery of the outer cylinder, and
forming tracks of spiral construction throughout the length of the said cylinders,
a partition secured between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, and the
inner periphery of the outer cylinder forming a spiral partition throughout
the entire length of the said cylinders, and a bridge passing entirely through the
inner cylinder. and projecting a suitable distance beyond the ends of the same,
rollers carried by said bridge, and in contact with the inner cylinder. and means
for supporting the ends of the bridge, as and for the purpose described,

page_text: 7. A pleasure-railway, comprising an outer cylinder, rails secured to the inner
periphery of the same, forming tracks upon which cars are adapted to travel,
the said tracks being spirally arranged along the entire length of the cylinder,
a partition wall located between said tracks, and also spirally arranged, and
running the full length of the cylinder, and doors covering suitable openings
formed in said partition, and on a line with one another, as and for the purpose
described.
8. A pleasure-railway, comprising a revolving body, tracks or guide-ways
secured within the same and spirally arranged and cars adapted to travel upon
said tracks, as and for the purpose described.
9. A pleasure-railway, comprising a revolving body, rails secured to the inner
periphery of the same forming continuous tracks or guideways, cars adapted to
be placed upon said tracks, and a partition located between said tracks, as and
for the purpose described.
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