Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs, Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs,
Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
I, FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON, of 16, East Parade, Leeds, in the County
of York, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been customary to work roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-go-rounds,
and like machines, either by manumotive power, or by means of a steam engine
placed in or near the centre of the ring, and the requisite power for rotating the
cars, horses, boats, and other parts composing the ring (all of which are hereafter
termed cars) being imparted thereto through gearing and a radiating wooden frame,
to the outer ends of which the cars are attached. This arrangement necessitates
great care and expense in fixing the engine or post central and level with the track
of the roundabout.
Now my invention consists in dispensing with the wooden radiating frame, and I
employ one or more steam or other engines to work one or more dynamo-electric
machine or machines placed either within the ring or at a suitable distance there-
from, or an electrical storeage battery may be employed alone or in addition to
the dynamo, for supplying the current to one or more electric motors placed on or
attached to the cars, say to their axles or connected thereto by gearing, belting, or
other equivalent means.
Underneath or near to the cars-say, if desired, within the track or rails on
which the cars rotate-I place one or more insulated conductor or conductors
(which may consist of one or more strips or rods preferably, though not necessarily
so concentric with the rails) in such a manner that it or they may by means of one
or more switches and regulating apparatus be connected to the generator or
generators, or storeage battery. To the cars are fixed suitable connectors for
taking off the currents from the insulated strips or rods.
The above described apparatus or generating plant may also be employed for
lighting the roundabout as well as supplying the motive power for working the
same.
Dated the Thirty-first day of December 1891
FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Roundabouts, Whirlagigs,
•
Merry-go-rounds, and like Machines.
I, FREDERIC WILLIAM DICKINSON, of 16, East Parade, Leeds, in the County
of York, Electrical Engineer, 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:
Hitherto it has been customary to work roundabouts, whirlagigs, merry-go-rounds,
and like machines, either by manumotive power, or by ineans of a steam engine
placed in or near the centre of the ring, and the requisite power for rotating the
cars, horses, boats, and other parts composing the ring (all of which are hereafter
termed cars), being imparted thereto through gearing and a radiating wooden frame,
to the outer ends of which the cars are attached.

page_text: This arrangement necessitates great care and expense in fixing the engine or post
central and level with the track of the roundabout.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan of track and cars showing the electro-motor attached thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation and Fig. 3 an end elevation of cars with electro-motors
applied.
Figs. 4 and are respectively enlarged elevation and plan of rails, brush holders,
and bracket.
Fig. 6 is a general sketch showing generating and regulating apparatus applied
to a roundabout track.
In the drawings I have shown my invention applied to what is known as a
switchback roundabout, but I distinctly wish it to be understood that it may also
be applied to any other kind of roundabout, whirlagig, or merry-go-round, whether
with a circular, elliptical, or other track.
Now my invention consists in dispensing with the wooden radiating frame, and I
employ one or more steam or other engines A to work one or more dynamo-electric
machines B of ordinary construction, such as for instance shunt or compound wound,
placed either within the ring C (on which the rails c c¹ are fixed) at a suitable
distance therefrom, or an electrical storage battery (not shown in the drawings but
of ordinary and well known construction) may be employed alone or in addition
to the dynamo B for supplying the current to one more electro-motors E
preferably, though not necessarily so, series wound placed on or attached to the
cars F, say to their axles G or connected thereto by worms or other gearing or
belting H, or other equivalent means. In the drawings I havs shown pulleys H₁H"
and belting H. One or more axles of the car or sections can be driven from one or
more electro-motors by means of belting gearing or other equivalent means, or the
electro-motor or motors shaft or shafts may be used as an axle or axles of the car
or section. Also a switch and a fusable cut out may be attached to each electro-
motor, car or section.
Underneath or near to the cars, say if desired within the track or rails on which
the cars F travel I place one or more insulated conductor or conductors I which
may consist of one or more strips or rods I of copper, brass, or other suitable metal;
two strips are shown in the drawings attached to (and insulated thereby) wooden
sleepers I (having over hanging lips I for protecting the strips 1) preferably,
though not necessarily so, concentric with the rails in such a manner that it or they
may by means of one or more switches and regulating apparatus J be connected to
the generator or generators E, or storage battery. To the cars are fixed suitable
connectors as hereafter described for taking off the currents from the insulated
strips (or rods) as follows:-
To the bottom of the car F is fixed by any suitable means the electro-motor E.
To the electro-motor or car is fixed a suitable bracket or support K for carrying
the brush holders L L' and brushes M M' which press against the insulated copper
strips (or rods) I. To the brush holders L L', which are insulated at P, I attach
conductors N leading to the electro-motor.
The current from dynamo B is conveyed to the insulated strips (or rods) I by
conductors O, from which it is taken by the brushes M M' and conveyed through
the holders L L' and conductors N N to the electro-motor E, thereby actuating
the armature, shaft and pulleys H' H" and imparting a rotary motion to the axles G
of the car by means of the belts H.
The electro-motors E may be attached to each car or section of the roundabout,
or to any portion thereof, and the cars or sections are preferably (though not
necessarily so) coupled mechanically together, that is, without an electrical
connection.
In some cases where only one strip or rod (insulated) I is used it may be placed
either between the rails cc, or overhead as may be found desirable, and in the
latter case the car or section would be provided with a support for a suitable

page_text: ubbing or rolling contact which works on this single insulated strip or rod 1, and
he circuit would be completed through the axles G, wheels, and rails cc' of the
track to which the other conductor is connected.
A rack may be fixed if desired between the rails c c', or inside or outside of the
track in any convenient position for aiding in propelling the cars; when inclines
are employed a spur wheel may be arranged on either side of the car, motor, or
section to gear into the rack.
I would also have it understood that a side, rocking, or oscillating motion may,
in addition to the propelling motion also be imparted to the cars, or boats, gondolas,
horses, and the like all of which are frequently used in place of and substituted for
the cars, from the electro-motors through any of the well known and usually applied
mechanism or mechanisms, such as for instance levers, gearing, eccentrics, cams, and
the like.
The above described apparatus or generating plant may also be employed for
lighting the roundabout as well as suppling the motive power for working the
same.
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 :-
1st. The arrangement and combination of cars or sections, axles and motors,
cut out and switches, track and insulated strip or strips or rods, with the dynamo
machine or storage battery and means for actuating or filling the same substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth, that is to say, the arrangement and
combination of a steam engine A, dynamo machine B arranged either within or
without the track C, the insulated strip or strips or rods I arranged either between,
outside of or above the track C, with the electro motors E placed on or attached
to the cars F substantially as described.
2nd. The arrangement, application, and combination of the various parts forming
the apparatus for driving roundabouts, merry-go-rounds, whirlagigs and the like by
electricity substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Thirty-first day of October 1892.
SvartYNON
F. W. DICKINSON.