Improvements in See-saws.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in See-saws.
1, WILLIAM ISAAC RUSSELL, of No. 19, Chapel Field Road, Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, Round-about Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in see-saws, and more particularly to
the construction of a grand gigantic pleasure see-saw intended to be driven or
moved by steam or some other powerful agent, and to have a considerable capacity,
so that it will seat say 80 to 100 persons comfortably, but of course I do not confine
myself to any particular dimensions or capacity, nor to any particular motive-
power by which the see-saw may be driven, the structure may be any degree
smaller or larger than that above indicated and will be driven by the motive-
power and means considered best, or most advantageous for the purpose. This
"motive-power" includes manual labour either unassisted or with the aid of well-
known mechanical devices, such for instance as gearing and winches.
According to my invention a see-saw is constructed substantially as follows:-
The oscillating part of the structure which corresponds to the plain balance-
beam of an ordinary crude see-saw, consists-of a long narrow floor, having upright
sides or walls along each of its longitudinal edges, said walls being of convenient
height and calculated to prevent passengers falling out of the structure, and
extending from end to end of the flooring. Each end of this oscillating structure
is also barred in, preferably by rails forming a kind of gateway, having a loose bar
which may be withdrawn to permit passengers to pass in or out. To strengthen
this structure vertical stanchions may advantageously be fixed to each of the
upright walls or skirting above mentioned, at intervals; these stanchions varying
in height, the middle one being the highest, and the others of such height as to
produce a regular taper from the top of the middle one to the extremities of the
Hooring. These stanchions are all connected with each other by a top rail, one
end of which is secured to the top of the centre stanchion and the other end to
the Hooring and the stanchions may be further connected together by diagonal
struts or tie-bars to afford additional rigidity to the structure by dividing it into
so many triangular frames.
Transversely arching over the floor or oscillating structure are erected light
skeleton frames which span the floor from side to side, and are secured at each
side to the walls. These frames are possessed of a top horizontal bar from which
are suspended in such manner as to be able to swing, seats The seats may be
suspended from the frames by means of either stiff rods or flexible cords. The
object of this swinging suspension of the seats is that although the see-saw
may be tilted to a considerable angle, the seats being free to move or swing will
maintain a horizontal position, and so will not have the tendency to pitch the
occupants out when the see-saw is tilted to a great angle, and this is one of the
essential features of the invention. The oscillating structure above described,
in its entirety somewhat resembles a diminutive river-bridge of light openwork
design, and it will be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact design

page_text: as far as concerns the method of staying it or strengthening it by means of
stanchions placed and secured as above stated, because this must obviously depend
entirely upon the weight to be carried. As an example of a departure from the
above construction, the walls of the structure may be composed of metal lattice
work or in fact built up in any of the ways known to combine lightness with
strength and rigidity.
The oscillating structure is supported by means of hangers or bearing brackets
secured to its underside upon a substantial axle which is itself supported at
its ends in bearings mounted at the top of pedestal brackets situated one at each
end of the transverse centre line of the flooring so that said supporting axle
which is the axle upon which the oscillating structure turns, is situated transversely
beneath the middle of the said structure at right angles to its walls.
In addition to the swinging seats above described fixed loose or rocking
seats, resting on the floor may be located at convenient parts if desired to accom-
modate those who may prefer them.
Advantageously the see-saw when tilted and at rest, may have the end nearer
the ground, say two to three feet from the ground level, and may be approached
by steps. It will have an inclination when in this position of 40 to 45° to the
horizontal. The highest end in a structure to hold 80 to 100 persons will be
about 20 to 25 feet in the air, and the height of the axle on which the structure
oscillates may be 12 feet from the ground.
The oscillating part of the structure is advantageously built of iron or steel
with a wooden flooring and wooden standards.
Down the centre of the floor will be a gangway fitted with a rake or foot grips
to prevent persons slipping.
The swinging seats above referred to will be arranged in one or more rows on
each side of the central gangway, and said seats may be constructed to accom-
modate say, four or more persons each.
'
The means by which the see-saw is moved with a oscillatory motion may con-
sist of one or more steam, gas, oil or electric engines or other motor of any
suitable kind, the power from same being transmitted by any known means. As
examples of methods of and means for effecting this object a steam engine or
gas engine may be provided with two vertical cylinders, in each of which works
a piston and the upper ends of the piston rods of these pistons may be con-
nected either directly or through the intervention of a parallel motion mechanism
-to the ends of a beam which is supported in bearings upon a central pillar
in such manner that said beam can rock or oscillate in the vertical plane, the
whole being constructed somewhat after the manner of an ordinary beam engine.
This oscillating beam is secured to one of the sides of the see-saw so that the
movements of the beam cause like movements of the sec-saw as desired.
Another way of effecting the desired driving, would be to key a toothed or
sprocket wheel or toothed quadrant upon one end of the axle or shaft upon which
the see-saw rocks, pass an endless driving chain over said toothed wheel or
quadrant and engage the other end of said chain around another sprocket keyed
either directly upon the main shaft of the engine or upon a countershaft driven
by or through the main shaft, or, again, there may be a crank pin or a wheel
or quadrant fixed at each end of one side of the see-saw, and the driving chain
may pass around both of these mechanical agents, and driven as before by the
intervention of a sprocket pinion.
Many other means of driving the structure would suggest themselves to practical
engineers and may be substituted for the above if desirable.
If necessary, other means in addition to those above described may be employed
to control the motions of such a heavy structure and help to support the weight
in order to secure perfect safety to the occupants and relieve to a very great extent
the strain on the central axle or rocking shaft and other parts.
This additional means may consist of an air or a hydraulic cylinder situated
beneath say, one end of the see-saw, the cylinder being secured to the ground

page_text: and the piston rod being attached to the underneath side of the see-saw, so that
the piston would be drawn upwards in the cylinder each time that end of the
see-saw was raised and slowly lowered into it against the pressure of the air or
water within. Thus in the event of the driving chain breaking or other break-
down cecurring to the machinery, the see-saw would not be suddenly and violently
banged down towards one side but would ride down as gently as usual, being
supported by the gradually diminishing air or water cushion in the cylinder
beneath. There may be of course one or more of these cushioning devices at each
end if necessary.
Datal the 7th day of Decmule 1999
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM ISAAC RUSSELL, of No. 19, Chapel Field Road, Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, Round-about Proprietor, 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 relates to improvements in see-saws, and more particularly to
the construction of a grand gigantic pleasure see-saw intended to be driven or
moved by steam or some other powerful agent, and to have a considerable capacity,
so that it will seat say 80 to 100 persons comfortably, but of course I do not confine
myself to any particular dimensions or capacity, nor to any particular motive
power by which the see-saw may be driven. The structure may be any degree
smaller or larger than that above indicated and will be driven by the motive
power and means considered best, or most advantageous for the purpose. This
"motive power" includes manual labour either unassisted or with the aid of well-
known mechanical devices, such for instance as gearing and winches.
1 will now proceed to describe the invention with the aid of the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the sce-saw tilted to the left, and its
support the section being taken longitudinally through the middle. Two landing
stages are also indicated.
Figure 2 is a plan of the see-saw corresponding to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the see-saw corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the see-saw tilted towards the right,
and with driving mechanism complete; the two landing stages being also indicated,
and likewise two piston supports.
Like reference letters indicate the same parts throughout.
According to my invention a see-saw is constructed substantially as follows:-
The oscillating part of the structure which corresponds to the plain balance-
beam of an ordinary small crude sec-saw, consists of a long narrow floor, having
upright sides or walls along each of its longitudinal edges, said walls being of
convenient height and constructed with a view to prevent passengers falling out
of the structure, and extending from end to end of the flooring as shown. Each
end of this oscillating structure is also barred in, preferably by rails or grills c
forming a kind of gateway in the middle and having a loose bar f which may be
withdrawn from its sockets to permit passengers to pass in or out. To strengthen
the structure so far described, vertical stanchions may advantageously be fixed

page_text: to each of the upright walls or skirting above mentioned, at intervals, these
stanchions varying in height, the middle one being the highest, and the others
of such height as to produce a regular taper from the top of the middle one to the
extremities of the flooring as shown in Figures 1 and 4. These stanchions are
all connected with each other by a top rail h one end of which is secured to
the top of the centre stanchion, and the other end to the flooring ; and the
stanchions may be further connected together by diagonal struts or tie-bars k to
afford additional rigidity to the structure by dividing it into so many triangular
frames as will be seen.
Transversely arching over the floor of the oscillating structure are erected light
skeleton frames which span the floor from side to side, and are secured at each
side to the walls b. From the top horizontal bar of these frames are suspended,
in such manner as to be able to swing, seats m. The seats may be suspended from
the frames by means of either stuff rods or flexible cords n. The object of this
swinging suspension of the seats is that although the see-saw may be tilted to a
considerable angle, the seats being free to move or swing will maintain a hori-
zontal position, and the rods or cords by which they are suspended, a vertical
one, and so will not have the tendency to pitch the occupants out when the see-
saw is tilted to a great angle, and this is one of the essential features of the
invention. The oscillating structure above described, in its entirety somewhat
resembles a diminutive river bridge of light openwork design, and it will be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact design as far as concerns
the method of staying or strengthening it by means of stanchions placed and
secured as above stated, because this must obviously depend entirely upon the
weight to be carried, and will be designed accordingly. As an example of a
departure from the above construction, without exceeding the scope of the inven-
tion, the walls of the structure may be composed of metal lattice work, or in fact
built up in any of the ways known to combine lightness with strength and
rigidity.
The oscillating structure is supported by means of hangers or bearing brackets o
secured to its underside, upon a substantial axle 2 which is itself supported at
its ends in bearings mounted at the top of pedestal brackets situated one at
each end of the transverse centre line of the flooring so that said supporting
axle P which is the axle upon which the oscillating structure turns, is situated
transversely beneath the middle of the said structure at right angles to its walls.
In addition to the swinging seats m above described, fixed, loose or rocking
seats, resting on the floor may be located at convenient parts, if desired to accom-
modate those who may prefer them.
Advantageously the see-saw when tilted and at rest, may have the end nearer
the ground, say two to three feet from the ground level, and may be approached
by steps leading to a landing stage as shown at e, Figures 1 and 4. It may have
an inclination when in this position as great as 40 to 45° to the horizontal as
shown. The highest end in a structure to hold 80 to 100 persons will be about
20 to 25 feet in the air, and the height of the axle on which the structure
oscillates may be 12 feet from the ground.
The oscillating part of the structure is advantageously built of iron or steel
with a wooden flooring and wooden standards.
Down the centre of the floor will be a gangway fitted with a rake or foot
stops or grips s to prevent persons slipping.
The swinging seats above referred to will be arranged in one or more rows on
each side of the central gangway as shown, and said seats may be constructed to
accommodate say, four or more persons each.
The means by which the see-saw is moved with an oscillatory motion may con-
sist of one or more steam, gas oil or electric engines or other motor of any
suitable kind, the power from same being transmitted by any known means.
As
examples of methods of and means for effecting this object, a steam engine or
gas engine may be provided with two vertical cylinders, in each of which works

page_text: a piston and the upper ends of the piston rods of these pistons may be con-
nected-either directly or through the intervention of a parallel-motion mechanism
-to the ends of a beam supported in bearings upon a central pillar in such
manner that said beam can rock or oscillate in the vertical plane, the whole being
constructed somewhat after the manner of an ordinary beam engine. This
oscillating beam is secured to one of the sides of the see-saw so that the move-
ments of the beam will cause like movements of the see-saw.
Another way of effecting the desired driving, would be to key a toothed or
sprocket wheel or toothed quadrant upon one end of the axle or shaft upon which
the see-saw rocks, pass an endless driving chain over said toothed wheel or
quadrant and engage the other end of said chain around another sprocket keyed
either directly upon the main shaft of the engine or upon a countershaft driven
by or through the main shaft. Or, again, there may be a crank pin or a wheel
or quadrant fixed at each end of one side of the see-saw, and the driving chain.
may pass around both of these mechanical agents, and be driven as before by the
intervention of a sprocket pinion.
t
The driving mechanism shown in the drawings (Figure 4) consists of a hori-
zontal engine carrying an oscillating beam each extremity of which is con-
nected to one of the ends of a chain which passes over a wheel w, which is
fixed to the side of the see-saw and mounted fast upon the axle 2. A disc,
mounted eccentrically upon the driving shaft y of the engine, has an annular
groove in its face, and in this groove rides a pin or projection ¹ fixed in the
end of the beam u so that the rotation of the disc c causes the pin to travel
around the groove, and consequently the beam u to oscillate or rock on its
centre of support, this latter motion being communicated to the see-saw above
through the inedia of the chain and wheel w.
Many other means of driving the structure would suggest themselves to practical
engineers and may be substituted for the above if desirable.
If necessary, additional means to those above described may be employed
to control or steady the motions of the structure when very ponderous, and help
to support the weight, in order to secure perfect safety to the occupants and relieve
to a very great extent the strain on the central axle or rocking shaft and other
parts.
This additional means may consist of an air or a hydraulic cylinder situated
beneath say, one end of the see-saw, the cylinder being secured to the ground
and the piston rod being attached to the underneath side of the see-saw, so that
the piston would be drawn upwards in the cylinder each time that end of the
see-saw was raised and slowly lowered into it against the pressure of the air or
water within. Thus in the event of the driving chain breaking or other break-
down occurring to the machinery, the see-saw would not be suddenly and violently
banged down towards one side, but would ride down as gently as usual, being
supported by the gradually diminishing air or water cushion in the cylinder
beneath. There may be of course one or more of these cushioning devices at each
end if necessary.
In Figure 4, two rams al are indicated in dotted lines, which are or may be
employed to ease the movements of the ponderous structure above them; the
cylinders of these rams being of course fixed in or to the ground or some suitable
foundation block, and the upper end of the piston rods being fixed to the under-
neath side of the flooring of the see-saw. It will be understood that the pistons
draw in some suitable fluid such as air, water or oil on the up-stroke and eject
it into a suitable reservoir on the down-stroke, such fluid thus constituting a
cushioning device for easing the downward motion and especially in the case
of an accidental breakage of the chain v, or other break-down of the machinery,
such as would cause the engine to have no control over the movements of the
see-saw these cushioning devices would be very useful and ease the downward
motion of the ponderous structure as usual, as though no accident had happened.
, bare landing stages as is obvious. They may be approached by steps as

page_text: shown, or they may be built with a gradual incline terminating at the top in a
platform, as desired.
"
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. A gigantic see-saw for pleasure parties, characterised by having seats slung
from overhead supports in such manner as to be capable of a free swinging
movement in order to cause them to maintain the horizontal position throughout
the oscillations of the see-saw and possessing a wall or guard railings all round
to prevent the people falling out.
2: A gigantic see-saw further characterised by being mounted on an axle
oscillating in bearings mounted at the top of a high pedestal, the oscillations of
the see-saw being produced and controlled by a steam engine or other powerful
motor.
3. The combination with a gigantic see-saw such as characterised in Claims 1
and 2, of a horizontal engine possessing an oscillating beam to which is connected
the ends of a chain which passes over a wheel secured to the side of the see-saw
and mounted fast on the sanie axle as that on which the see-saw oscillates; the
oscillations of the beam on the engine being produced by the co-operation of a
disc eccentrically mounted on the driving shaft and having a circular slot in
which a pin fixed in one end of the beam on the engine works.
Dated this 15th day of March 1900
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.