Apparatus for Producing Nautical or Aquatic Scenes in Circus Arenas, Theatres, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Producing Nautical or Aquatic Scenes in Circus
Arenas, Theatres, and the like.
I, ALBERT HENRY HENGLER, of Hengler's Circus, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, Dublin
and elsewhere, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide suitable apparatus to be applied to circus
arenas and like spaces whereby such spaces may be quickly filled with water or
emptied thereof for the production of nautical or aquatic scenes or exhibitions therein.
For this purpose a sheet of waterproof canvas or other equivalent waterproof
material preferably in one undivided piece is made of sufficient size and proper shape
to cover the floor of the arena or other space to be filled, and to be pulled up onto or
over the side or enclosing fence of such arena or space. At suitable places behind the
tiers of seats, as near as they may be conveniently placed to the arena, are two tanks of
equal capacity and capable of containing sufficient water to between them fill the arena
to the depth required. These tanks are set in an elevated position above the level of
the arena and to them are connected respectively two pipes or hoses of comparatively
large diameter which may be of collapsible canvas and which are carried in or beneath
the flooring of the tiers of seats in suitable supports to debouch in or over the side
fence of the arena above the sheet therein, the mouth of the one pipe being opposite
to the mouth of the other so that when at a given signal the valves are opened to
allow the water in the tanks to flow into these pipes the said water may flow in two
opposite streams into the arena said streams meeting in the middle and filling the
arena in the course of about 35 to 50 seconds or more or less as desired according to
the size of the pipes.
The apparatus comprises also one or more pulsometer or other pumps with boiler or
boilers and when necessary, engines for working said pumps with the proper steam
connections; a flexible suction pipe is connected to the pump or to each pump to
extend to the centre or lowest part of the sheet in the arena and a delivery pipe or
pipes from the pump or pumps carries back the water into the respective tanks when
the arena is emptied.
Dated this 11th day of June 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Producing Nautical or Aquatic Scenes in Circus
Arenas, Theatres, and the like.
I, ALBERT HENRY HENGLER of Hengler's Circus, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, Dublin
and elsewhere, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide suitable apparatus to be applied to circus
arenas and like spaces whereby such spaces may be quickly filled with. water or
emptied thereof for the production of nautical or aquatic scenes or exhibitions therein.
For this purpose a sheet of waterproof canvas or other equivalent waterproof
material preferably in one undivided piece is made, of sufficient size and proper shape
to cover the floor of the arena or other space to be filled and to be pulled up onto or
over the side or enclosing fence of such arena or space.
At suitable spaces behind the tiers of seats as near as they may be conveniently placed
to the arena, are two tanks of equal capacity and capable of containing sufficient
Dar

page_text: water to between them, fill the arena to the depth required. These tanks are set in an
elevated position above the level of the arena and to them are connected respectively
two pipes or hoses of comparatively large diameter which may be of collapsible canvas
and which are carried in or beneath the flooring of the tiers of seats in suitable
supports to debouch in or over the side fence of the arena above the sheet therein the
mouth of the one pipe being opposite to the mouth of the other so that when at a given
signal the valves are opened to allow the water in the tanks to flow into these pipes the
said water may flow in two opposite streams into the arena as said streams meeting in
the middle and filling the arena in the course of about 35 to 50 seconds or more or
less as desired according to the size of the two pipes.
The apparatus comprises also one or more pulsometer or other pumps with boiler
or boilers and when necessary engines for working said pumps with the proper steam
connections. A flexible suction pipe is connected to the pump or to each pump to
extend to the centre or lowest part of the sheet in the arena and a delivery pipe or
pipes from the pump or pumps carries back the water into the respective tanks when
the arena is emptied.
The accompanying drawings illustrate this invention as applied to a circular arena.
Fig. 1 being a sectional elevation thereof Fig. 2 a plan view the seats or tiers being
omitted from the drawing for clearness of illustration.
A is the arena within which is spread the waterproof canvas B or the like as
aforesaid. is the fence or enclosure around the arena. D D¹ are the two tanks supported
on wooden frameworks E E' said tanks communicating respectively with the pipes F F
provided with the valves G G₁ for closing them. H is the pump. J the steam boiler:
for operating the pump. K is the suction pipe and L the delivery pipe the former
being preferably a flexible hose or terminating in a length of flexible hose so that it
may be brought into the centre of the arena in the manner shown in Fig. 1. M is the
steam pipe from the boiler to the pump. The same pump and boiler may be used to
return the water to both tanks or a separate pump and boiler may be fitted for each
tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
The combination with the removable waterproof sheet B of elevated tanks and pipes
arranged to allow the water to flow into said sheet in conflicting streams and the pump
and motor and flexible suction hose for removing said water substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dat is
LAGO
BNP LAGI
HERBERT & Co.,
.18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.