US1249455A - Aquatic amusement apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

VH. A. MYERS.. AQUATIC AMUSEIVIENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED FEB* 17,1917.

Patented e. H, 19T?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A TTORNEY Mmmm.,

H. A. MYERS. l' AQUATIC AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man ria. 11. 1917.

v 'w @55. 11mm@ im. 11, mw.

l a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l1 LQ l yi.. DI

fr M, K

A TTORNEY H. A. MYERS. AQUATIC A'MUSEIVENT APPARATUS. APPLlcATloN FILED FEB. l1. 1917.

T9.. Patented Dec.. lll, 1917A A TTURNEY i Maaate. i

d pnirnn sra'rns rarnnr orribili.

HUBERT MYERS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO;

Specification of Letters Patent.

AQUATC AMUSEBIIIEINT` APPARATUS..

application sie@ 'February 17,191?. serial 149,205.

To all 'whom it mag/concern Be it. known that yl-IUBRT Mimns,a

citizenof the United States of America, and

resident of Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have inventedl a. certainnew :and useful Improve-` ment in Aquatic Amusement Apparatus, "of which the following is a specication'.`

My invention contemplates anyaquatic` amusement-apparatus in which one or more aquaplanes are propelled along' a predetermined path 4or paths, by any suitable means, but preferably by one ormore traveling cables operated by a central power-plant, and the entire apparatusbeing preferably mounted upon aiioating structure having one or more channels` in which theaquaplanes travel, whereby said,` apparatus c an y be used intide-water, being adapted to rise and fallfwith the tide without interfe'ring` with the desired` mode of operation thereof.

Generally stated, therefore, the objectof amusement-apparatus of lthis particular character. y

VTo the 4foregoing and otherl useful ends,

. my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed. a,

ln the accompanying` drawings Figure 1 is aplan view, more or less diagrammatic in character, of an aquaplane amusement Vapparatus embodying the principles of my'invention.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section j of said apparatus.

Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view showing the manner in which the apparatus is used.

Fig; -5 is an enlargeddetail sectionalview of one of the automatic clutches for connecting the aquaplanes with the cables.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation` of the clutch shown iI11Fig.'5.v `V y y Fig. 7 is;A a' detail sectional view ofa portion of said apparatus, on the samescaleas rigs, and.; 4, sheyies tha means. for. Mite? ratentea neeiniaiv.

matically operating vsaid clutches to connect the aquaplanes to and disconnect them from" the traveling cables.

Fig. 8 is a planview of the devices shown in Fig. `7.

Fig. 9

`is `a view similar to -Fig. 5, butV showing the clutch open, `it being an er1-y.

laroed'sectionon line 5-5 in Fig. 7.

s thus illustrated, my invention comprises a floating structure A having abottom and sides, the sides being provided with iioats B of such character that the structure can be ioated in a partially submerged posi-` t1o`n. The 4said floating structure, in plan" view, is preferably o f the shape 'shown in Fig. 1, iand is provided with one or more endless channels C, lformed by inclinedwalls c, which latter are supportedon the bottom of Vsaid structure in any suitable or desired wallsy c, and endless tracks Eare mounted below ,these walls c, upon the bottompof the structure A, and slightly out of line with said slots. The uprights F travel in said slots, having their lower ends rigidly connected to the horizontal supports f, the lat-` ter having wheels Gr` which travel in said tracks. Braces g connect the upper portions of the uprights F with the front and rear ends of the supports f,`so that said uprights will bebraced against forward or backwardA tilt or displacement. Below each slot D, and

slightly out of line therewith, there` is a traveling cable H, and these cables areV supportedand held to predetermined paths of travel by the sheaves t disposed at dierent points on the structure, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, so that said cables will travel freely and easily and in the desired` manner. A central power-plant is provided for "operating" said cables, comprising a motor or engine I mounted on the platform" i at `one side of the floatingstructure, and

suitablyconnected with v the horizontal shaft J, which Vshaft extends transversely of the traveling cables.` Different sized]` cablewheels 1,2 and 3 are mounted on 'said shaft J, to engage the different cables,and whereby the latter will travel at differentspeeds.`

Each cable can be wound one or more times A manner.' Slots D are provided betweenthe channels, between the highest portions of th`e around itsrespective wheel,` in the manner,

employed for other kinds of apparatus in which traveling cables are employed, such as` street-car cables, `and each,` :wheel is prefsera-servilletas @f lisa site @tss-letal cable (see Fig. 8.), so that the clutches K which engage the cables willy readilyypass said wheels. Each clutch, it will be seen, comprises a pair of jaws la' pivotally connected together at t and provided with rearend-.portions 'connected bya rod 5 and a spring 6, said spring Serving Vby, its eX pansion 'to force the two jawstogether and intoengagement with the cable. r The gripping portions of said vjaws are provided with lugs 7 to' engage the long cams L,`which late ter are, arranged'adjacent, the wheelsl', 2 and 43,' so that "each clutch will be automatically opened as it approaches saidtwheels automatically closedl Aat a certain distance after-passingrthe wheels. /Forthis' purpose, said camsl are provided' with 'tapered-ends,- sothat yone end of each camL gage these lugs will-' enterfbetw'een thelugs 7 and thus separatethe jaws of the clutch', and whereby the other taperedend ofthe 'cam will then disen- Y and allow the jaws toagain gripftheca'ble.v These clutchesare, it will be platform seen,suitablysecuredr to lthe uprights F, andy with "this- .arrangement each upright will automatically stop yupon, arriving.' at the softhat the attendant ,can pushy it forwardfby, hand, and whereby each 'upwill".

n thenv be automatically connectedu atthe other'r side of; said platform with its allottedcable.v v Y Y i-he aquaplanes M can `beof the ordinary orwell-known size and shape, and are connect'edby; Vropes or chainsA vmwiththe tops offtheupr'ights F through the'medium of the cross-bar`s N, whereby each upright F- will propel two aquaplanesone at each side thereof,v along the channels C, ina manner tha-twill be yreadily understood. Eachaqua plane is provided with a connection or bridle/O for the rider to grasp Y (see Fig.4.'),- so that'the aquaplfanes can be-usedor operated like those which are some times towed atz'the` stern of a motor-boat; Obviously, however, the aquaplanesM will beg propelled over predetermined paths of travel, from a central I'powerplana and along water-channels which; a're'comparatively shallow, 'and @Spell-y 'While 'learning .t0

is obvious, of course,l cables l and aquaplanes can be., employed as under such conditions thatthe personsri'ding on theaquaplan'eswill not be' in any danger,

lride.l

that as many may be desired, v'depending upon VVthe conditions and; circumstances of 'each case, and.

thatfthefstructure as a wholecan4 have. any

l y desired" Asize or shape, in plan view, although 'l f an elongated, endless course over which the Y aquaplanes mayftravel, is preferable,l By, Heating the entire structure, in theL mannen shown. 'and described, the apparatus can `be usedfinztide-water, where the water risesand "falls, 'with.o'tin anyway interfering with the 1desifredf,mode"ofoperation'- Any suit# able lpower can' be employed l'for loperating the cables, and with the construction shown andudescribed. it is contemplated that with proper management one attendant will be sufficient.

lVith the foregoing arrangement, the aquaplanes are all'controlled and operated'- from the central or stationary source of power, and by thisis meant that the stationary source of power or central power-` plant may remainin a given position during` the operationof the aquaplanes, yand that the source of power does not travel with each aquaplane. Of course, the entire floating ap paratus cany be moved from one place to air other, but the .power-plant is relatively stationary; while the aquaplanes are traveling around their courses.

What I claim as my invention is l. An aquatic amusement-apparatus comprising an4 aquaplane, means to propel said aquaplane, and a central power-plant.from whichmotive poweris derivedto operate said means, so thatsaid aquaplane .is controlled from a stationary source ofpower.

2. An aquatic amusementrapparatus comprising anaquaplane, instrumentalitics to establish a path of .travel for said aquaplanc, and means to propel said aquaplane along said path. y

8. An aquatic amusement-apparatus comprising an aquaplane, means. toV propel said aquaplane, acentral power-plant to operate said means, and a floating structure to carry said means and plant. A

4. An aquatic amusement-apparatus comprising an aquaplane, instrumentalities to establish a path of travel for said aquaplanc, means `to propel said aquaplane along said path, ,and a floating structure to carry said instrumentalities and means. i

5.V Anv aquatic amusement-apparatus comprising an aquaplane, means to propel said aquaplane, and ak central power-plant to operate'- said means, having provisions to gradually start said aquaplane while said power-plant is operating saidl meansat full Speed- A j f n .fAn aquaticamusementfapparatus comprisi'ng an aquaplane, instrumentalities to establish a path of travel for said aquaplanje, andmeans to propel said aquaplane along said path, having provisions to automatically start and stop said aquaplane ,while said means are operating at full speed.

7 An aquatic amusement-apparatus comprising lan aquaplane, means to-propelsaid aquaplane, and a. central power-plant to operate said means, said means comprising a traveling cable. A

8. An aquatic amusement-apparati]s comprising` an aquaplane, instrumentalities to establish a path of travel for said'aquaplane, and means to propel said aqualilane along said-path, said means v comprisin g1 an4 endless cable, a device to grip said cable, a connection between said aquaplane and cable, and prsng an aquaplane, instrumentalities to means to automatically operate said device. establish a path of travel for said aquaplane,

9. An aquatic amusement-apparatus comand means to propel said aquaplane along prsing an aquaplane, means to propel said sacl path, said nstrumentaltes comprising 5 aquaplane, a central power-plant to operate aWater-ohannel, and a guide eXtendng along 15 said means, and a floating structure having said Channel for said means. a Watenchannel for said aquaplane, said Signed by me at Toledo, Chio, this 29th means and` power-plant being carried by said clay of January, 1917. structure.

10 l0. An aquatic amusement-apparatus com- HUBERT MYERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente,

Waahinmon, D.

Images