IMPROVEMENTS IN "ROUNDABOUTS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ROBERT HEALEY of 52 Hull Street Burnley in the County of Lancaster
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
"ROUNDABOUTS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of "roundabouts." wherein the circles of
horses, boats, or other seats are suspended from a number of radial arms which are
attached to a boss or sleeve revolving upon a central pillar or shaft and all revolving
at the same speed, two or more horses being hung from each arm.
The object of my invention is so to mount and drive the circles of horses boats or
other seats that they can revolve independently of each other and at different and
variable speeds.
For this purpose I have a vertical revolving shaft driven by any convenient
motive power, a spur wheel being fixed on the same at or near the bottom for that
purpose. The upper part of the shaft is reduced in diameter so as to form a
shoulder and upon this upper part two spur wheels are mounted loosely. These
wheels are of the same diameter as that above named but have (say) one tooth less
and they are driven by pinions from the first named wheel, the said pinions being
so arranged that either of the upper wheels can be driven by the bottom wheel at
pleasure, but at a different speed to the latter.
Above the top wheels I have (say) three sets of radial arms, each attached to its
own separate boss or sleeve, and all capable of independent movement.
The boss of the top set of radial arins is fixed to the revolving shaft; the boss of
the lower set of radial arms is fixed to the top upper spur wheel; and the boss of
the intermediate set of radial arms is fixed to the lower upper wheel.
The upper set of radial arms is supported by diagonal stays fixed to the top of
the revolving shaft, and fixed to the underside of these arms, near the outer
extremity thereof are a number of cranked brackets to which is attached a metal
ring upon which run friction rollers or wheels carried by the ends of the inter-
mediate set of arms; and these latter support in a similar manner a second metal
ring upon which run friction rollers or wheels attached to the ends of the lowest
set of radial arms. The upper set of arms are the longest, the intermediate set
being shorter and the lower set the shortest, and from jeach arm is suspended a
metal rod, or rods, supporting a horse, boat, or other convenient seat.
CD 037

page_text: I would here remark that although I have described the apparatus as adapted for
three circles of horses or seats it may be constructed upon the same principle for
any other convenient number that may be desired.
Supposing now the spur pinion to be put in gear with the bottom upper wheel
and the shaft to be set in motion the outside circle of horses will travel at the
same speed as the main shaft, being permanently attached thereto.
The intermediate ring will be driven at a slower speed in consequence of its
wheel having one tooth less than the bottom wheel and the lower one will be
driven by friction only which will vary as the machine revolves and hence the
three rings of horses or seats will run at various speeds and will pass and repass
each other.
At any time the spur pinion can be moved from gear with one wheel and into
gear with the other and then the lowest ring will be driven by the power and the
intermediate one will revolve by friction.
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: «
I ROBERT HEALEY of 52 Hull Street Burnley in the County of Lancaster
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROUNDABOUTS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to that class of "roundabouts" wherein the circles of
horses boats or other seats are suspended from a number of radial arms which are
attached to a boss or sleeve revolving upon a central pillar or shaft, and all conse-
quently revolving at the same speed two or more horses, boats, or seats being hung
from each arm.
The object of my invention is so to mount and drive the circles of horses boats,
or other seats that they can revolve independently of each other and at different
and variable speeds.
'
The nature of my said invention will be readily understood on reference to the
accompanying drawing and to the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawing represents an elevation (shown partly in section) of the
upper part of my improved." roundabout," and Fig. 2. a plan view of the same.
To support the apparatus I have a stationary pillar a, a provided with a suitable
foot or stand. The upper part of this pillar is reduced in diameter so as to form a
shoulder, and upon this upper part three spur wheels b, bc, c and d d are mounted
so as to revolve loosely.
These wheels are each of the same diameter and are driven (i,e, either of them
as may be required) by means of a pinion e, e so mounted as to revolve with a
vertical shaft f,f, which is driven by any convenient motive power. The pinion e, e
may be moved by the handle or lever g, g into gear with either of the wheels so
as to drive either of them directly. I propose sometimes to have a second vertical
shaft on the other side of the pillar with a second sliding pinion similar to e, e but
having one or more teeth more or less than e, e so as to drive two of the wheels
directly at different speeds but I prefer the arrangement shown, the bosses or
sleeves of the three wheels each working on a flange or shoulder on the one beneath
it, with a loose washer g, g between so that whichever of them is driveu directly
by the pinion e, e will drive the other two by friction but at a reduced, speed and
by shifting the pinion e, e from one wheel to the other, from time to time cach.
circle of horses, boats or other seats can be caused to run faster than the other two
as desired.
Above the upper wheel 6, 6 I have three sets of radial arms h, h, h¹, h¹, h¹¹, h¹
each attached to its own separate boss or sleeve, and all capable of independent
movement.
The boss of the top set h, h of radial arms is attached or fixed to the sleeve of
the bottom wheel d, d; the boss of the lower set h¹¹, h¹¹ of radial arms is attached
or fixed to the top wheel b, b and the boss of the intermediate set h³, h' of radial
arms is attached or fixed to the middle wheel c, c.
The upper set of radial arms h, h is supported by diagonal stays i, i fixed to a
loose ring, at the top of the pillar a, a and fixed to the underside of these arms,

page_text: near the outer extremity thereof are a number of cranked brackets 1, 7 to which is
attached a metal ring m, m. upon which run friction rollers or wheels n, n sup-
porting the ends of the intermediate set ', h¹ of radial arms; and these latter
support in a similar manner a second metal ring m' m' upon which run friction
rollers or wheels n', n' attached to the ends of the lowest set h h of radial arms.
The upper set of arms h, h are the longest, the intermediate set h¹, h¹ being
shorter and the lower set h¹¹, h₁ the shortest, and from eacli arm is suspended a
metal rod or rods o, o for supporting a horse, boat, or other convenient seat.
I would here remark that although I have described and shown the improved
apparatus as adapted for three circles of horses, boats, or seats it may be con-
structed upon the same principle for any other convenient number that may be
desired.
Supposing now the spur pinion e, e to be put in gear with the bottom wheel d, d
and the shaft f, f to be set in motion the outside circle of horses will be driven
direct at a certain speed according to the proportion of the diameters of the
wheel d, d and the pinion e, e whilst the other two sets of horses will only be
driven by friction of the sleeves, and will travel at a reduced speed, but not
necessarily both at the same speed, which will vary as the machine revolves, and
lience the three rings of horses will run at various speeds, and by moving the
driving pinion e, e out of gear with the wheel d, d and into gear with either of
the wheels b, b or c, c either of these will then take the lead being driven direct,
and the others being caused to revolve by friction only will lose speed.
As before stated by using a second driving shaft with a pinion of different
diameter two of the wheels may be driven directly at different speeds and the third
revolve by friction of contact only.
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
The general construction of and apparatus for driving "roundabouts" of the
suspended class as herein before particularly described and illustrated by the
drawing annexed and particularly I claim
First. The separate and independent sets of radial arms each driven by a separate
and independent wheel and each carrying a set of horses, boats, or seats, so that
they can be made to revolve at different and variable speeds; and
Secondly. I claim the method of supporting the outer ends of the intermediate
and lower sets of. radial arms by means of friction rollers or wheels running upon
metal rings suspended by brackets froin the set of arms immediately above them
all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
thin 6th da
f Tan 100
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester..