Improvements in Roundabouts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug.. 1898
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roundabouts.
I, FREDERICK SAVAGE of St. Nicholas Iron Works, Kings Lynn, in the County
of Norfolk, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in roundabouts wherein carriages or
any vehicles or frames are caused to travel round on the well known undulating
circular tracks having any suitable number of hills and corresponding hollows for the
velicles or carriages to pass over as they are caused to revolve round the circle.
Theso improvements consist in :- -The method of connecting the carriages or
vehicles to the driving gear of the engine or other motive power, and also to each
other. In the arrangement of the axles of the carriages, which enables them to adapt
themselves to the different curves of the circular undulatory track.
In the special provision made for the safety of the passengers in case any of them
should fall from the carriages, or the couplings between the carriages should break
whilst the machine is in motion.
And in providing a powerful brake fixed to the centre revolving frame above the
engine, to hold the carriages in one position whilst they are being loaded and
unloaded.
To attach these carriages to the driving gear of the engine or other motive power,
I fix at the outer ends of two or more of the main radial driving levers of the circular
top, pieces projecting downwards, and securely braced from the lower ends radially
and otherwise to the radial top levers, near the lower ends of these pieces, I attach
one end of a connecting rod by universal joints, the other end of this connecting rod
is attached by similar joints to the carriage, so that as the carriages are driven round
the circle, and rise and fall as they pass over the undulations, these connecting rods
will work freely on these joints. To connect the carriages to each other, I employ
rods with universal joints at each end, which will admit freely of the rising, falling
and rolling motions as the carriages pass round the undulations of the track.
Each carriage has two axles which are fixed to the frame exactly radial from the
centre of the circle, one axle is fixed rigidly to the carriage frame by two bearings

page_text: one on each side, whilst the other is suspended by a pin in the centre of the axle, the
ends being free to rise and fall for a certain distance and the axle is kept truly radial
by frames for the ends of the axle to rise and fall in.
For the safety of the passengers, in case the connecting rods should break, or
anyone fall between whilst they are running I fix across the space between each
carriage and beneath the connecting rods a sheet of canvas or suitable netting which
would receive the connecting rod when it breaks, or the person falling, and prevent
them from falling under the carriage. The rods which carry this canvas or netting
are attached to each corner of the carriage and each rod is fitted with a spring
sliding in a suitable case or box which will permit them to lengthen and shorten as
the carriages roll in passing over the undulations and thus keep the canvas or netting
stretched properly tight. The rods. being held the right distance apart by a har
passing between, through the links in the centre. And to further ensure the safety
of people using this roundabout, I fix under the main revolving top centre above the
engine a powerful brake, under the convenient control of the engine driver. This
brake will be used to hold the carriages in one position, whilst they are being loaded
and unloaded with passengers, for if the carriages which are near the top of the
bills be filled with people before those in the hollows, these carriages would have a
tendency to rush downwards to the bottom of the hill, which would be dangerous to
the people in the act of passing in or out of the carriages, or standing near them.
Dated this 25th day of August 1888.

page_text: 1. FREDERICK SAVAGE, of St. Nicholas Iron Works, Kings Lynn, in the County
of Norfolk, 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:-
This invention has for its object improvements in roundabouts wherein carriages or
any vehicles or frames are caused to travel round on the well known undulating
circular tracks having any suitable number of hills and corresponding hollows for the
vehicles or carriages to pass over as they are caused to revolve round the circle.
These improvements consist in:-The method of connecting the carriages or
vehicles to the driving gear of the engine or other motive power, and also to each
other. In the arrangement of the axles of the carriages, which enables them to adapt
themselves to the different curves of the circular undulating track.
In the special provision made for the safety of the passengers in case any of them
should fall from the carriages, or the couplings between the carriages should break
whilst the machine is in motion.
And in providing a powerful brake fixed to the centre revolving frame above the
engine, to hold the carriages in one position whilst they are being loaded and
unloaded.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 on the accompanying drawings shows an elevation of the engine and
driving gear, with section of the undulating track through one of the hills. Figure 2
is plan of part of the general arrangement. Figures 3 detail of universal joint and
one end of connecting rod. Figure 4 detail of axle suspended by pin in the centre
for adapting itself to the curves in the road. Figure centre pin for same.
Figures 6 frame for end of axle to rise and fall in, and Figure 7 detail of rod with
spring for canvas or netting stretched across the space between the boats, and
Figure 8 plan of brake fixed to top.
To attach these carriages to the driving gear of the engine or other motive power,
I fix at the outer ends A of two or more of the main radial driving levers of the
circular top, pieces B projecting downwards and securely braced from the lower ends
radially and otherwise to the radial top levers, near the lower ends of these pieces,
1 attach one end of a connecting rod (), by universal joints, the other end of this
connecting rod is attached by similar joints D to the carriage, so that as the carriages
are driven round the circle, and rise and fall as they pass over the undulations, these
connecting rods will work freely on these joints. To connect the carriages to each
other, employ rods E E with universal joints at each end, which will admit freely of
the rising, falling and rolling motions as the carriages pass round the undulations of
the truck.

page_text: Each carriage has two axles F and G which are fixed to the frame exactly radial
from the centre of the circle, one axle F is fixed rigidly to the carriage frame by two
bearings one on each side, whilst the other G is suspended by a pin H in the centre
of the axle, the ends being free to rise and fall for a certain distance, and the axle is
kept truly radial by frames J J for the ends of the axle to rise and fall in.
For the safety of the passengers in case the connecting rods E E should break, or
anyone fall between whilst they are running I fix across the space between each
carriage, and beneath the connecting rods a sheet of canvas K, or suitable netting
which would receive the connecting rod E when it breaks, or the person falling and
prevent them from falling under the carriage. The rods L L which carry this canvas
or netting are attached to each corner of the carriage and each rod is fitted with a
spring M sliding in a suitable case or box which will permit them to lengthen and
shorten as the carriages roll in passing over the undulations and thus keep the canvas
or netting stretched properly tight. The rods being held the right distance apart by
a bar passing between, through the links in the centre. And to further ensure the
safety of people using this roundabout, I fix under the main revolving top centre
above the engine a powerful brake, under the convenient control of the engine driver.
This brake will be used to hold the carriages in one position, whilst they are being
loaded and unloaded with passengers, for if the carriages which are near the top of the
hills be filled with people before those in the hollows, these carriages would have a
tendency to rush downwards to the bottom of the hill, which would be dangerous to
the people in the act of passing in or out of the carriages, or standing near them.
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 in
connection with roundabouts wherein carriages or any vehicles or frames are caused
to travel round an undulating circular track, is :-
1. Connecting the carriage, vehicle or frame to the part driven by the motive
power by means of a rod jointed at one end to the carriage vehicle or fraine and at
the other end to the part driven.
2. The combination of the radial arm the piece B projecting downwards from it and
the connecting rod having a universal joint at each end.
3. Coupling the carriages vehicles or frames by rigid rods which keep them the
right distance apart, forming a complete circle, and yet allow them freely to travel
over the undulations of the track.
4. Mounting the carriage vehicle or frame upon two radial axles one fixed relatively
to the carriage vehicle or frame the other being mounted on a pin at its centre its
ends being free to rise and fall.
5. The canvas or network K between the carriages vehicles or frames and the
spring rods or chains L by which it is supported.
6. My improved roundabout substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1889.