GB2030050A - Fairground amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a tower assembly 20 mounted on a trailer 10, the assembly being pivoted at 22 for movement between lowered and raised positions. The tower assembly comprises a lower part 28 which is fixed in use, and an upper part 30 rotatable on the lower part and having a plurality of car-carrying arms 32 projecting therefrom, the arms being movable vertically by means of pneumatic rams 40. The lower and upper parts 28, 30 together form a closed hollow shape within which the driving mechanisms are housed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fairground amusement apparatus This invention relates to fairground amusement apparatus on which persons are carried, hereinafter referred to for convenience simply as "fairground rides".

One broad type of fairground ride is that in which the riders are moved around a central point while at the same time undergoing movement in the vertical plane. A simple example of this type is the well known "chairoplane". In recent years more complex apparatus of this type has been developed, in which passenger cars are mounted on the ends of arms which rotate about a central post and the arms are raised and lowered in a cyclical fashion by respective pneumatic rams.

However, known examples of such rides are of rather complex construction and must be built up and dismantled at each site. Moreover, the working parts such as pivots and rams are exposed to the elements, which causes high maintainance requirements, and maintainance operations and safety inspections are difficult to carry out.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a fairground ride which requires a minimal amount of erection and dismantling and which is simple and convenient to maintain and inspect.

The invention accordingly, in one aspect, provides a fairground ride comprising a base, a tower assembly pivoted to the base for movement between a lowered position in which it lies along the base and a raised position in which it stands upright on the base, the tower assembly comprising a lower part which in the raised position is stationary with respect to the base and an upper part which in the raised position is rotatable on the lower part, and a plurality of arms pivoted to said upper part for movement in a vertical plane and each provided with power means for raising and lowering it, the arms being adapted to mount passenger carrying cars at their outer ends.

In another aspect the invention provides a fairground ride comprising a tower assembly having a lower part which may be fixed with respect to the ground and an upper part rotatable on the lower part, the upper and lower parts together presenting a substantially closed outer surface, a plurality of arms each pivoted to said upper part for movement in a vertical plane and passing through an aperture in the outer surface of the upper part, the arms being adapted to mount passenger carrying cars at their outer ends, and power means arranged to move the arms through said vertical plane, and in which the power means are contained within said outer surface of the tower assembly.

The power means suitably comprises a pneumatic ram for each arm and a controller adapted to activate the rams in a cyclical fashion. The upper part of the tower assembly is suitably provided with a ring gear adjacent its lower periphery which is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor mounted within the upper region of the lower tower part. An air compressor, and a hydraulic pump where a hydraulic motor is used, may conveniently be located within the lower region of the lower tower part.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a fairground ride in accordance with the invention in a transport condition; and Figure 2 is a side view, partly broken away, of part of the ride of Fig. 1 in an erected condition.

The ride has a base in the form of a trailer 10 having steerable front wheels 1 2 and tandem rear wheels 14. A cabin 1 6 is provided for use by a cashier. A diesel generator may be mounted on the trailer 10 in the location indicated at 1 8. A tower assembly generally designated 20 is pivoted to the trailer 10 at 22. A hydraulic ram 24 extends between the trailer 10 and the tower assembly 20 to move the latter between a lowered position suitable for transport as seen in Fig.

1 and an upright position for use as seen in Fig. 2. A circular support 26 is welded to the trailer 10 to support the tower assembly in its raised position. It will be noted that when raised the tower assembly is positioned over the rear wheels 1 4 for best support and stability. The trailer 10 may additionally be provided with outriggers (not shown) for this purpose.

The tower assembly 20 comprises a lower part 28 which is stationary in use and an upper part 30. These two two together present a substantially closed outer surface which may be of "bomb" form as shown for aesthetic appeal or of any other suitable form.

The upper part 30 is arranged for rotation on the lower part 28 by means not shown; for example the upper part 30 may be provided with wheels which bear on a circular rail welded inside the lower part 28. The upper part 30 is driven in rotation by an electric or hydraulic motor mounted on the lower part 28 and engaging a ring gear on the upper part 30; these elements are not shown in the drawings as their arrangement will be readily apparent.

A number of arms 32 project from the upper tower part. Suitably, twelve arms may be provided at equal intervals. For the sake of clarity, only two arms 32 are shown in the drawings. Each arm 32 comprises a crank 34 pivoted at 36 to the shell of the upper tower part 30 and an extension 36 removably se cured in a socket in the outer end of the crank 34. In use, a passenger carrying car 38 is secured to the outer end of each extension 36.

A pneumatic ram 40 is provided for each arm 32, the ram 40 being pivotally conneeted to the inner end of the crank 34 and to the interior of the tower upper part 30. The rams 40 receive compressed air from a controller (not shown) of known type to move the arms 30 up and down in a cyclical manner. Compressed air is preferably supplied by an electrically powered compressor housed in the lower tower part 28 which also houses an electrically powered hydraulic pump for the hydraulic motor (if used) and the ram 24. Upward movement of the arms 32 is assisted by the centrifugal force created by rotation of the upper part 30.

To carry the forces involved, the lower tower part 28 and the lower portion of the upper part are suitably formed as welded shells of substantial steel plate. The upper portion of the upper part 30 may comprise a light framework as indicated at 42 covered with thin sheeting.

The ride is extremely simple to erect and dismantle. From the use position shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to remove the cars 38, unfasten and remove the arm extensions 36, and operate the ram 24. It may also sometimes then be necessary to remove the uppermost crank to meet a height restriction; for example in one specific form, for an overall height when erected of 25 feet (7.6 m) the uppermost crank must be removed to pass under a loading gauge of 12 ft 6 in. (3.8 m).

This ease of erection and dismantling is in marked contrast to known fairground rides giving similar motion to the users, which require a considerable amount of manual ia- bour to erect and dismantle.

It will also be seen that all the working parts are within the outer surface. They are therefore protected from the effects of weather, and inspection and mantainance is facilitated. The interior of the tower assembly may be provided with permanently fixed ladders and walkways to assist in this.

Claims (9)

1. A fairground ride comprising a base, a tower assembly pivoted to the base for movement between a lowered position in which it lies along the base and a raised position in which it stands upright on the base, the tower assembly comprising a lower part which in the raised position is stationary with respect to the base and an upper part which in the raised position is rotatable on the lower part, and a plurality of arms pivoted to said upper part for movement in a vertival plane and each provided with power means for raising and lowering it, the arms being adapted to mount passenger carrying cars at their outer ends.

2. A fairground ride according to claim 1, in which the base is a wheeled trailer.

3. A fairground ride according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the power means comprises a pneumatic ram for each arm and a common controller arranged to activate the rams in a cyclical fashion.

4. A fairground ride according to any preceding claim, in which said upper and lower parts together present a substantially closed outer surface within which the power means are contained.

5. A fairground ride according to claim 4, in which said upper part is provided with a ring gear adjacent its lower periphery which is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor mounted within the upper region of said lower part.

6. A fairground ride according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which said lower part comprises a continuous shell of welded sheet metal forming said outer surface, the lower portion of said upper part comprises a similar shell, and the upper portion of said upper part comprises a lightweight framework and covering.

7. A fairground ride according to any preceding claim, including a hydraulic ram connected between the tower assembly and the base for raising and lowering the former.

8. A fairground ride comprising a tower assembly having a lower part which may be fixed with respect to the ground and an upper part rotatable on the lower part, the upper and lower parts together presenting a substantially closed outer surface, a plurality of arms each pivoted to the upper part for movement in a vertical plane and each passing through a respective aperture in the surface of the upper part, the arms being adapted to mount passenger carrying cars at their outer ends, and power means arranged to move the arms through said vertical plane, and in which the power means are contained within said outer surface of the tower assembly.

9. A fairground ride substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.