Improvements in Round-abouts, with Apparatus for Rotating, Lifting, and Lowering of the Gondolas or Cars.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICA
Improvements in Round-abouts, with Apparatus for Rotating,
Lifting, and Lowering of the Gondolas or Cars.
I, HUGO ENGEL, of 3 Pankstrasse, Berlin, N., in the German Empire, 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 :-
The subject of this invention is a round-about, in which the gondolas, or cars,
do not only receive a rotary movement, but are lifted and lowered. The invention
is applicable to round-abouts as ordinarily used for fairs and similar purposes, and
it may also be applied for more useful purposes. For instance the cars may be
carried upwards around a high tower, such as are constructed for exhibitions, and
which serve to afford an extensive view of the surrounding country.
This invention may be carried out in various forms of construction, and in order
that it may be the better understood now proceed to describe the same, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon. The invention is shown in three modifications, which will probably be
found preferable to other forms of construction.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a construction designed for
considerable heights.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section through the same.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the tower with a view of the ring which
carries the cars.
Figure 4 is a view on the line -x of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a front view of a part of the ring which carries the cars.
Figure 6 is partly a side elevation and partly a vertical section through
Figure 5.
For the sake of clearness Figures 3 to 6 are drawn to a larger scale than the
other figures.
Figures 7 to 8 show diagrammatically two modified constructions of the
invention.
The construction shown in Figures 1 to 6, consists principally of a foundation A,
Figures 1 to 2, on which is erected the tower, which is preferably constructed of
iron. A ring C is carried vertically up and down on this tower, without receiving
any rotary motion. The top of the tower carries the platform of the prospect
tower.
The essential part of this construction is the ring C, which may be made of
metal plates. The ring C carries a platform a on its upper side, and a platform b
on its lower side, see Figure 6. The platform a is level with the platform of the
foundation A, when the ring is in its lowest position, and carries the driving
mechanism of the whole apparatus, described hereinafter. The attendants stand
on the platform a, which is surrounded by a grating. At the highest position, the
platform a is level with a door t, Figure 1, which leads to a platform 1, Figure 2,
in the interior of the tower, and by which the visitors pass over a short spiral
staircase 2 to the prospect platform 1.
The lower platform 6 of the ring C carries a circular track c on which travels
a second ring D. The latter;-which is shown in Figure 3, partly in plan;-in
Figure 4 in transverse section; and in Figures 5 and 6 partly in front elevation ;-
consists of radial arms d, which are connected to one another at their inner ends

page_text: by U shaped rods d³, and grating d². The ring D is provided at its inuer side
with guiding rollers d³, which serve to guide the ring on the outer walls of the
ring C, and to ease the carrying wheels sidewise. The carrying wheels carry the
ring D; they are arranged under four or six arms, and are carried by plumme
blocks e¹. The gondolas or cars E carrying the passengers are arranged on the
arms d.
In order to reduce as much as possible the power required for the raising and
lowering of the ring carrying the driving mechanism and the cars, the apparatus
hereinbefore described is suspended on chains f, guided in rollers f¹, Figure 2,
which carry on their free ends a counter-weight 2. If the round-about is to be
constructed so as to be suitable for transportation, a vessel containing water is used
as counter weight, so that it may be emptied when the roundabout is to be
transported from place to place in order to reduce the weight to be carried.
The tower is suitably constructed of strong U or double T bearers g, of iron
or steel, connected at certain distances by rings g¹ and supported by columns g²
Figure 4.
The raising and lowering of the ring C is conveniently effected by means of
two chains C, arranged each between two diametrically opposite bearers g, in
such a manner that the ends are fastened to the top and bottom of the tower.
The apparatus is conveniently driven by an electro-motor h, whose movement is
transmitted to the main axle by means of suitable transmitting gear. The main
axle carries two pairs of couplings, in the manner that is usual with cranes of
modern construction. The loose half of the couplings are formed as bevil
wheels, and respectively, into which engages bevil wheels, k and 1
respectively.
The motor is always rotated in one direction and therefore rotates the axle i
in the same direction. The bevil wheel k drives a worm k', rotating the wheel m
carried on the axle m. The two ends of the axle m carry bevil wheels, which
drive bevil wheels on the axles n and n' and thus rotate the axles n and n¹ in
opposite directions to one another.
The chain C runs up and down on guiding rollers o¹, arranged, above one
another, in pairs on joint plummer blocks o, carried on the ring C. Above these
guiding rollers is arranged a chain windlass wheel o², carried by the free ends of
the axles and n' respectively, and rotated thereby.
The second coupling with the bevil wheels operates the bevil wheel 1, the
rotation of which is transmitted by suitable gearing to an axle 12. The free end
of this axle 2 carries a friction disc 13 pressed against a ring r, fixed to the
arms d, which therefore, when rotated, gives a circular movement to the cars or
gondolas.
By means of this arrangement of the driving mechanism, the engineer is able to
execute the following three movements of the round-about by simply actuating the
levers P and without leaving his place.
1. The ring may be raised and lowered without rotating the gondolas or cars.
2. The gondolas or cars may travel around the ring without the latter being
raised or lowered.
3. The ring may be raised or lowered, and the gondolas may travel round the
tower to the right or to the left.
Figure 7 shows a modification in which a ring 2 is carried spirally up and down
the tower 1. This is effected by means of two spirals 3 carried by the tower I,
and provided on their upper surfaces with teeth 3" and with a smooth path 4.
The ring 2 may be lifted until its upper platform 5 is level with the bottom of
the entrance door 6 leading to a platform 7 of the prospect tower.
The arrange-
ment of the upper part of this round-about may be the same as in the first
modification, so that the door 6 corresponds to the door t, Figure 1, and the
platform 7 to the platform B¹. The lower platform carries a circular track 8
corresponding to the track e Figure 2.
The whole apparatus is conveniently driven by the electro motor 9, the rotation

page_text: of which is transmitted to the axles 10 by means of gearing adapted to the space
available. Cog wheels 11 are provided on the inner ends of the axles 10, and
engage with the cogs 3" of the spirals 3. In order to ease the cog wheels 11 a
roller 12 is pivotted, behind each of them, on the axles 10, which transfers the
weight of the ring 2, and of the parts carried thereby, to the paths 4.
Independent from the first mentioned transmitting device, the electro-motor
drives a second transmitting gear, which rotates the friction wheel B, the rotation
of which is transmitted to a friction rim 13. The rotation of the latter is trans-
mitted to a ring 14, the construction of which corresponds to the ring D, of the
style of round-about first described hereinbefore. It rests on carrying wheels 14ª,
rolling on the before mentioned track 8. The gondolas or cars 15 for carrying the
passengers are carried by the ring 11, while the attendants stand on platform 5.
Couplings are inserted in the two before mentioned transmitting devices, so that
the electro-motor may rotate both transmitting devices simultaneously, or only one
of the same.
In consequence, the ring 2 with the car may be transported spirally
up and down, and the ring 14 may travel around the ring 2, without the same being
lifted.
A further modification designed for less elevated heights as shown in Figure 8.
On the well embedded foundation 16 is erected a column 17, the upper end of
which carries the fixed platform 18, the lower end carrying a fixed cog-wheel 19.
Around the column 17 is rotated the prospect tower 20, resting on the carrying
wheels 21, which roll on the tracks 22. In order to case the carrying wheel: 21
sideways, the lower end of the tower may carry a rim 21", the boss of which
rotates easily around the foot of the column 17. To ensure the secure guidance of
the tower 20, guiding rollers 18" are pivotted, around horizontal and vertical
axles, to the fixed platform. The guiding rollers 18" slide on a ring 20ª of the
tower 20.
Two chains, situated diametrically to each other, are attached to the upper and
lower ends of the tower, and serve for the raising and lifting of the ring 24, which
is also provided with an upper and a lower platform 25 and 26 respectively. The
latter carries a circular track 26, on which is arranged a ring by means of the
wheels 27" so that it can travel around the ring 24. The gondolas or cars 28 for
carrying the passengers are carried by the ring 27.
An electro-motor 29, is also used in this case for driving, by means of suitable
gearing, a friction disc 30. The latter acts on a friction run 31 fixed to the ring 27.
Independent from the before mentioned transmitting gear is rotated another
transmitting gear 32, which drives a pair of bevil wheels 33, which follows the
movements of the ring 24. This rotation is transmitted to an axle 34, provided
with a longitudinal groove, and which extends over the whole height of the tower,
and drives a pair of cog wheels 35, 36, at the foot of the tower, the rotation of
which is transmitted to one of the wheels 21, which carry the whole tower.
lo
this manner the movement of the tower may be regulated from the platform 25.
The carrying wheels 21 are all fixed to axles, the inner end of which carries a
bevil wheel 36. These bevil wheels roll on the fixed large bevil wheel 19,
whereby the wheels 21 are compelled to roll in a circle around the axle of the
column 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1st. A round-about consisting of a ring C or 2, or 24 respectively, which is
carried up and down on a prospect tower, and which carries gondolas or cars E
or 15 or 28 respectively, travelling around the prospect tower.
2nd. A modification of the round-about claimed in Claim 1, in which a ring C,
Figures to 6, is carried up and down on a prospect tower without being rotated,
and serves to bear another ring D, carrying the gondolas or cars, and which may
be rotated independently of the ring C.

page_text: 3rd. A. modification of the round-about claimed in Claim 1 in which the ring C
is provided with a platform a, on which are arranged the apparatus for driving and
lowering this ring, and for rotating the ring D.
4th. A modification of the round-about claimed in Claim 1, consisting of spiral
paths 3 on the prospect tower, 1, Figure 7, provided with teeth 3, with which
engage cog wheels 11, arranged on the ring 2; so that the ring 2 is carried up and
down, on a spiral path of the tower, according to the direction of rotation of the
cog wheels.
5th. A modification of the round-about claimed in Claim 1, in which the prospect
tower 20, Figure 8, is rotated from a platform 25 of the ring 24, and the latter is
carried up and down on the tower; and in which the prospect tower 20, Figure 8,
carries a ring 27, holding the cars 28 for the passengers, which can be rotated
independently from the tower 20.
Dated this 20th day of December 1894.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.