Carousel

Abstract

 A grasshopper carousel comprising a carousel structure (2) having a plurality of arms (3) extending radially from a central hub (4) rotatable about its own axis, each arm (3) having its fulcrum on the hub (4) by one of its ends, and bearing a passenger-carrying cradle (6) at the opposite end, there being inserted between each arm and the hub an actuator (7) capable of causing a plurality of sudden lifting and lowering movements of the arm and of the corresponding cradle during the rotation of the hub about its own axis. Each cradle (6) is supported on the respective arm (3) so as to be rotatable about a cradle axis substantially perpendicular to the arm (3).

Description

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a carousel of the so-called "grasshopper" type, in which there is provided a carousel structure rotatable about the axis of a central hub and having a plurality of arms, extending radially from the hub, that are actuated by pneumatic jacks or other similar actuators capable of imparting rapid accelerations, in such a way that during the rotation of the carousel structure the arms are subjected to sudden lifting movements and jerky descents, just like the hopping motion of a grasshopper.

[0002] The carousel passengers are seated in respective cradles carried at the end of each arm and therefore experience the play effect of the sudden accelerations and decelerations of the cradles, abruptly lifted and lowered with a possible series of "rebounds" while the carousel structure rotates about its own axis.

[0003] The aim of the invention is that of improving the play effect to which the passengers on this type of carousel are subjected.

[0004] This aim is achieved by the invention with a carousel including the characteristics mentioned in the claims which follow. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a carousel according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of a detail of the carousel of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the carousel of the preceding figures;
• Figure 4 is a view on a further enlarged scale and in partial section of a detail of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a graph illustrating an example of the operation of the carousel of the preceding figures.

[0005] In Figures 1 to 4, a carousel of the grasshopper type produced according to the present invention is indicated as a whole by 1. The carousel 1 comprises a carousel structure 2 typically including a plurality of arms 3 extending radially from a central hub 4 rotatable about its own vertical axis X. Each arm 3 has its fulcrum on the hub 4 by one of its ends 5 and bears a passenger-carrying cradle 6 at the opposite end.

[0006] Between each arm 3 and the hub 4 is inserted a pneumatic jack 7 capable of causing a plurality of sudden lifting and lowering movements of the arm 3 and corresponding cradle 6 during the rotation of the hub 4 about its own axis X.

[0007] The choice of pneumatic jacks as actuators for the movements of the arms is preferential in as far as they allow on the one hand the sudden accelerations required for the correct functioning of the lifting movement of the arms, with consequent extension of the jacks 7, and on the other hand serve to dampen the descent thereof, with the consequent possibility of either an equally sudden descent or a descent in the form of jerks, transformed by the damping effect into so many hops. It is envisaged, however, that the arms may be actuated otherwise, for example by means of hydraulic, electrical, mechanical or similar actuators, optionally complemented by suitable damping means. Figure 5 illustrates a possible example of actuation of the arms, where the time expressed in seconds is entered on the abscissa, and the acceleration of the cradle consequent upon the movement of the arms 3 is entered on the ordinate. Taking into account the fact that the rotation velocity of the hub is approximately 8 r.p.m., the whole of the data identifies the type of motion characteristic of a possible exemplary embodiment of a grasshopper carousel.

[0008] According to the present invention, each cradle 6 is supported on the respective arm 3 so as to be rotatable about a cradle axis 8 substantially perpendicular to the respective arm 3. Preferably, the support is loose, or rather the cradle 6 is free to rotate about the cradle axis 8; it is also envisaged, however, that the rotation control may be motorized.

[0009] In the first case, that of a loose support, the cradle axis 8 preferably does not lie on the centre of gravity with respect to the cradle 6 (and to the load represented by the passengers), such as to accentuate a rotation of the cradle about the cradle axis as a result of the movements of the arm. The cradle 6 is in fact made with a frame 9 suspended by means of a pin 10 with axis 8 at the end of the arm; the frame 9 carries a pair of seats 11 with back-rest 12 and arm-rests 13 and is equipped with retaining devices 14 such that, once they are closed on the shoulders of the passenger, the latter is held firmly accommodated in the seat 11. The whole of these parts has its centre of gravity 15 placed with respect to the back-rest 12 such that the cradle axis 8 passes between the centre of gravity and the back-rest, producing a couple acting on the cradle to rotate it each time the corresponding arm 3 is raised. But in the case of motorized actuation of rotation of the cradles 6 about the cradle axis 8, that can be obtained by means of suitable actuators such as a transmission with gears or chain between a motor, not shown, and the suspension pin 10 of the cradle 6.

[0010] In order to facilitate the operations of embarking and disembarking the passengers, between the arm 3 and the pin 10 braking means such as a disc brake 16 and corresponding caliper 17 are arranged which serve to lock the relative rotation between the cradle and the arm about the cradle axis 8. The operation of the carousel 1 is as follows. In order to facilitate the embarkation of the passengers, with the carousel at a standstill the braking means charged with locking the cradles are actuated. In a manner that is known per se, the retaining devices 14 rise up so as to give access to the seats 11, and the passengers embark.

[0011] Then the central hub 4 and the jacks 7 charged with actuating the arms 3 are set in rotation, producing a rapid rotation of the hub 4 with coherent sudden up-and-down movements of the arms. The combined effect of such movements in itself develops a couple between each cradle and the respective arm tending to rotate the cradle about the respective cradle axis 8. This rotation is further promoted by the positioning of the cradle axis outside the centre of gravity, which induces in the cradle/arm assembly a further couple aimed at setting the cradle 6 in rotation with respect to its arm 3.

[0012] The invention thus improves the play effect of a conventional grasshopper carousel, obtaining further advantages owing to the fact of obtaining the rotatory movement of the cradle without the need for specific motorization.

Claims

1. A grasshopper carousel comprising a carousel structure (2) having a plurality of arms (3) extending radially from a central hub (4) rotatable about its own axis (x), each arm (3) having its fulcrum on the hub (4) by one of its ends, and bearing a passenger-carrying cradle (6) at the opposite end, there being inserted between each arm and the hub an actuator (7) capable of causing a plurality of sudden lifting and lowering movements of the arm and corresponding cradle during the rotation of the hub (4) about its own axis, characterized in that each cradle (6) is supported on the respective arm so as to be rotatable about a cradle axis substantially perpendicular to said arm (3).

2. A carousel according to claim 1, wherein said actuators (7) are of the pneumatic jack type.

3. A carousel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each cradle (6) is supported so as to be loose on the respective arm (3).

4. A carousel according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said cradle axis does not lie on the centre of gravity with respect to the cradle (6), such as to accentuate a rotation of the cradle (6) about said cradle axis as a result of the movements of the arm (3).

5. A cradle according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein braking means (16-17) are provided between the cradle (6) and the respective arm (3) to lock the relative rotation thereof about the cradle axis.

6. A carousel according to claim 1, wherein drive means are provided between the cradle and the arm in order to promote said relative rotation.

Drawing