Apparatus for Shewing the Phases of the Moon and the Eclipses.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1893—Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Shewing the Phases of the Moon and the Eclipses.
CHARLES FRANCIS BESZANT, 1 Temple Court Liverpool Certificated Teacher
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I provide an inclined plane with inclination of 30° and having a surface 13"
square. Also two spheres, one large, A, representing the earth and one smaller B
representing the moon. I paint half of each sphere black, half white, to represent
light & shade and mount each on a steel axis, the axis of A to be fixed in the
centre of the plane's surface and the axis of B to be fixed on a base of its own, C.
Mounted on the same axis as B I fix a cylindrical shade D covering exactly half
the sphere, and connected with the axis of A by a bent brass rod E.
I turn both white hemispheres in the same direction (towards the lower edge
of the plane facing an imaginary sun), and carry B on the surface of the plane,
around A, taking care to keep the base C, throughout the course parallel to the
lower edge of the plane. The white surface of B, visible from the ball A, will wax
& wane as does the moon's surface, visible from the earth. I also paint on the
plane's surface, in a circle, the course of the moon with its shape as seen from the
earth at each eighth part of its course.
To shew the eclipses I turn both white hemispheres towards a lower corner of
the plane & carry B around, first in front of A (eclipse of the sun) & then behind
A (eclipse of the moon). On the back of the plane I paint a diagram of the
eclipses & also a diagram shewing the comparative sizes of the earth & moon.
The shade D I cut in two, horizontally & hinge, so that the whole sphere B
may be shewn at any time, but when carrying around the shade must always be
kept closed.
The back of the plane I make as a door & use the plane as a box for the
spheres &c. when not in use.
CHAS. F. BESZANT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Shewing the Phases of the Moon and the Eclipses.
CHARLES FRANCIS BESZANT 1 Temple Court Liverpool Certificated Teacher
in Public Elementary Schools 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 consists of an inclined plane (Fig. 1. A) having a base of about
12 ins. square and a slope of 234°, together with two spheres one large B representing
the earth, and one smaller C representing the moon. The sphere B I paint half
white and half black to represent light and shade while I paint the sphere C all
black and half cover it with a white hemispherical cap E. The spheres are
mounted, free to rotate on steel axes; the axis of B to stand in the centre of the
plane's surface while that of C is fixed in a small movable base D of its own, cut to
the slope of the plane A. I next fix a black cylindrical shade F the upper half
of which I make to open outward, on the axis of C so as to exactly cover half of
the sphere. I connect this shade by means of a narrow brass bar G (bent but
rigid). Both axes pass freely through the horizontal arm of G I securely fasten
the white cap E to the axis of C in such a position that it will face in the same
direction as the front edge of the base D.

page_text: By hinging the back of the plane I can use the plane as a box for the loose
portions of the apparatus when they are not in use.
On the surface of the plane I place a diagram shewing the moon's appearance
at every eighth part of her course. The figures are placed in a circle to correspond
with the representations made by the apparatus. On the back of the plane I also
place diagrams of the eclipses and the comparative sizes of the earth and moon.
To Shew the Phases. I mount the apparatus as in Fig. 1. on the plane A which
represents the plane of the moon's orbit (at a greater slope owing to the small area
and fairly sized spheres). The white hemispheres are turned towards an imaginary
sun shining on the plane from the front. I now carry the base D on the surface of
the plane A, around the sphere B taking care to keep the base D always parallel
to the lower edge of the plane. The black shade F which covers the half of the
moon (C) invisible from the earth (B) gradually creeps over the white cap E
on one side while on the other it gradually discloses the dark portion of the moon's
surface (C).
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 shew the appearances of C as seen from a spectator on B
while the base D is descending the plane on the right hand side (facing the sun).
Taken in the reverse order these figures shew C as ascending the plane on the
opposite side, (E and C changing positions from left to right). By opening the
shade F I can shew at any point of the course the surface of the moon as seen
from the sun.
To Shew the Eclipses. During the revolution of the earth around the sun, the
sun's rays fall every day on the plane of the moon's orbit around the earth at a
different angle. Supposing the sun's rays to fall on the side of the plane A I turn
the white hemispheres in that direction-the cap E being turned by turning the
base D. I then carry C in front of B shewing an eclipse of the sun; afterwards
behind B shewing an eclipse of the moon. To shew a partial eclipse of the moon
I imagine the sun's rays to fall diagonally on the plane. In this case only part of
the sphere C is in the shadow of B when carried behind.
Rotation of the Moon. With the finger I turn the sphere C on its axis at the
same pace at which the shade F rotates,—the latter necessarily making one rotation
in one revolution.
The actual revolution of C around E gives the relative positions of the moon and
earth required for an explanation of the tides.
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 :-
1. The combination of planes for obtaining and working on a slope representing
that of the moon's orbit around the earth.
2. The shade and connecting har used for automatically covering, during the
whole of the revolution, the portion of the sphere C invisible to a spectator on B..
3. The hinged shade by means of which I can shew at any time the moon as seën
from the earth or the sun.
4. The combination of two spheres, one black and white, the other black and
half covered with a hemispherical cap for the purpose of shewing the relative
position of light and shade on the moon's surface to light and shade on the earth's
surface.
CHARLES FRANCIS BESZANT.