Patent GB-191204785-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Tellurians.
Inventor: MATLICK ISAAC NEWTON
IPC: G09B27/02
Filed: 1912-02-26
Granted: 1912-08-22
Abstract: 4785. Matlick, T. N. Feb. 26. Globes and Orreries.-Relates to apparatus for demonstrating the relative movements of the earth, moon, and sun, and the physical phenomena connected therewith, of the type in which the earth and moon globes are carried at one end of an arm which is rotatably mounted at its other end on a table or stand and is hollow so as to enclose a shaft adapted to rotate when the arm is rotated and to cause the rotation of the earth and moon globes. The table T, Fig. 1, on which the sun globe is mounted carries a fixed annular wheel G and a rotatable framework supporting the arm R<1> in which the shaft R is rotated from the annular wheel G by a pinion g. The arm R', Fig. 3, carries at its outer end a frame R<4> through which passes a spindle 12 carrying at its squared end an horizontal bar 13 supporting the earth and moon globes. The moon globe M is connected to the bar 13 by a curved rod 15 provided with a guide-wheel m which bears upon an inclined disk 21 eccentrically mounted on the frame R<4> whereby the rise and fall of the moon above and below the plane of the ecliptic is demonstrated. The bar 13 carries at its outer end a vertical post 14, supporting a concave wheel 26, and also loose wheels 16, 17 which gear respectively with a wheel 18 and with wheels 19, 20, the wheel 20 being fixed on the frame R'. The wheel 19 is connected to a spindle 19<a>, passing through the post 14 and carrying a curved arm 27 which supports the axis A of the earth globe at its proper inclination. The wheel 18 is connected to a hub 18<a> passing round the post 14 and supporting a vertical circular band V. The table T carries an elliptical chart T' representing the earth's orbit round the sun, the sun globe S being mounted at one focus so that the perihelion and aphelion of the earth may be illustrated. The chart T' bears the signs of the zodiac, names of months and seasons &c., and a second chart T<2> bears a representation of the solar system. On the supposition that one revolution of the arm R<1> corresponds with one year, the bar 13 carrying the earth and moon . globes is caused to rotate once in 29¢ days through the gearing G, g and bevel-wheels 11, 12. At the same time, the inclined disk 21, provided with a crown gear, is rotated from the shaft R by gear wheels 25, 24, 22 in such a manner that the sun appears in the nodal point of the moon's orbit at the proper decreasing period for each year, and the phenomena and approximate dates of the eclipses can be illustrated for several years. A small screw R<3> is provided in the frame R<4> so that the wheels 10, 25 on the shaft R can be thrown out of gear at will. The wheels 19, 20 are arranged with an equal number of teeth so that the vertical band V moves round with its plane always perpendicular to the sun's rays, thus marking off the light and dark portions of the earth globe E, and illustrating the equinoxes and the varying length of the days in different latitudes. Pivoted in two portions to the band V and always in the plane of the ecliptic is an horizontal band B<1>, on which the hours of the day are marked, and which, with the band V, serves to define the zones and tropics. The gearing of the wheels 19, 17, 20 is so arranged that the spindle 19<a> and arm 27 move round practically without rotation, thus demonstrating the permanency of the earth's axis in one direction; however, the motion is actually such. that the axis has a slight backward rotation, and thus the phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes may be shown. The rotation of the earth globe itself is arranged by wheels e, 29, 28 carried by the relatively fixed arm 27, the wheel 28 gearing with the wheel 26 carried on the rotating bar 13.