Improvements in or relating to Domes for Astronomical Observatories or the like,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Domes for Astronomical Observatories
or the like,
I, THOMAS COOKE, of Buckingham Works, York, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to domes for astronomical observatories or the like, and
has for its object to do away with the usual shutter covering an opening in the
dome.
In carrying my invention into effect, I mount the dome on a horizontal revolv-
ing ring or annular frame, provided with rollers at suitable intervals apart which
roll on a fixed circular track or rail firmly secured to the wall of the building.
I make the dome in two halves divided in a vertical plane through the centre,
and hinge them at one extremity of this division, at two of their adjacent corners,
At the opposite
to a pin fixed to the revolving ring or annular frame aforesaid.
corners of the two halves of the dome, I fix rollers one at each corner, and two
other rollers may be supplied 90° from the first pair one in each half. These
rollers roll on the surface of the revolving ring, or on short races, in such manner
as to support the two halves of the dome on the horizontal revolving ring, and
permit of the two halves of the dome being opened and closed. The opening is
of course a wedge shaped one. The two halves of the dome being mounted on
the ring which is capable of revolving, by means of the rollers resting on the
circular track, the wedge shaped opening in the dome can be brought to face
any part of the sky.
In thus describing my invention however, I wish it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to the opening in the dome being a wedge shaped one, as
instead of pivoting or hinging the two halves of the dome at two of their adjacent
corners, one of the half domes may be pivoted at one corner, and the other half
at the opposite corner, so that one half is opened at one extremity of the division
and the other half at the other extremity of the division, and thus when the
two halves are opened an equal amount, the opening will be a parallel one.
By this invention I secure the great advantage of doing away with the use
of a shutter in a dome for astronomical observations, and furthermore it permits
of any design of dome being used which a shutter renders impossible, and there
will also be a great saving of labour over the present form of shutter.
Dated this 13th day of January 1808

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Domes for Astronomical Observatories
or the like.
1, THOMAS COOKE, of Buckingham Works, York, in the County of York, 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;-
This invention relates to domes for astronomical observatories or the like, and
has for its object to do away with the usual shutter covering an opening in the
domie.
The invention will be understood from the following description reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;
Figure 1 is a plan, one half of which shows the dome supported by its annular
frame, and the other half the annular frame with its circular track alone, the
dome with the exception of the bar e and roller H being removed;
Figure 2 a vertical cross section;
Figure 3a perspective view of the dome open;
Figure 4 the same closed.
Referring to these figures (which show the dome with its covering removed for
the purpose of illustrating the parts more clearly), I mount the dome on a hori-
zontal revolving ring or annular frame A provided with rollers B at suitable
intervals apart, which roll on a fixed circular track C or rail, firmly secured to
the wall of the building. I make the dome in two halves D and divided in
a vertical plane through the centre F, and hinge the two adjacent bars d and e
of each half dome at G to a pin fixed to the revolving ring or annular frame A
aforesaid. At the opposite corners of the two halves D and E of the dome I fix
rollers H, one at each corner, and two other rollers I may be supplied 90° from
the first pair, one in each half. These rollers roll on the surface of the revolving
ring A or on short races J, in such a manner as to support the two halves D
and E of the dome on the horizontal revolving ring A, and permit of the two
halves D and E of the dome being opened, as shown in Figure 3 and closed as
shown in Figure 4. The opening is of course a wedge-shaped one as shown in
Figure 3. The two halves of the dome being mounted on the ring A which is
capable of revolving by means of the rollers B resting on the circular track C,
the wedge shaped opening in the dome can be brought to face any part of the sky.
In thus describing my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not con-
fine myself to the opening in the dome being a wedge-shaped one, as instead of
pivoting or hinging the two halves of the dome at two of their adjacent corners G,
one of the half domes may be pivoted at G and the other half at the opposite
corner so that one half is opened at one extremity of the division and the other
half at the other extremity of the division, and thus when the two halves are
opened an equal amount, the opening will be a parallel one.
By this invention I secure the great advantage of doing away with the use
of a shutter in a dome for astronomical observations, and furthermore it permits
of any design of dome being used which a shutter renders impossible, and there
will also be a great saving of labour over the present form of shutter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improvement in domes for astronomical observatories or the like, which

page_text: consists in making the dome in two halves and hinging or pivoting each half on
to a rotary frame in such manner that they can be opened or separated, and
in mounting the said rotary frame on a fixed circular track or rail firmly secured
in the walis of the building, whereby the dome with its rotary frame can be
rotated, and the opening made by separating the two half domes brought to face
any part of the sky substantially as described.
2. Forming the domes for astronomical observatories or the like in two halves
divided in a vertical plane through the centre, and pivoting the said two halves
in such manner that they can be separated when it is required to form an opening
to face the sky substantially as described.
3. In domes for astronomical observatories or the like, the special mechanism
for supporting the two halves of the dome, and enabling the opening (made by
separating the two halves) to be rotated to face any part of the sky substantially
as described.
4. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved dome for astronomical observatories or the like substantially as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of October 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.