Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Stage Effects.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by NEILSON BURGESS, of Highlands, Monmouth,
New Jersey, United States of America, Actor.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Stage Effects.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:―
My within described invention relates to the general class of stage apparatus
that is used on a theatrical stage for the purpose of producing in a novel manner
a correct and life like representation of a race, whether between horses or other
animals, the apparatus being so constructed that the relative position between the
several animals that are contending shall be determined by the efforts of the
contestants; and its further object is to provide means for denoting, as on a dial
in plain view of the public or audience, the relative position of the contestants or
the time in which each of the contestants, or the fastest of them, shall have finished
the race.
.
To this end my invention consists in the combination of the several parts
making up the apparatus as a whole and in details of construction of such parts,
as more particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a stage illustrating the relative arrangement
of the several parts of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a detail plan or diagram view of parts of one of the carriages and
of the dial showing the connecting wires extending between the carriage and the
dial.
Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section through part of a carriage, and in
elevation of the dial illustrating the method of operating the hand from the
movement of the carriage.
Figure 4 is a detail view on enlarged scale in rear elevation of one of the carriages.
Figure 5 is a detail plan view of a single carriage and connecting mechanism
for providing for a progressive movement of the carriage by the operation of a
releasing mechanism.
Figure 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the carriage and in section of so
much of the supporting parts as shows the construction and method of operation
of the carriage moving mechanism.
My within invention is described herein with reference to the stage of a theatre,
for use on which it is particularly adapted, although the apparatus is not limited
in its use to any special place, nor to any special or particular details of con-
struction, so long as the several parts are so combined and arranged that the
main idea of utilizing the motion of the endless path on which the moving animal
is supported to control the progressive movement of the carriage is embodied in
the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing the letter a denotes a stage on which the movable
carriage is supported. This carriage is preferably provided with wheels that
run on tracks c that may be laid upon the surface of the stage or supported on
a frame work below the level of the stage, the carriage in that case running in a
long trap that extends the requisite distance across the stage, although a sliding
carriage may be adopted if preferred.
This carriage & supports on suitable rollers an endless path or revolving stage
that is preferably composed of a number of lugs flexibly united to each other or
secured to a flexible belt and forming a sort of endless apron or path of sufficient
רנט...!

page_text: width to support a moving object, as a horse. In case the carriage is to be
adapted for use in a scene in which a horse is to cross the stage more or less
rapidly the several parts described are so constructed of a strength adapted to
support the horse, and the endless path e may be supported on the carriage on
slides that run on tracks that are secured along the top of the carriage frame,
or rollers may
be used, the main requisite being that the path shall be so supported
on the carriage as to enable the path to move rapidly underneath the fect of the
horse and move backward as the horse steps something in the same manner as
the belt of a treadmill operates.
The endless path e runs over pulleys that are supported on axles or shafts at
opposite ends of the carriage, and one of these axles is provided with a pulley or
drum secured to it so that the drum turns with this axle, and over this drum a
rope g, or like flexible connecting part is adapted to be wound, the outer end of
the cope being made fast to a fixed point in advance of the carriage; the object
of this construction is to cause the carriage to be moved forward by the winding
up of the rope upon the drum or pulley that is driven by the movement of the
path or belt.
By establishing a connection between the moving belt and a fixed point beyond
the carriage it is evident that the forward movement of the carriage may be
governed by the movement of the belt and the rate of movement of the carriage
will be determined by the relative rate of movement of the belt, that is, the
faster the horse goes when mounted upon the endless path the faster will the
carriage move forward. By regulating the size of the drum and length of rope
or like connecting means (when such form of carriage moving mechanism is used)
with reference to the movement of the path it is evident that any desired time
may be consumed in causing the carriage to be moved across the stage while a
horse is in motion on the path, and a race either against time or between several
horses mounted on the different carriages may be run. The main idea of my
invention is to control and determine through the medium of the connecting
parts the rate of movement of the carriage by the movement of the path
supported on the carriage; and it is also to indicate by suitable connecting means
the exact distance travelled by the horse or other moving animal placed on the
endless path on the carriage.
The within apparatus has thus far been described with particular reference to
a carriage adapted to support a horse, although my invention is adapted for use in
apparatus where other animals or moving objects may be employed, the horse or
other animal being held-by-suitable fastenings-in-position-on-the-moving-path-so-that
his efforts to step, whether walking or running, put the moving path in motion.
This apparatus is preferably and usually employed to illustrate a race scene on a
theatrical stage that is provided with suitable scenery, as a background h that
may consist, if desired, of a movable panoramic scene; and other stage settings
appropriate to the scene may also be employed. It has been found in the use of
a carriage of this description that there is a tendency of the carriage to recoil
under the blows of the hoofs when the horse is running on the endless path, and in
order to prevent any backward movement of the carriage owing to such recoil, a
rack i is secured along the pathway and a pawl j pivoted on the carriage has its
lower end in engagement with the teeth of the rack so that any backward move-
ment of the carriage is prevented, the pawl moving from tooth to tooth as the
carriage is moved forward. On a wooden floor a pawl may be used having a
sharp point that secures a hold by catching into the wood, and in that case the
toothed rack will be dispensed with.
In order to aid in the progressive movement of the carriage a spring motor k,
or any other form of motor adapted to expend stored power, may be connected
to the supporting wheels of the carriage so that the operation of such motor may
aid the carriage in its forward motion and thus take from the horse or like
animal supported on the carriage the labour of propelling the whole weight of the
carriage.

page_text: The main shaft of the motor bears a gear wheel that is in mesh with a
gear that is fast to and turns with the wheels that support the carriage.
The drum and rope is the simplest form of propelling means, but my invention
is not limited to the employment of these specific means, as it-is evident that other
mechanical devices, the clear equivalents of this, carriage moving appliance, may
be employed to accomplish the progressive movement of the carriage without the.
exercise of more than ordinary mechanical skill.
.:
The movable carriage that is thus connected to a fixed point so that its move-
ment may be changed with relation thereto is obviously moved along at a rate
of speed depending upon the rapidity of movement of the endless path, and that
in turn is moved at a rate of speed depending upon the rapidity of movement of
the horse or other animal that is in motion on the path. It is immaterial, so
far as the horse is concerned in his efforts to run, whether he is moved by 'such
efforts over a given distance, as one quarter of a mile, in a given time, or
whether in going through the motions of running a quarter of a mile length of
track is thrust backward underneath his feet....If the horse is placed upon an
ordinary race track he will cover a quarter of a mile in a given space of time,
and if placed upon the path fixed to the carriage so, that the path is free to :
move under his feet, 'about the same length, of path will be passed under his feet
in the same time' as that in which he would have covered a like distance on an
ordinary track if fréé to move over it. 7 ;
}
:
'
:
In order to indicate to an audience the exact distance travelled by the horse on
one of these racing machines in a given time, an indicator having a movable handl
is secured in full view of the audience, and an electrical connection between the."
carriage and the indicator is made as by means of wires m, ml. On the carriage"
is secured a contact piece n from which the wire m extends to a battery and then.
to the coil pl of the solenoid p. The other wire m' is fixed to a contact piece
having a spring arm that projects into the path of movement of the lug e on
the moving path. This wire m is connected to the opposite end of the coil pl.
When the lug e² on the moving path strikes the spring ari n' it forces it down
upon the contact piece'n and establishes a connection closing the circuit so that the.
arinature of the solenoid is drawn within the coil against the resistance of the spring."
As soon as the lug has passed beyond the spring switch'n' the latter lifts, breaking
the contact and allowing the armature to be lifted in the coil. The armature and
spring are both connected to, a rocking arm that bears' a spring pawl engaging
the ratchet teeth 's in the ratchet wheels that is fast to the axis of the indicator.
hand. A ratchett engages the teeth of the wheel so as to prevent any return
movement of the wliecl, although it will not interfere with the forward, movement
thereof. By means of this mechanism a step by step movement is given to the
indicator hand, a forward movement being made each time the lug.e completes."
the circuit by closing the switch, and by graduating the indicator properly in
proportion to the length of the endless path the exact distance travelled.. by a
given point on the path in a given time can be shown on the indicator."
My invention thus far has been described with reference to an apparatus in
which the forward movement of the carriage has been caused either directly by
the movement of the horse on the endless path through the medium of the latter, '
or where the power of the horse has been supplemented by the use of a motor
to propel the carriage. A feature of my invention is to provide for the forward
movement of the carriage when the latter is pushed or drawn forward by some
power outside of that exerted by the horse. For example the carriage may be
arranged so as to be drawn forward "while.one or more ropes extending from the
rear of the carriage and connected to a fixed point prevent a forward motion
except when a certain portion of the rearward extending ropes is paid out or
released. The rope 1, that I will term a tow rope, is connected to the front of
the carriage and to some suitable source of power, as a weight 2, the cord
passing over a pulley 3-so as to enable the force of gravity to be used to draw

page_text: the carriage. The rope may be fastened to a winch or other traction device
by the operation of which a tension is kept upon the tow rope.
The anchor rope 4 is wound about a drum 5 that is supported across the
frame of the carriage, and there is a releasing mechanism interposed between the
drum and the endless path 7, this releasing mechanism 6 being operated by the
movement of the path. The details of one form of this releasing mechanism are
shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In this form the axle that supports
the drum bears a ratchet wheel 9 and the frame 10 supports on a rock-shaft 11 the
pawls 12 and 13. The inner ends of these pawls are hooked or bent so as to engage
the ratchet teeth while their outer ends lie in the path of movement of a lug 14
that projects from the endless path. More than one of these lugs may be arranged
at intervals on the path so that as they pass the escapement device they will
encounter the projecting ends of the pawls in such manner as to trip them and
allow of a limited rotary movement of the drum that supports the anchor rope
so that a predetermined length of this rope is paid out with each tripping of
the pawls. The force that tends to move the carriage forward is one which is.
constantly exerted so that by permitting a limited rotation of the drum at intervals
the progressive movement of the carriage results. In this form of apparatus there
is no great work put upon the horse or other moving animal to propel the carriage
as its forward movement is determined by the pull upon the tow rope, the work of
operating the releasing mechanism being comparatively small and one that lays no
particular burden upon the animal.
It is obvious that there may be several forms of this releasing mechanism employed
other than that shown, and I do not limit my invention to the specific device
illustrated.
My invention contemplates the employment of electric dynamos, one used as a
dynamo proper and connected by wires to a smaller dynamo that operates as a
motor and is connected to the driving wheels of the carriage by wires having
a suitable switch so that power may be turned on and off at will to regulate the
forward movement of the carriage; and my invention also contemplates the use of
a releasing mechanism operated by electricity a circuit being opened or closed by
the movement of the endless path so as to regulate the movement of the releasing
mechanism that is fixed at a greater or less distance beyond the carriage and which
by paying out the rope permits the carriage to be drawn forward. It is immaterial
whether the drum bearing the rope be borne upon the carriage or be stationed in
rear of the carriage so long as the movement of the endless path is the controlling
element to determine the proper time for the operation-of-the-releasing-mechanism.
By arranging the carriage on an inclined track its forward movement may be
induced by the operation of gravity as the weight of the carriage and its burden
will operate to cause it to move down the slope, and the releasing mechanism will
at the proper times and to the predetermined degree permit such forward movement.
In the several cases where a horse is used, whatever may be the method for
controlling the movements of the carriage, the horse is supported preferably by
attaching the girth by a suitable connection to an upright standard on the side of
the carriage, and also by tugs or stays that extend backward from the harness part
to the frame of the carriage so as to hold the horse in a fixed position so far as the
carriage is concerned, while leaving him absolute freedom of movement in running.
When a race between other moving objects is to be produced the man or other
animal is in a like manner supported in a fixed position on the carriage by being
attached to a stay, standard or like means of support such as are already shown in
prior patents already granted to me on apparatus of this general class.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In combination with a supporting track, a carriage movable thereon, an endless

page_text: path supported on said carriage, and means whereby the progressive movement of
the carriage is controlled by the movement of the endless path, all substantially as
described.
2. In combination with a stage and its setting, a track or guideway for a carriage,
a movable carriage mounted on such guideway, an endless path supported on said
carriage, a pulley or drum in operative connection with the moving path, and a rope
or like flexible connection extending from said drum to a fixed point beyond the
carriage, all substantially as described.
3. In combination with a theatrical stage, a background scene, a movable carriage
supported in operative connection with the stage, an endless path borne on the
carriage, and means substantially as described for controlling the forward movement
of the carriage by the movement of the endless path, all substantially as described.
4. In combination with a stage, a movable carriage mounted thereon, a detent
device extending between the carriage and its support, an endless path mounted on
said carriage, and means substantially as described for imparting progressive move-
ment to the carriage through the movement of the endless path, all substantially as
described.
5. In combination with a theatrical stage, a movable carriage mounted thereon, a
motor supported on the carriage and in operative connection with the supporting
wheels thereof, an endless path supported on the carriage and carriage impelling
mechanism in operative connection with the endless path and whereby the pro-
gressive forward movement of the said carriage is determined, all substantially as
described.
6. In combination with a movable carriage, an endless path supported thereon,
means for effecting the forward movement of the carriage from the moving path,
and an indicator connected to the carriage and having a hand adapted to denote
by its position the distance travelled by a given point on the path, all substantially
as described.
7. In combination with a stage, a movable carriage adapted to change position
with reference to fixed objects on the stage, an endless path supported on the
carriage, means substantially as described for effecting the forward movement of
the carriage, an indicator having a moving hand, and electrical connections extending
between the indicator and the moving belt on the carriage, all substantially as
described.
8. In combination with a theatrical stage, a movable carriage adapted to change
position with reference to fixed objects on the stage, means for effecting the forward
movement of the carriage, an endless path supported on the carriage, an indicator
with a movable index hand, and the electrical connections between the indicator and
the carriage comprising a fixed contact piece and a spring switch, the latter being
located in the path of movement of a lug that projects from the moving endless path,
all substantially as described.
9. In combination with a stage or like surface, a movable carriage mounted
thereon, the carriage impelling mechanism, the carriage retaining device, an endless
path supported on the carriage, and the releasing mechanism whereby the pro-
gressive movement of the carriage is controlled by the movement of the endless
path, all substantially as described.
10. In combination with a stage or like surface, the stage setting, an inclined
track or path, a movable carriage mounted thereon, the carriage retaining device,
a releasing mechanism connected to the carriage retaining device, and the endless
path supported on the carriage and in operative connection with the releasing
mechanism whereby the progressive or forward movement of the carriage is con-
trolled by the movement of the endless path, all substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of Decambion 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.