A carousel for raising and lowering passengers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carousel for raising and lowering passengers, comprising a support structure having a longitudinal extension axis and a base arranged to bear the support structure. The support structure is hinged to the base about a rotation axis, allowing for rotation relative to the base, with movement means facilitating this rotation. The support structure includes a first end bearing a cabin for passengers and a second end connected to the base, with a plurality of tubular elements telescopically coupled to adjust the longitudinal extension axis. The carousel features positioning means that connect the cabin to either the base or the support structure, depending on the operating condition. The carousel can assume two configurations: a first configuration where the cabin is near the base and a second configuration where the support structure emerges from the base to allow sliding of the tubular elements.

1 . A carousel for raising and lowering passengers, comprising:
 a support structure having a longitudinal extension axis;   a base arranged to bear the support structure;   the support structure being hinged to the base, according to a rotation axis, in such a way that the support structure is rotatable with respect to the base about the rotation axis;   movement means which are arranged so as to move the support structure in rotation with respect to the base;   the support structure comprising a first end and a second end, which is opposite the first end and which is connected to the base, and a plurality of tubular elements telescopically coupled with one another in such a way as to slide with respect to one another in order to increase or reduce the longitudinal extension axis of the support structure;   a cabin which is conformed to receive passengers and which is borne by the first end of the support structure;   a connecting element for rotatably connecting the cabin and the support structure to one another;   positioning means of the cabin, which are conformed and predisposed to assume a first operating condition in which they connect the cabin and the base to one another and a second operating condition in which they connect the cabin and the support structure to one another; wherein the positioning means of the cabin comprise a pair of rods which are borne by the connecting element and which are arranged opposite one another; in which each rod of the pair of rods is arranged in such a way that: when the positioning means of the cabin assume the first operating condition, a first end of each rod of the pair of rods is rotatably coupled to the connecting element and a second end of each rod of the pair of rods is coupled to the base; wherein each rod of the pair of rods comprises a projection which extends transversally to the extension axis of each rod and is arranged in such a way that: when the positioning means of the cabin assume the second operating condition, the first end of each rod of the pair of rods is rotatably coupled to the connecting element and the projection is solidly coupled to the support structure;   the carousel being configured so as to assume:   a first configuration wherein, once the support structure is moved in rotation with respect to the base, about the rotation axis in a first rotation direction, the support structure is arranged so that the first end and the base are neared to one another and the positioning means assume the first operating condition in such a way as to maintain the cabin in position during the movement in rotation of the support structure with respect to the base;   a second configuration wherein, once the support structure is moved in rotation with respect to the base, about the rotation axis in a second rotation direction which is opposite the first rotation direction, the support structure emerges from the base and the positioning means assume the second operating condition in such a way as to maintain the cabin in position during the sliding of a tubular element with respect to the other tubular element of the plurality of tubular elements.   
     
     
         2 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is hinged to the base at the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the movement means are arranged interposed between the support structure and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the movement means comprise at least a piston which is rotatably coupled to the base, at a relative end thereof, and to the second end of the support structure, at another relative end thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein: the base comprises a pair of covering plates which are arranged to at least partially cover the second end of the support structure; the support structure is hinged to the base at each covering plate of the pair of covering plates so as to be moved away from the rest surface on which the carousel lies during use. 
     
     
         6 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein: the base comprises a first slab which is arranged resting on a rest surface; a second slab and a third slab, which are arranged resting on the rest surface, which are opposite one another with respect to the first slab and which are arranged transversally to the first slab. 
     
     
         7 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the cabin is activatable in rotation with respect to the support structure in such a way as to rotate about the longitudinal extension axis of the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein it comprises second movement means which are arranged internally of the support structure in order to activate the sliding of a tubular element with respect to another tubular element of the plurality of tubular elements. 
     
     
         9 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein when the positioning means of the cabin assume the second operating condition, the second end of each rod of the pair of rods is decoupled from the base. 
     
     
         10 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a first fixing seat and a second fixing seat, wherein the carousel comprises a first piston which is borne by the base and which is predisposed to be moved so as to insert in or exit from the corresponding first fixing seat and a second piston which is borne by the base and which is predisposed to be moved in such a way as to insert in or exit from the corresponding second fixing seat, in which the carousel assumes the second configuration, the first piston and the second piston are inserted in the corresponding seats so as to couple the base and the support structure solidly to one another, and when the carousel assumes the first configuration, and the intermediate configurations until assuming the second configuration, the first piston and the second piston are removed from the corresponding seats so that the coupling between the base and the support structure is such as to allow the rotation of the support structure with respect to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein each rod of the pair of rods comprises a through-hole at the relative second end, wherein the base comprises a pair of seats for receiving the second end of each rod of the pair of rods wherein, when the positioning means assume the first operating condition, the second end of the rods of the pair of rods is received in the corresponding seat of the pair of seats, and wherein the carousel further comprises: a third piston which is borne by the base and which is predisposed to be moved in such a way as to insert in or exit from the corresponding seat of the pair of seats and the corresponding through-hole of a rod of the pair of rods; and a further fourth piston which is borne by the base and which is predisposed to be moved in such a way as to insert in or exit from the corresponding other seat of the pair of seats and in the corresponding through-hole of the other rod of the pair of rods. 
     
     
         12 . The carousel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the tubular elements of the support structure can be arranged in a relative first arrangement wherein it has a relative minimum length and wherein, when the positioning means of the cabin assume the first operating condition, the third piston is inserted in or removed from the corresponding seat of the pair of seats and the corresponding through-hole of a rod of the pair of rods; and the fourth piston is inserted in the corresponding other seat of the pair of seats and in the corresponding through-hole of the other rod of the pair of rods.