An Improved Astronomical Model.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Astronomical Model.
We, HENRY WYLES, of Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, in the County of York,
Surgeon Dentist, and JOSEPH LANG, of Samuel Street, Camp Road, Leeds, in
the County of York, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
_
The object of our invention is to provide a model adapted specially for use in
schools, which shall illustrate the principal astronomical phenomena connected
with the sun, the earth, and the moon; and in connection therewith we choose
certain proportions for the model, which shall without rendering the model incon-
venient for use, illustrate on a proportionate scale most of the phenomena
referred to.
The sizes given may however be suitably varied.
The model comprises a base piece, a revolving arm and attachments.
The base piece, conveniently circular, and about 14 inches in diameter, has a
groove formed round its edge of 13 inches effective diameter, and is provided
at its centre with a square hole. In this hole is fitted the lower square end of a
vertical shaft, carring at its upper end a grooved disc or pulley, rigidly
fixed and incapable of rotation, and which for the sake of distinction is herein-
after referred to as the base pulley; the groove diameter being 434 inches. The
portion of the shaft between the underside of the base pulley and the top of the
base piece is cylindrical, and fits in a circular hole formed towards one end of
the above mentioned revolving arm. In the centre of the disc or top of the
vertical shaft a small round hole is formed, in which fits a pin, attached to the
bottom of a short turned upright; the latter carrying at its upper end a small
globe, say 2 inches in diameter, blackened over one of the hemispheres
formed by dividing the globe by a vertical or meridional circle. This is for
indicating the dark and illuminated sides of the earth.
At a convenient distance, say 74 inches from the square hole, EL
round hole is formed in the revolving arm; in which fits the cylindrical shaft of
a grooved disc or pulley, hereinafter referred to as the moon pulley and of the
same effective diameter, (viz. 43 inches), as the base pulley. In the centre of
the moon pulley a small hole is formed, in which fits a pin attached to
the bottom of a turned upright, carrying a globe say the inch in diameter,
to represent the moon; and similarly blackened over a meridional hemisphere
to represent the dark and illuminated surfaces of the moon. A tight open cord
is passed round the base pulley and the moon pulley, which are in the same
horizontal plane. The centres of the earth and moon globes are at the same
height above the revolving arm. On rotating the revolving arm, the model, as
thus far described, serves to illustrate the phases of the moon.
This part of the model may be rendered still more complete, by fitting gear
wheels or pulleys to the moon upright and the earth upright; and making the
diameter of the former about 28 times or some fraction of 28 times as large as
that of the latter; so as to obtain a revolution of the earth globe to represent
the diurnal rotation of the earth.

page_text: In the centre of the blackened half of both globes a pin hole is formed to
receive two pins, respectively carrying blackened truncated cones, of such a
length as to extend from one globe almost to the other, and of such angles as
to represent proportionately to the size and distance of the globes apart, the
shadows of the earth and moon in space.
Thus fitted the model serves to illustrate the phenomena of the eclipses of
the sun and moon.
Close to the outer end of the revolving arm is provided a round hole, in which
is fitted a short cylindrical shaft, carrying at its upper end a grooved disc or
pulley, 4 inches in diameter. A cylindrical hole through the centre of this
shaft carries a round spindle, which projects considerably above the pulley;
and carries at its upper end a globe, intended to represent the earth. A flat
ring, (concentric with this globe, and inclined to the horizontal plane in which
the revolving arm moves), is carried from its underside by flat metal strips
from the top of the pulley, and indicates with an exaggerated inclination, the
inclination of the moon's orbit to the earth's orbit. A light rod horizontally
hinged by means of a semicircular bridle or fork to two antipodean points on
the earth globe, and resting on the upper side of the flat ring, carries, at its
extremity beyond the flat ring, a small globe, intended to represent the moon.
The lower end of the round spindle projecting beyond the bottom of the
revolving arm is formed square in section, and carries a small grooved pulley
about 1 inch in diameter; the pulley being in the same plane as the before
mentioned groove in the bottom of the base piece, and to which it is connected
by a crossed cord. A large sphere to represent the sun is mounted upon the
base pulley, (the first mentioned earth globe, moon globe and moon pulley being
first removed,) and the base pulley is then connected by an open cord passing
round it, to the pulley on which the (moon) orbital ring is mounted.
On rotating the revolving arm, not only are the earth and moon globes carried
round the sun globe, but the moon globe is also carried round the earth globe,
rising and falling as the before mentioned light arm ascends and descends the orbit
ring. A divided circle on the top of the base piece is figured to correspond to
the months of the year, and to illustrate the change of position of the moon in
the constellations.
Thus arranged, the model serves to illustrate :-
The constant face of the moon.
The ascending and descending lunar nodes.
The change of position of the moon in the constellations.
The difference between the siderial and synodic revolutions of the moon.
The varying height of the full moon in the heavens.
Why eclipses do not occur monthly.
Gradual alteration in the eclipse months.
The revolution of the moon's nodes.
The relative positions of the sun and moon as the cause of the variation from
spring to neap tides, and vice versa.
Dated this 16th day of November 1897.

page_text: the County of York, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven.
tion. 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 our invention is to provide a model adapted specially for use in
schools which shall illustrate the principal astronomical phenomena connected
with the sun the earth and the moon; and in connection therewith we choose
certain proportions for the model, which shall without rendering the model incon-
venient for use, illustrate on a proportional scale most of the phenomena
referred to.
The sizes given may however be suitably varied.
The model comprises a base piece, a revolving arm and attachments.
The base piece, conveniently circular, and about 14 inches in diameter has a
groove formed round its edge of 13 inches in effective diameter, and is provided
at its centre with a square hole. In this hole is fitted the lower square end of a
vertical shaft, carrying at its upper end a grooved disc or pulley, rigidly
fixed, and incapable of rotation; and which for the sake of distinction is herein-
after referred to as the base pulley; the effective diameter of the groove being 43/4
inches. The portion of the shaft between the underside of the base pulley and
the top of the base piece is cylindrical, and fits in a circular hole formed towards
one end of the above mentioned revolving arm. In the centre of the disc or top
of the vertical shaft a small round hole is formed, in which fits a pin, attached
to the bottom of a short turned upright; the latter carrying at its upper end a
small globe, say two inches in diameter, blackened over one of the hemispheres
formed by dividing the globe by a vertical or meridional circle. This is for
indicating the dark and illuminated sides of the earth.
At a convenient distance, say 7½ inches from the centre of the base pulley, a
round hole is formed in the revolving arm; in which fits the cylindrical shaft of
a grooved disc or pulley, hereinafter referred to as the moon pulley, and of the
same effective diameter, (viz. 43 inches), as the base pulley. In the centre of
the moon pulley a small hole is formed, in which fits a pin attached to
the bottom of a turned upright, carrying a globe say ths inch in diameter
to represent the moon and similarly blackened over a meridional hemisphere
to represent the dark surface of the moon. A tight open cord is passed
round the base pulley and the moon pulley, which are in the same
horizontal plane. The centres of the earth and moon globes are at the same
height above the revolving arm. On rotating the revolving arm, the model as
thus far described, serves to illustrate the phases of the moon.
This part of the model may be rendered still more complete by fitting gear
wheels or pulleys to the moon upright and the earth upright, and making the
diameter of the former twenty eight times or some fraction of twenty eight times
as large as that of the latter; so as to obtain a revolution of the earth globe
to represent the diurnal rotation of the earth.
In the centre of the blackened half of both globes a pin hole is formed to
receive a pin; the pins respectively carrying blackened truncated cones, of such a
length as to extend from one globe almost to the other, and of such angles as
to represent proportionately to the size; and distance apart, of the globes, the
shadows of the earth and moon in space.
Thus fitted the model serves to illustrate the phenomena of the eclipses of
the sun and moon.
Close to the outer end of the revolving arm is provided a round hole, in which
is fitted a short cylindrical shaft, carrying at its upper end a grooved disc or
pulley, 4 inches in diameter. A cylindrical hole through the centre of this
shaft carries a round spindle, which projects considerably above the pulley;
and carries at its upper end a globe, intended to represent the earth. A flat
ring concentric with this globe and inclined to the horizontal plane in which
the revolving arm moves), is carried from its underside by flat metal strips
from the top of the pulley, and indicates with an exaggerated inclination, the

page_text: inclination of the moon's orbit to the earth's orbit. A light rod horizontally
hinged by means of a semi-circular bridle or fork to two antipodean points on the
globe representing the earth, and resting on the inclined flat ring, carries at its
extremity beyond the flat ring a small globe intended to represent the moon.
The lower end of the round spindle projecting beyond the bottom of the
revolving arm is formed square in section and carries a small grooved pulley
about. 1 inch in diameter, the pulley being in the same plane as the before
mentioned groove in the bottom of the base piece; and to which it is connected
by a crossed cord. A large globe to represent the sun is mounted upon the
base pulley, (the first mentioned earth globe, moon globe and moon pulley being
first removed), and the base pulley is then connected by an open cord passing
round it, to the pulley on which the (moon) orbital ring is mounted.
On rotating the revolving arm, not only are the earth and moon globes carried
round the sun globe, but the moon globe is also carried round the earth globe,
rising and falling as the before mentioned light arm ascends and descends the orbit
ring. A divided circle on the top of the base piece is figured to correspond to
the months of the year, and to illustrate the change of position of the moon in
the constellations.
Thus arranged the model serves to illustrate :—
The constant face of the moon.
The ascending and descending lunar nodes.
The change of position of the moon in the constellations.
The difference between the siderial and synodic revolutions of the moon.
The varying height of the full moon in the heavens.
Why eclipses do not occur monthly.
Gradual alteration in the eclipse months.
The revolutions of the moon's nodes.
The relative positions of the sun and moon as the cause of the variation from
spring to neap tides, and vice versa.
And in order that our invention and the manner in which the same is to be.
performed may be more readily and clearly understood, we have annexed hereto
the accompanying drawings; in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a
plan of our model illustrating the phases of the moon and the theory of eclipses,
whilst Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 a plan of the model arranged to illus-
trate the lunar phenomena referred to in the immediately preceeding paragraphs.
a is the circular base piece, provided with a cord groove b round its edge and a
square opening c through its centre.
d is the revolving or rotable arm, provided with circular holes e, f and g.
h is the grooved base pulley, the cylindrical part of the shaft e¹ of the same
fitting in the circular hole e in the arm d, and the lower square end c¹ of the same
shaft fitting in the square opening c in the base piece; so that the shaft e¹ c¹ and
the base pulley h and any attachment to the latter remain stationary, whilst the
arm d can be revolved about the shaft e¹ c¹ or base a. The shaft e¹ c¹ terminates
on the upper side of the pulley h in a short pin i, on which the socketted foot of
the earth globe E, Figs. 1 and 2, or the sun globe S, Figs. 3 and 4 can be fitted.
The cylindrical shaft f¹ of the moon pulley fits in the circular hole f of the
arm d, capable of being rotated therein; and the upper end of this shaft above
the moon pulley terminates in a short pin k, on which the socketted foot of the
moon globe M can be fitted.
An antifriction roller m is fitted to the underside of the arm d.
Both the globes E and M are blackened over one half (i.e. a meridional hemi-
sphere), to indicate respectively the sides of the earth and moon turned away from
the sun, .e. in shadow; and a pin hole is formed in the centre of each of these
blackened hemispheres to receive pins (see 7) fitted in the base ends of the trun-
cated shadow cones n and o. These base ends are preferably formed hemispheri-
cally concave. Corresponding to the sizes and distance apart of the globes as
previously given, the converging angle of the cones is about 6 degrees; and

page_text: their length is such, that when rotated the narrow end of each shadow cone just
clears the globe to which the other shadow cone is attached.
The base pulley h and the moon pulley j are of the same diameter and con-
nected with a tight open cord; and split or cotter pins are provided in the lower
ends of their respective shafts to hold these properly in the holes in the arm d
and base piece a.
Without the shadow cones the model as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 illustrates by
moving the revolving arm from west by south to east, the varying amount of the
sunlit half of the moon as seen from the earth (.e. the phases of the moon.
With the shadow cones attached the moving of the revolving arm illustrates
the theory of solar and lunar eclipses.
A hollow cylindrical shaft p, provided with a grooved pulley r, is fitted capable
of rotation in the circular opening at the outer end of the revolving arm d. A
smaller but longer shaft s fits capable of rotation in the opening through the
shaft 2, and carries at its lower end a small grooved pulley t, and at its upper end
the globe to represent the earth. A flat ring a concentric with this globe E
is carried from the pulley r by means of supports in an inclined position. A
light rod whinged by means of a semi-circular bridle to the globe E₁ so as to be
capable of rising and falling carries at its outer end the small globe M' repre-
senting the moon, and rests upon the upper side of the flat ring u. The globe E
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 is removed from the top of the shaft e and a larger globe S
to represent the sun is fitted in its place. A divided circle on the base piece is
figured according to the months of the year.
Two uprights y y fitted on the revolving arm d carry a rod lying in the direct
line between the centres of the spheres S and E indicates by its movement with
the rotation of the arm d the plane of the ecliptic.
The pulleys h and r are connected by an open cord and the pulley t by a crossed
cord with the groove b round the base piece a.
On rotating the arm d, the model serves to illustrate the phenomena due to a
combination of causes, viz. :—the inclination of the moon's orbit to the ecliptic
the simultaneous rotation at different rates of the moon round the earth and of
the earth round the sun and the revolution of the moon's orbit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. Astronomical models comprising a base piece a having a cord groove bround
its edge and provided with fixed vertical shaft e¹ fixed pulley h, a rotable arm d
having three circular holes e f and formed therein, a rotable pulley r fixed to a
hollow rotable shaft p and carrying a flat inclined ring u, a rotable shaft s fitting
and rotable in the hollow of the shaft and carrying at its lower end a small
pulley t and at its upper end a globe E said globe carrying a light rod whinged
thereto capable of rising and falling and resting on said flat ring u and carrying
at its outer end a small globe M³, a rotable pulley j fixed to a shaft f¹ fitting and
rotable in said hole f, globe S, globes M and E each blackened over a meridional
hemisphere, and shadow cones n and o for the purpose of combination all sub-
stantially as and for the object or objects herein set forth.
2. In astronomical models the device consisting of a base a provided with a fixed
vertical shaft e¹ and fixed pulley h, an arm & rotable about said shaft & and carry-
ing a rotable pulley j, globes E and M each blackened over a meridional hemi-
sphere and carried at the same height from the pulleys h and j respectively and
shadow cones and o detachably connected to the blackened surfaces of the
globes E and M respectively substantially as and for the purpose or purposes set
forth and illustrated.
3. In astronomical models the use of the shadow cones n and o substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
4. In astronomical models the combination of a base piece a provided with a

page_text: fixed shaft el carrying a fixed pulley with globe S mounted thereon, an arm d
rotable about the shaft e and carrying at its outer end a rotable pulley r having
an inclined flat ring and a sphere mounted thereon substantially as and for
the purpose or purposes herein set forth and illustrated.
5. The combination with the subject matter of Claim 4 of a light rod e hinged
to the globe E and resting on said flat ring a and carrying a small globe M at
its outer end and means for independently rotating the flat ring and the arm w
substantially as and for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.
6. In astronomical models the device of a flat rotable inclined ring u globe E¹
rod whinged to said globe E' and carrying a small globe M¹ at its outer end all
rotable independently of the rotation of the ring substantially as and for the
purpose or purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 15th day of August 1898
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds.