US2629593A - Occupant carrying roundabout - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1953 N. BARTLETT 2,629,593

OCCUPANT CARRYING ROUNDABOUT I Filed Sept. 50, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fivenfor Z Norma/7 Bart/eat .H

Feb. 24, 1953 N. BARTLETT 2,629,593

OCCUPANT CARRYING ROUNDABOUT Filed Sept. 50, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnv'enior Norma/1 Ban/ea: Z 5 @wg MVQM' flffornggs Feb. 24, 1953 N. BARTLETT 2,629,593

OCCUPANT CARRYING ROUNDABOUT Filed Sept. 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 In v-enior Norma/2 Bart/em: 19 QM W M u Feb. 24, 1953 N. BARTLETT 2,629,593

OCCUPANT CARRYING ROUNDABOUT Filed Sept. 50, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 w w w flay A -59 F /Z4 /34 56 /37 /33 54 /35//Z6 Feb. 24, 1953 N. BARTLETT 2,629,593

OCCUPANT CARRYING ROUNDABOUT Filed Sept. 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnv'e n in r t Nor/nan Ban/e212: fig v Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement rides and particularly to rides of the kind known as roundabouts where one or more passenger carriers pursues a continuous circular course or an oscillating course about a circular path.

Fundamentally, the present invention provides an annular support, in the form of a ring or the like, the support having fixed therealong a series of passenger-accommodating seats or compartments. The annular support is associated with central supporting means in such manner that its rotative or oscillative movements may be accompanied by concentric rising and falling movement thereof, so that the actual path of the seats or compartments may be an undulating one with a wide range of selective variation as to pitch, amplitude and velocity.

In one form, the amusement ride of the present invention is of the general type shown in United States Letters Patent to Joseph D. Guinn, No. 1,186,185, dated June 6, 1916, although the ride shown and described in the aforesaid Letters Patent could not be operated successfully because of inherent instability and for various other reasons.

A clearer understanding of the novel underlying principles of the present invention will be had from a study of the embodiments thereof described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. stood, however, that the examples set forth are merely illustrative and that many modifications and variations may be introduced without departing from the teachings of this invention, the

spirit and scope of which is limited only as de- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view, partly in cross-section, showing a modified passenger seat or compartment and a modified suspension or support therefor;

It is to be under- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the seat or compartment of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the seat or compartment of Figs. 6 and '7; and

Fig. 9 is a general side elevational View of apparatus for loading and transporting the central structure or tower of an amusement ride.

Throughout the several figures of the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts, and the number 10 designates a central base member to which is fixed an upwardly extending vertical post I l, and the top of post H has fixed thereto a stationary winding drum E2, the function and operation of which will be described later herein.

A rotatable cage which comprises arm-supporting and rotating means is designated generally by the numeral IS in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises, in the form there shown, upper and lower bearing or hub elements 11 and !8. A plate or platform structure is fixed to post H and suitable bracing may extend between platform 20 and base H) as indicated at 2| in Fig. 1. The lower bearing I8 of cage 15 rests upon platform 20, there being an intervening thrust ball bearing as indicated at 22.

There is likewise a thrust ball bearing directly above upper hearing I! as at 23 and an upper retaining collar is fixed to post H as at 24 in Fig. 1. An annular plate 26 is fixed to upper bearing l1, and a sprocket 21 or other drive wheel is fixed to lower bearing l8. Brace rods or struts may engage between plate 26 and sprocket 21 as indicated at 28 in Fig. 1.

Plate 26 has arranged about its upper margin a plurality of pairs of spaced bearings 30 which give pivotal support to a series of radiating arms 3|. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that arms 3! are in the form of triangular trusses and and that the bearing portions at their inner end are of substantial axial extent to give the arms stiffness in a horizontal direction.

A rigid passenger seat or compartment supporting ring is designated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and may be tubular as there shown. For portability ring 35 is preferably made in a series of arcuate sections which may be assembled by means of end flanges and the usual bolt and nut or screw connections. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the outer end of each arm has a pair of chain portions 36 which extend downwardly to ring 35 and are attached thereto at spaced points along ring 35 as appears best in Fig. 2.

'Zll as at 46.

It will be noted that the joint lifting force of each pair of chains 36 is as nearly vertical as the arcuate paths of the outer ends of arms 3| permit, and the manner in which ring 35 is supported from the outer ends of the several arms 3| is such that ring 3| maintains concentricity with post I I in all phases of operation of the ride and despit unequal or unbalanced loading and other potentially disturbing conditions.

A series of cables, preferably but not necessarily of the usual stranded steel wire type, are each secured at their upper ends to winding drum I2 near the upper edge thereof and connect at their lower ends with the several arms 3| at predetermined points along the arms. The cables are designated 38 in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that the effective lever arm of the lifting force of the cables depends on where the lower ends of cables 38 attach to arms 3 I.

Reference has previously been had to sprocket 27 which is fixed for rotation with cage I and a vertical drive shaft therefor is'designated 39in Fig. l and has bearing'near its upper endiin plate The upperend of shaft 39 is'provided with a sprocket 4I,and a chain 42 establishes driving connection between sprockets 21 and 4|. The lower end of drive shaft 39 has driving connection with a motor 43 which has a horizontal drive shaft by means of bevel gear- "ing (not shown) in a casing designated 44. Motor 43 is reversible and the manner of its use in operating the ride will bedescri'bed morefully later herein.

The passenger seats employed in th particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 appear best in Fig. 3. .As previously stated, portability is an important consideration and the seats shown in Fig. 13 are so arranged as to be readily secured to or detached from ring 35. Each seat may comprise apair of.upper angular side rails 50, a top cross rail 5|.and an intermediate cross rail 52, a pair of spaced bottom angular side rails 53 and a bottom cross rail.54.

These several elements are rigidly. securedto each other preferably by welding andside brace rods 55 extend from upper cross rod'5I to intermediate cross rod 52 andfrom .the latter to bottom crossrod 54. Besides rigidifying the structure, the brace rods 55 serve as arm rest. means and passenger restraining means. Suitable back rest, seat'bottom, and floor panel means of any kind may extend between the spaced side rails 58 and 53 to complete the seat proper.

Pads or seats '69 are weldedatvarious points along ring 35, and the bottoms of upper angular side rails 58 are provided with depending lugs 6 I, which extend through openings in pads 60 and may ,be secured therein by means .of ,driven tapered pins or the like. "Brace rods 64 are hinged at their lower ends to the lower side rails 53 as ,at

'65 and have downwardly projecting endiormations 67 which pass through lugs68 fixedtoring 35. The end formations '6? may likewise .be pinned or cotter keyed against separation from lugs 68.

A safety bar device which prevents a passenger from falling from or attempting to leave his. seat excepting under proper conditions includes a pair of spaced side rails Ill which are held spaced and rigid with respect to each other by cross brace rails II, I2, 73, and 14. The lower ends of the side rails "If! of the safety bar are hinged to outward extensions of the lowerrigid cross rail 64 of the seat proper as shown in Fig. 3.

Control means for safety bar lil' are shown ,in

. guide rod- 86 may be fixed at one end to cross rail 81 which is fixed to tube and likewise to the upper angular side rail members 50 of the seat. A compression coil spring 90 encircles spring rod -86 and acts between cross rail 8'! and a suitable internal seat in rack bar 8| to yieldably urge the safety bar means to the open extended position-shown in'Fig. 3. Such opening movement may be limited by a flexible chain 9| shown in Fig. 3 as extending between the outer end of tube .80 and a lug formed on collar 83.

'Referring particularly to Figs. land 5, a pair of bearing lugs 94 are fixed to the exterior of tube '30. A pivot' pin 95 is rotatable in bearings and has fixed thereto a latch member 96 and apair of spaced operating arms 91. The operating arms 91 carry a pivot pin 98 which engages in aislot 99 formed me link I00 which is pivoted at its opposite end to an armature Ifil associated with an electromagnet I82. Latch 86 is normally urged to its latching position in engagement with rack bar 8| by an extension coil spring I05 which acts upon operating arms 37, and armature IEII is normally urged to its outward .position by a relatively lightextension coil spring I96 which acts against the outer end of link I00.

By virtue of the arrangement just described, armature I [ll has a certain amount of free movement to the left as viewed in Fig. 4 upon its being energized so that it overcomes its initial enertia and reaches a more eflicient rangeof operation of the solenoid before link I00 begins to rotate operating arms 37 to releaselatch 96. When a passenger has been seated, either the passenger or the operator or attendant of the ride moves the safety bar In pivotally to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, until cross bar 72 is fairly close to the upper portion ofthe passengers body, latch 96 automatically retaining the bar against outward movement regardless of the degree to which the safety bar is moved, thus accommodating passengers of various size.

The safety bar cannot then be released, excepting by energization of electromagnet I02, but this is underthe direct control of the ride operator at a remote or central operating. point. The operator will, of course, release the latches by energizing the various solenoids I02 only when the ride is stopped in a safe position, and upon such energization all of the various safety bars 'IIlwill automatically. open by operation of springs the control of a single remote operating switch.

A casing I If] for the latch mechanism may be removably secured to a pair of end wall elements I I I and I I2. In Fig. 3 the numeral I I3 designates a panel which extends across the front of and between the side rails 10 of the safety bar to enclose an conceal the lower portion of the passenger compartment.

The operation of the ride thus far described and illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 is as follows. After the passengers are. aboard and the safety bars II! have been closed, the operator closes a switch to energize motor 43 for operation in one direction and oscillation of the arms 3| in such direction causes cables 38 to wind helically upon fixed drum I2. At the beginning this winding is produced entirely by the torque of motor 43, and it is at a relatively slow rate.

After a certain amount of winding in one direction, the operator reverses motor 43, and the arms 31 are oscillated in the opposite direction. The first part of this reverse oscillation is assisted by the gravitational pull of arms 3|, ring 35, and the seat and passenger load, all of which tend to unwind the cables 38 from drum I2.

The return oscillation is thus slightly more rapid and, if the operator applies approximately the same amount of reverse motor impulse as in the first oscillation, the reverse winding of the cables on drum I2 will be to a greater degree than during the first oscillation. This build-up is progressive so that each succeeding oscillation attains a greater speed and is of greater amplitude and carries ring and the passengers to greater heights, even though motor 43 may be capable of exerting only as much force as in the first relatively slow and shallow oscillation.

Ultimately the arms 3| and the ring 35 with its passenger seats may reach approximately the altitude indicated by the dot-and-dash line showing in Fig. 1, all within moderate and practicable power requirement limits. To operate in this manner, a fixed drum of substantial diameter must be employed. The circ mference of the drum must be at least greater than the maximum horizontal arcuate swing of the arms and ring means as at H9 in Fig. 1 but in the degree of oscillation now contemplated the brushes are unnecessary and a mere fiexible conductor connection suffices.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6. '7, and 8 arms l2!) correspond to the arms ill of the first described embodiment and the central support, winding drum, cables and oscillating drive means may all be just as described in connection with the first described embodiment and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the present embodiment a ring I2I corresponds to ring 35 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but in place of the chain suspension between arms 3! and ring 35 a C-shaped arm I22 is pivoted to the outer end of each arm I23 as at I23.

The outer ends of arms 822 are pivoted, as at I24, to lugs 125 fixed to ring I2I. Arms I22 are preferably constructed as rigid triangular trusses, when viewed at right angles to Fig. 6, so that the bottom ends thereof comprise a pair of fairly widely spaced coaxial pivots which engage ring l2! at spaced points therealong.

It is to be understood that, if desired, the C- shaped arm suspension may be substituted for the chain suspension without more, but in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 a further modification is present in that the pas-- seng-ers are in cars or the like which move along ring IZI. Ring I2! is provided with a series of rigid brackets I26 which support a pair of rails or tracks I21.

The passenger-carrying means may comprise a train of articulated cars or, as in the instance shown by way of example, may comprise a continuous rigid annular structure which is rotatable on rails I21 and is designated generally by the numeral I28 in Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

The rotatable structure I23 may comprise a circular series of end to end base members I29, each having inner and outer vertical bars or rails I30 and I3I, respectively, at its inner and outer rear corners. The base members I29 may be detachably secured to each other in any desired manner. Each pair of bars I3t-I BI is connected by a transverse arched upper rail I32 and a longitudinal central rail I33 is fixed to cross rail I32 and extends forwardly therefrom. The cross rails I32 have central rearwardly facing socket portions I34 and the forward end of each longitudinal rail I33 is detachably lodged in the socket member I34 of the section immediately ahead and secured by means of a pin I35.

Each pair of vertical rails I33, I3I together with their rigid forwardly extending central rail I33 rigidly support further arched cross rails I36, I31 and I38 which terminate in side rails I39 to form a sort of canopy over the passenger seat, the latter being designated I 49 in Figs. 6 and 7. At the forward end of each base section I29 there is an inner vertical rail MI and a series of horizontal rails I42 extend longitudinally between forward vertical rail MI and rear vertical rail I30 to form a continuous barrier. At the. outer side of each base member I29 a rigid vertical rail I43 is located somewhat to the rear of the forward end of the base member and tubular horizonta1 rail members I44 are fixedly connected at their opposite ends to vertical rail I43 and the rear vertical outside rail I3I.

A gate element to serve as a closure for the passenger entrance opening thus formed comprises a vertical bar I 15 having a series of rear wardly extending horizontal bars Hi5 fixed thereto. The horizontal bars Mt extend into the tubular rails I44 and act as pistons. Extension coil springs I l-l normally retract the rods 136 but the application of air pressure projects the rods I 36 and. closes the gate after passengers have entered. Air pressure may be applied. to a central fitting communicating with the tubular members ass of all of the passenger compartments and in 'Z the numeral Hi8 designates what comprise a key-operated relief valve to permit opening the gate of a compartment only by an authorized attendant.

It will. be noted from a consideration of Fig. 6 that the lower portion of the rotatable structure I28 is provided with a series of pairs of wheels 52 which roll on tracks I2? and the manner in which rolling movement of the rotatable structure along the trackwa-y is attained and controlled will now be described, reference being had particularly to the bottom plan view, Fig. 8.

One or more of the pairs of wheels E52 of the rotatable structure are fixed as to the axle designated H54 in Fig. 3, the latter being freely rotatable in bearings !55 carried at the base of the rotatable structure. The outer of the pair of wheels I62 may be of slightly greater diameter than the inner wheel to eliminate the necessity for a differential mechanism. A clutch element 53 is slidably keyed to axle I5i and a mating clutch element it? is loose on axle 554 but is restrained against axial movement by a thrust collar 53. Clutch element i5? is freely rotatable in one direction but is restrained. against reverse rotation by a pawl 239 which is pivoted to the bottom of the car in any desired manner and engages ratchet teeth ltll which are formed in a face of clutch element l5l'.

Hi8 in an upward direction as viewedin Figs 8 which is in a direction radially toward the. center of the ride. Arm I65 may have a pin-I or the like for urging clutch element I56 into. driving engagement with clutch elementl51. Plate I61 thus acts as. a centrifugal weight element for controlling the condition of clutch I56, I51. Below certain speeds, which may be determined and varied by an adjustment I'II, spring I68 maintains clutch element I56 inclutchingengagement while above the predetermined speed centrifugal force on plate I6? causes arm IE5 to move radially outwardly of the center of the ride .whereby the clutch elements. become disengaged.

The. operation of the wheel and clutch mechanism of Fig. 8 is as follows; Asring I2! oscillates successively in forward. and reverse direcoscillation of ring I 2I, the wheels l.52 are not locked since pawl I 59 rides over the teeth of ratchet I63 in this direction. Accordingly, as the oscillation of ring I2I reverses, the wheeled structure I28 continues to roll forwardly on tracks I21.

Thus, each successive forward oscillation of ring I2I imparts a forward impulse to the wheeled structure I28, and its forward velocity builds up to the point where clutch element I56 releases due to the centrifugal force of weight I61. This velocity is predetermined by the adjustment HI and when the velocity of wheeled structure I28 again falls below this predetermined maximum, spring I68 automatically swings arm I65 to again engage the clutch elements I56 and I51.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 9 which shows apparatus and a novel method of loading and unloading the central structure or tower of a ride like the one here under consideration whereby the same may be readily transported from place to place on a vehicle trailer or the like. the numeral I designates generally the central structure of the ride which shall be referred to in this portion of the description as a tower. The numeral I'Iii designates the flat bed or floor of a trailer or similar vehicle.

In the loading operation, the trailer is moved to the relative position shown in Fig. 9, the tower being still erect as shown in dot and dash lines. At this time a pair of distance bars I11 are temporarily pivotally attached at their opposite ends to the base of tower I15 and to the lower rear portion of trailer bed I16.

An erection lever is designated I80 in Fig. 9 and is now pivotally attached to an upper portion of tower I15 as shown in dot and dash lines, the lower end of lever I60 being attached to an endless cable ISI which runs over a winch I82 and idler pulleys I 83 and I84. Lever I 86 is preferably of A-frame design and its base portion has lateral projections I36 which ride in a pair of channel shaped tracks I81 which are fixed to trailer bed I16 and thus the lower end of lever I86 is constrained to lineal horizontal movement.

Movement of the lower end of lever I80 either forwardly or rearwardly on trailer bed I16 is In Fig. 9

:under the control of winch I82 which in the il- :lustrated instance is hand crank operated as indicated at I 30. However, the winch may be power operated and arrangement may be made to operate the winch by means of the ride operating motor 33 either by loading the latter on trailer bed I16 before loading the tower or otherwise.

The winch is now operated to pull operating lever I86 from the dot and dash line position of Fig, 9 to the full line position and thus tip the tower I15 to the full line position where wheels I90, which may be more or less permanently associated with the tower structure, come to rest on bed I16. The wheels I 59 are then blocked at their front or right hand sides as viewed in Fig. 9 and a block and tackle is connected to the rear axle of the trailer and the base of the .tower I15 as shown in dot and dash lines at I92 in Fig. 9. The distance bars I '51 may then be removed and the lever I35 may be disconnected from the tower and dropped to the bed of the trailer.

,The center of gravity of tower I15 is slightly to the right of wheels iii-2'3 as viewed in the full line showing in Fig. 9 and thus paying out line on the block and tackle permits tower l5 to pivot on wheels I93 until it reaches a hori 'ontal position whereupon wheels 9 reach trailer bed I 16. The tower is then moved forwardly on the trailer bed on the wheels I93 and I9 5 either manually or by use of winch I82, and the tower may then be secured for transportation in any desired manner.

In the alternative, the center of gravity of tower I15 may be arranged to be to the left of wheels I96 as viewed in the full line showing in Fig.'-9. Then the block and tackle I92 will be dispensed with and a jack may be applied to the base of tower I15 for raising and lowering the same from the full line position of Fig. 9 to a horizontal position.

A simple reversal of the foregoing procedure is employed in unloading the tower, excepting that blocks are first applied to the rear of trailer bed I16 to limit horizontal rearward movement of wheels I 96 in the unloading operation, the front blocks being applied to wheels I 96 only after they have reached their full line illustrated position in the course of the unloading operation.

What is claimed:

1. In an amusement ride, annular passenger support, rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said support, suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and .upport, said arms being pivoted'to said drive means for generally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said drive means, and

cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding'of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum.

2. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said. arms being pivoted to said drive means for enerally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said drive means, and cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon Winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum.

3. In an amusement-ride, an annular passenger support, rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said support, suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with said drive means, and cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum.

4. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with said drive means, and cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum.

5. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, rotatable drive means including radiatvertical movement, and means for synchronously o pivoting said arms to raise and lower said support while the arms are being rotated by said drive means.

6. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said support, suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said support while the arms are being intermittently rotated in opposite directions by said drive means.

7. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, oscillating drive means having a generally vertical axis and including radiating arms extending to points generally above said support. suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said support while the arms are being oscillated by said drive means.

8. In an amusement ride, an annular passenger support, rotatable drive means includin radiating arms extending outwardly toward said support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said support, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said support while the arms are being rotated by said drive means.

9. In an amusement ride, a rigid ring and passenger supporting means disposed thereabout, a rotatable member concentric with said ring and having a plurality of radiating arms extending to approximately the radius of the ring, and suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said ring, said arms bein pivoted at their inner ends for generally vertical pivotal movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said ring and for simultaneously rotating said ring by rotation of said rotatable member.

10. In an amusement ride, a rigid ring and passenger supporting means disposed thereabout, a rotatable member concentric with said ring and having a plurality of radiating arms extending outwardly toward the ring, and connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said ring, said arms being pivoted at their inner ends for generally vertical pivotal movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said ring and for simultaneously rotating said ring by rotation of said rotatable member.

11. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said trackway, suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway while the arms and trackway are being rotated by said drive means, and passenger car means mounted on said trackway for movement therealong.

12. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said trackway, suspension means between a the outer ends of said arms and said trackway,

said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway While the arms and trackway are being rotated by said drive means, passenger car means mounted on said trackway for movement therealong, and a unidirectional driving connection between said trackway and said car means whereby rotary movement of the trackway causes the car means to rotate with the trackway in one direction.

13. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said trackway, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway while the arms and trackway are being rotated by said drive means, and passenger car means mounted on said trackway for movement therealong.

14. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said trackway, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway while the arms and trackway are being rotated by said drive means, passenger car means mounted on said trackway for movement therealong, and a unidirectional driving connection between said trackway and said car means whereby rotary movement of the trackway causes the car means to rotate with the trackway in one direction.

15. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending to points generally above said trackway, suspension means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway while the arms and trackway are being rotated by said drive means, passenger car means mounted on said trackway for movement therealong, drive means between said trackway and said car means for driving the latter through rotation of the arms, and means responsive to centrifugal force on the car means for interrupting said drive means when the car means reaches a predetermined velocity.

16. In an amusement ride, a rigid circular trackway and car means mounted for movement thereabout, a reversely rotatable member concentric with said trackway and having a plurality of radiating arms extending to approximately the radius of the trackway, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted at their inner ends for generally vertical pivotal movement, and means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway and for simultaneously rotating said trackway by rotation of said rotatable member.

17. In an amusement ride, a rigid circular trackway and car means mounted for movement thereabout, a reversely rotatable member concentric with said trackway and having a plurality of radiating arms extending to approximately the radius of the trackway, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted at their inner ends for generally vertical pivotal movement, means for synchronously pivoting said arms to raise and lower said trackway and for simultaneously rotating said trackway by rotation of said rotatable member, and a unidirectional driving connection between said trackway and said car means whereby rotary movement of the trackway causes the car means to rotate with the trackway in one direction.

18. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway and car means mounted for movement thereabout, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said trackway support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said drive means, and cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum.

19. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway and car means mounted for movement thereabout, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said trackway support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for generally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said drive means, cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum, and a unidirectional driving connection between said trackway and said car means whereby rotary movement of the trackway causes the car means to rotate with the trackway in one direction.

20. In an amusement ride, an annular trackway and car means mounted for movement thereabout, reversely rotatable drive means including radiating arms extending outwardly toward said trackway support, connection means between the outer ends of said arms and said trackway, said arms being pivoted to said drive means for gen erally vertical movement, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said drive means, cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said arms for pivotally raising the same upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum, drive means between said trackway and said car means for driving the latter through rotation of the arms, and means responsive to centrifugal force on the car means for interrupting said drive means when the car means reaches a predetermined velocity.

21. In an amusement ride, rotatable means ineluding an annular passenger support, and reversely rotatable drive means therefor, a relatively fixed drum coaxial with and disposed above said rotatable means, and cables connected at one end with said drum for winding thereon and at their other ends with said rotatable means for raising the annular passenger support upon winding of the cables on the drum due to rotation of the arms relative to the drum, said drum being of sufiicient diamenter to raise the annular passenger support through substantially its full range of movement by a fractional winding of each of the cables on the periphery of the drum.

NORMAN BARTLETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,185 Guinn June 6, 1916 1,331,206 Morgan Feb. 17, 1920 1,503,548 Moyer Aug. 5, 1924 1,987,376 Stearns Jan. 8, 1935 2,424,692 Harshberger July 29, 1947 2,439,122 Baker Apr. 6, 1948

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