Amusement device.
The invention relates to an amusement device comprising at least one holder capable of rotating movement about an axis of rotation, which functions to support at least one person.
With such an amusement device, which is known per se, such as for example a merry-go-round or a Ferris wheel, a person embarks a holder, in which holder said person can sit, stand or lie. Then said person can be secured in the holder, after which the holder is rotated about an axis of rotation. The holder is thereby disposed spaced from said axis, so that the person present in the holder will move in a circular path. Furthermore, amusement devices are known wherein the holder is rotated about an axis, which axis is in turn rotated about another axis, for example an axis extending parallel thereto. The person is thereby moved through space in random fashion.
The object of the invention is to provide an amusement device wherein the person or persons present in a holder can move in a spherical path.
This objective is accomplished with the amusement device according to the invention in that the amusement device includes means for rotating the holder about at least three axes which intersect in a centre.
Since the holder is spaced from the centre and rotatable about three intersecting axes, the holder can move in a path which is spherical, as it were, wherein the centre of the virtual sphere coincides with the centre of the three intersecting axes. Depending on the relative positions of the axes, the holder may move through a complete spherical path or through part thereof.
One embodiment of the amusement device according to the invention is characterized in that said means comprise at least three rings extending within each other, wherein the outer ring is rotatably mounted in a support about a first axis, the middle ring is rotatably connected to the outer ring about a second axis and rotatably connected to the inner ring about a third axis, wherein the inner ring is fitted with a holder.
The arrangement of rings extending within each other and being rotatable relative to each other makes it readily possible to
provide an amusement device wherein the holder can move in a desired spherical path. In addition, due to the presence of the rings an attractively looking device is obtained.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a schematically represented amusement device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the amusement device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the amusement device according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;
Figures 5A-5C show a fourth embodiment of an amusement device according to the invention, wherein the amusement device is shown in several operating positions thereof;
Figures 7 - 9 show various further embodiments of amusement devices according to the invention; and
Figures 10A and 10B are a cross-sectional view and a side view, respectively, of yet another embodiment of an amusement device according to the invention.
Parts corresponding to each other are indicated by the same numerals in the figures.
Figure 1 shows an amusement device 1 according to the invention, which comprises two supports 2, 3 disposed one above the other, which are each provided with a stub 4, on which an outer ring 5 is rotatably mounted about a first axis 6. Ring 5 is rotatable about first axis 6 in a direction indicated by arrow PI and in a direction opposite thereto. Extending within outer ring 5 are two rings 7, 8, one ring extending within another, wherein the middle ring 7 is rotatably supported in outer ring 5 about a second axis 9. The middle ring 7 is rotatably connected to outer ring 5 near bearings 10, capable of rotation in a direction indicated by arrow P2 and in a direction opposite thereto. Inner ring 8 is connected to middle ring 7 by means of bearings 11 in such manner as to be rotatable about a third axis 12. Inner ring 8 is capable of rotation in a direction indicated by arrow P3 and in a direction opposite thereto.
Attached to inner ring 8 is a holder 13 (see Figure 2), in which persons can be accommodated.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the amusement device 1 of Figure 1, showing in particular the connections between rings 5, 7, 8 formed by bearings 4, 10, 11. The holder 13, in which a person 14 is present, is rotatably connected to a coupling piece 16 about an axis 15, which coupling piece is in turn rotatably connected to inner ring 8 about an axis 17. Holder 13 is capable of rotation about axis 15 in a direction indicated by arrow P4 and in a direction opposite thereto, whilst coupling piece 16 is capable of rotation about axis 17 in a direction indicated by arrow P5 and in a direction opposite thereto. Coupling piece 16 is provided with a counterweight on a side remote from holder 13.
In the amusement device 1 as shown in Figure 1, axes 6 and 9 and axes 6 and 12 include an angle of 90° with each other. Axes 9 and 12 include an angle with each other which is larger than 10° but smaller than 90°. It is also possible for said axes to include an angle of 90° with each other, of course.
The operation of the amusement device 1 which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 will now be briefly explained. Rings 5, 7, 8 are rotated about axes 6, 9, 12, for example by means of electric motors (not shown), whilst in addition the coupling piece 16 can be rotated about axis 17 and holder 13 can be rotated about axis 15. The person who is present in holder 13 is thereby moved through space, whereby said person will move in a spherical path. When holder 13 is rotatable with respect to coupling piece 16 and coupling piece 16 is rotatable with respect to inner ring 8, as is shown in Figure 2, the holder will move in a path which is bounded by two virtual spheres, whose centres coincide with the centre M of the three intersecting axes 6, 9, 12.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an amusement device 20 according to the invention, which comprises a cylindrical support 21, from where persons can embark holder 13. In this amusement device 20, outer ring 5 is rotatable about a vertically extending first axis 6. Ring 5 is rigidly connected to a ring 22, which extends transversely to ring 5. Middle ring 7 also comprises a ring 23, which likewise extends transversely to ring 7. The presence of the additional rings 22, 23 enhances the spherical character of the amusement device.
Figure 4 shows a third embodiment 24 of the invention, wherein first axis 6 extends horizontally rather than vertically.
Figures 5A-5C show a fourth embodiment of an amusement device 25 according to the invention, wherein the outer ring 5 and the middle ring 7 extend parallel to each other, and wherein middle ring 7 is capable of sliding and rotating movement within outer ring 5 about an axis 9 extending transversely to the two rings. Outer ring 5 is in turn rotatably carried in supports 2, 3 about a first axis 6. In the embodiment of the amusement device 25 according to the invention as shown in Figures 5A-5C, the supports 2, 3 pivot about an axis 26 extending parallel to first axis 6 in a direction indicated by arrow P6 and in a direction opposite thereto. To this end, supports 2, 3 are pivotally connected to a frame 27.
In the position which is shown in Figure 5A, rings 5, 7, 8 are rotatable relative to each other and to supports 2, 3 in a similar manner as in the above-described embodiments of the amusement device according to the invention. When persons are to enter or leave the holders, the inner ring 8 is positioned in the same plane as the middle ring 7 and the outer ring 5, after which the rings 5, 7, 8 lying in one plane are pivoted about axis 26 in the direction indicated by arrow P6, from the position which is shown in Figure 5A, via the position which is shown in Figure 5B, to the position which is shown in Figure 5C. In the position which is shown in Figure 5C, the rings are positioned near an embarking and disembarking platform 28. In order to keep the amount of energy that is required for said pivoting low, supports 2, 3 are interconnected on a side remote from rings 5, 7, 8 by means of an arcuate coupling piece 29, which functions as a counterweight.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the amusement device 25 of Figures 5A-5C, wherein the inner ring 8 is rotatably connected to middle ring 7 by means of bearings 11, whilst middle ring 7 is slidably supported in outer ring 5 by means of a bearing 30,
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show further embodiments of amusement devices 31, 32, 33 according to the invention, wherein the rings are circular, square and octagonal, respectively. Figures 10A and 10B are, respectively, a cross-sectional view and a side view of another amusement device 34 according to the invention, which comprises an inner ring 8, which is rotatably supported
in a ring 7 about an axis 12. Ring 7 is externally provided with racks 35 which are disposed opposite each other. The amusement device 34 further comprises two C-shaped supports 36, which are rotatably connected to supports 2, 3 about an axis 6. Each C-shaped support 36 is provided with two pinions 37, which mate with racks 35. Pinions 37 are driven by means of electric motors 38. Rotation of pinions 37 causes ring 7 to rotate about axis 9 (not shown) .
It is also possible to use other rings which are rotatable within each other or to use ring segments.