US868736A - Submarine amusement device. - Google Patents

Description

No. 868,736. PATENTED OCT. 22, 1907. 1).- E. WASHINGTON.

SUBMARINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAB.25,190'I.

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D. E! WASHINGTON. SUB-MARINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DIXON E. WASHINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN F. TIPPETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUBMABINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed March 25,1907. Serial No. 364,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .l, DIXON E. WASHINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Submarine Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in submarine amusement devices, and the primary object of'the in vention is to provide an improved device of this character adapted to be submerged and propelled while submerged.

A further object is to provide improved means for submerging and retaining the device submerged without interfering with its propulsion while submerged.

A further object is to provide improved means for maintaining a supply of air for the occupants.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this character which will be simple, cheap and durable in construction, an d effective and eflicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of'the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating an exemplification of the invention, and in which-- Figure 1 is a side cl ovation, partly broken away, of an improved device of this character constructed in ac cordance wth the principles of this invention, showing the same in full lines submerged, and in dotted lines in a position to receive the passengers. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line l-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in this exemplification of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a boat or other suitable craft which is adapted to float upon the top of the water, and which latter is preferably arranged to run in a suitable channel constructed for the purpose. This boat may be of any desired size and construction and provided with ordinary seats 11 for the use of the occupants. V

The numeral 12 designates a bell constructed of any suitable material, preferably of the configuration shown and provided with an open bottom 13. This bell is of a length somewhat greater than the length of the boat 10 and is preferably provided with a pointed forward extremity 14, so as not to interfere with the propulsion of the bell through the water. The bell is also of a width greater than the width of the boat 10, so that when it is placed over the boat, there will be a space formed around the boat within the bell. The bell is adapted to be placed over the boat as the latter rests upon the water and when the open edge of the bell enair therein will be compressed and will force the water level in the bell down to the position shown at 15, in Fig. 1. As the water level lowers, the boat 10 will also be lowered and as long as the bell in maintained submerged, the boat will occupy the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 4. While in this submerged position, the bell and boat are adapted to be propelled through the water in any desired or suitable manner but is preferably carried forward by means of the current of the water which is created in a natural or by any suitable artificial means.

Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the bell 12. A suitable and efficient means for accomplishing this purpose comprises a truck 16 provided with suitable supporting wheels 17, which are mounted or rest upon overhead tracks 18. Arranged above each of the tracks 18 and preferably parallel therewith are tracks 19 and these tracks 19 are spaced from the tracks 18 a suitable distance to permit the wheels 17 to pass between the respective pairs of tracks.

Mounted upon the truck 16 is a suitable motor 20 which is supplied with energy from any suitable source. The shaft 21 of the motor is provided with a suitable gear or pinion whee 22, which meshes with asuitable gear 23, secured to a shaft 24 and this shaft 24-. is preferably provided with a pinion wheel 25 which meshes with suitable gear wheels 26, secured to shafts 27. Secured also to the shafts 27 are suitable pinion wheels 28 located preferably adjacent the sides of the truck 16 and are preferably so spaced as to stand directly above the sides of the bell 12.

Secured to the bell 12 in any desired or suitable manner are a plurality of rack bars 29, preferably four in number, two located 011 each side thereof, and said rack bars are so located and are of such a length as to project upwardly from the bell 12 and through the truck 16 in such a manner that the teeth on the racks will engage the respective pinions 28 on the shafts 27 so that when the shafts 27 are rotated by means of the motor 20, through the medium of the intermediate gears, 22, 23, 25 and 26, the pinions 28 will raise or lower the racks 29 together with the bell 12, according to the direction of rotation of the motor 20. If desired, suitable pulleys 30 may be provided so as to engage the rear faces of the racks 29 to maintain the latter in engagement with the pinions 28.

In operation and with the bell raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and with the boat upon the surface of the water, as also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the passengers may enter the boat, after which the motor 20 may be started to lower the bell 12 when the bell is over the boat 10 so that its lower edge engages the water. A further lowering of the bell will first cause the air to be slightly compressed and a further lowering of the bell will lower the boat 10 in the manner already set forth. The boat may be lowered to any desired depth in the water.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the bell and boat submerged. A suitable and efficient means for accomplishing this purpose comprises a ratchet wheel 31, which is preferably located on the motor shaft 21 and said ratchet wheel 31 is adapted to be engaged by a spring controlled dog or pawl 32, which will lock the motor shaft and hold the bell in the desired position. The truck 16 is normally supported upon the tracks 18 and when the bell is in its raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the truck may be moved upon the tracks 18 to properly position the same over the boat 10 but when the bell 12 and boat 10 are submerged, the buoyancy of the water will tend to raise the truck 16 from the tracks 18 and cause the wheels 1'7 thereof to engage the upper tracks 19, which latter will hold the truck from displacement.

The dog or pawl 32 may be provided with a suitable flexible member 33, by means of which the pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 31 to permit the bell to be raised.

The bell may be provided with suitable windows 34 preferably located in the sides thereof and through which the occupants may view the imitations of various sea plants, et cetera, which may be provided within the channel as a source of amusement, for the passengers as the boat is being propelled. These windows are preferably located some distance from the top of the bell so that, in the event of an accident, by means of which the windows become broken, which would permit the entrance of water into the bell, the occupants may stand in the boat or upon the seats, which will bring their heads above the water level and prevent suffocation or drowning. If desired, the bell may be also provided with a suitable manhole 35. Suitable braces 36, 37, may be provided for the ends of the racks 29 and the free extremities of the braces 36 may be secured to the bell in any desired or suitable manner, preferably to a circumferential flange 38 which surrounds the lower or open end thereof. It will thus be seen that with this improved construction, when the bell and boat have been submerged, they will be maintained in their submerged condition and will be propelled through the water, the truck 16 moving along the tracks 18 as the bell and boat advances and when the limit of the course has been reached, the dog or pawl 32 may be released by means of the flexible member 33 to permit the bell to be raised. As the bell is raised, the boat will also rise and when the boat reaches the surface of the water and the bell is lifted away from the boat, the boat may be conveyed on the surface of the water to any desired point in any suitable manner, and the bell 12 may be returned to the starting point by simply moving the truck 16 upon the tracks 18.

In order that the invention might be fully understood by those skilled in the art, the details of the foregoing embodiment thereof have been thus specifically described, but

What 1 claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An amusement device comprising a submarine craft, means for submerging the craft, and a support for said means independent of the craft.

2. An amusement device comprising a submarine craft, means for submcrging the craft, a support for said means independent of the craft, and means for advancing the craft while submerged. I

3. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and means independent of the craft for submerging the latter, said craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged.

4. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and means for lowering the water level adjacent the craft, and for submerging the latter, said craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged.

5. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, means for lowering the water level adjacent the craft and for submerging the latter, and means for retain ing the craft submerged, said craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged.

G. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell adapted to be placed over the craft to inclose the same, and means for submerging the bell whereby the craft will also be submerged.

7.. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell having an open bottom, and means for submerging the bell whereby the water level adjacent the craft will be lowered to submerge the latter.

8. In an amusement device, the combination of a water 1 craft, a bell having an open bottom, means for submerging the bell whereby the water level adjacent the craft will be lowered to submerge the latter, and means for retaining the bell submerged, said bell being adapted to be advanced while submerged.

9. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell having an open bottom, means for supporting the bell, means for placing the bell over the craft with its open bottom adjacent the water and for lowering the bell into the water whereby the bell will be closed by the water and the craft will be submerged by and float within the bell.

10. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell having an open bottom, means for placing the bell over the craft so as to be closed by the water to confine the air therein, said bell being adapted to be submerged, the confined air being compressed by the submcrging of the bell whereby the craft will also be submerged and float within the bell.

11. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and a bell having an open bottom, said bell being adapted to be placed over the craft, and submerged, whereby the craft will float within the bell and be submerged thereby, said bell being provided withoutlook openings.

12. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell having an open bottom, means for supporting and transporting said bell, means for placing the bell over the craft and lowering the same to submerge the craft, said bell and craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged, and means for retaining the bell submerged.

13. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bell having an open bottom, means for supporting and transporting said bell, means for placing the bell over the craft and lowering the same to submerge the craft, said bell and craft. being adapted to be advanced while submerged, means for retaining the bell submerged, and means for preventing displacement of the said supporting and transporting means.

14. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, an overhead truck, a bell having an open bottom supported by the truck, means on the truck for lowering the bell over the craft to submerge the latter, means for holding the craft submerged, and means for preventing dis placement of the truck.

15. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, an overhead track, a truck movable on the track, a bell supported by the truck, said bell having an open bottom and adapted to be positioned over the craft, means for submerging the bell whereby the craft will be submerged to float within the bell, means for retaining the craft and bell submerged, and an additional track coiiperat ing with the first said track to prevent displacement of the truck.

16. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a track, a truck movable upon thetrack, a bell having; an open bottom and adapted to be placed over the craft, a rack operatively related to the bell, a pinion mounted on the truck and meshing with the rack for supporting the bell and for raising and lowering the latter, means for operating the pinion to lower the bell over the craft and submerge the same whereby the craft will also be submerged, and means for retaining the bell and craft submerged, said bell and craft being adapted to be advanced While submerged,

17. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a track, a truck movable upon the track, a bell having an open bottom and adapted to be placed over the craft, a rack operatively related to the bell, a pinion mounted on the truck and meshing with the .rack for sup porting the bell and for raising and lowering the latter, means for operating the pinion to lower the bell over the craft and submerge the same whereby the craft will also be submerged, means for retaining the bell and craft submerged, said bell and craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged, a second track located above and co6p erating with the first track and adapted to be engaged by the wheels of the truck when the bell is submerged to prevent displacement of the truck.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

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