Apparatus for Illustrating the Relative Changes of Position of the Planets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Illustrating the Relative Changes of Position of the
Planets.
I, ADAM OSTOIA OSTASZEWSKI, Doctor of Law and of Philosophy and Real
Estate Owner of Wzdow in the Province of Galicia, Empire of Austria, 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 planetaria or orreries by the aid of which the changes of position of the
planets to each other have been hitherto demonstrated are only applicable for
elementary instruction owing to their imperfections; the motion of the balls
representing the celestial bodies takes place far too rapidly, and is caused by far
too primitive means, for it to be possible to ascertain with any reliability their
position at any given moment. Therefore these instruments can only be taken as
very rudimentary means of illustrating the Copernicasi system.
Now, by means of the present invention, the positions of the planets relatively
towards each other or towards the fixed stars-the inclination of the ecliptic, the
phases, eclipses, daily and yearly movements, in a word all the changes in the
firmament that are capable of being ascertained may be illustrated at any given
moment and for any place of observation, with sufficient accuracy for scientific
purposes.
According to the object of the illustration or research or demonstration, in any
locality the marks representing the stars on the apparatus may be observed directly,
or may be made luminous and reflected by mirrors or projected on a wall.
For illustrating the continuous changes of position of a planet, two hoops eccentric
to each other are employed, the first is rigidly connected to an axis that can be
revolved, the second hoop which carries the mark representing the planet (which
mark may be a small body, or a lens, or small mirror) is loosely suspended upon the
first hoop, and having a larger diameter, its interior periphery can roll on the
exterior periphery of the first hoop when it is rotated, or the second hoop may be
of smaller diameter than the first, and roll on its interior periphery. Owing to the
diameters of the hoops being unequal, after one revolution of the first hoop the mark
situated on the loose hoop does not occupy relatively to the axis of rotation, the
same position it had before rotation. If the loose hoop be of greater diameter than
the other the mark will remain behind; if the loose hoop of smaller diameter the
mark will be in advance. The amount by which the mark is thus behind or in
advance is equal to the difference in length of the two circumferences touching each
other during the rotation and the rolling. If the length of the rolling circumference
of the loose hoop carrying the mark corresponds to the time of revolution of a given
planet measured by any unit, and if the hoop that revolves has a circumference less
(when within) or greater (when without) by the said unit, then after each revolution
of the axis, the mark remains behind or is advanced by an amount corresponding to
the change of position of the plant during the unit of time adopted as basis. When
the revolving hoop has completed the number of revolutions corresponding to the
number of units of time of revolution of the given planet represented by the
circumference of the rolling hoop, the planet mark occupies relatively to the axis,
the same position that it had before the first revolution, or in other words, after
the period of revolution of the planet, the mark returns to the point from which it
started.
The circumferences in contact with each other during the revolution and rolling
are generally smooth; but they may also be roughened, fluted or toothed, in order
that the hoop caused to revolve may with certainty carry the loose hoop along with
it. It is not however advisable to use toothed wheels in instruments designed for
En

page_text: great accuracy as the transmission of motion will by such wheels be too rough
and shaky.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows a hoop s bearing the mark M representing a planet. This hoop
is loosely suspended on the hoops which is rigidly connected to a rotating shaft.
Figure 2 illustrates the case in which the hoops bearing the mark M rolls loosely
on the inner periphery of the hoop s¹ which rotates with the axis.
In order that in both cases the mark M should be shifted in the same direction
after each revolution, the direction of revolution in Figure 2 is opposite to that in
Figure 1 as indicated by the arrows a and ẞ.
In the following description the first case shewn in Figure 1 will be considered,
since the differences in calculation and construction required for the case shown in
Figure 2 can be understood without further explanation.
As an example if the system of hoops shown in Figure 1 (hereinafter named the
sphere) be arranged for the planet Mercury, having a period of 88 days (8.7. 96926),
the inner periphery of the outer loose hoop s will have to exceed by gth of its
length the outer periphery of the interior revolving hoop s¹. Since the radii are
proportional to the circumferences, the radius of the outer circumference of the
If the inner hoop s¹ is caused to make a complete revolution, the periphery of the
outer hoops will only roll ths of its whole length so that the point representing
the planet, which was at M before revolution began in the direction of the arrow,
after completion of the first revolution is no longer at M, but at M'; after the
end of the second revolution, at M³, after the third revolution at Ms, where M M¹-
2 Tl r
M¹ M* = M' M'. . . .
M57 M=
88
The position of the point M at any moment therefore accurately illustrates the
change of position of the planet after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd 87th day, until after
the 88th revolution, it has returned to the position which it had before the first
revolution.
If it is desired to illustrate, by means of apparatus according to this invention,
the movements of a number of planets, the apparatus is provided with one sphere,
of the construction described, for each of these planets. All these spheres, the
rolling circumferences of which are proportional to the times of revolution of the
planets dealt with, are fixed to a common axis of rotation. If the marks
representing the planets are inscribed, correspondingly to the relative positions at
a given moment, on the exterior hoops suspended loosely on the revolving hoops,
then after one revolution of the axis, they will have the same relative positions as
the planets themselves would have after the unit of time has elapsed, by which the
time of revolution is measured. The variation of these relative positions is effected
continuously during the revolution of the axis, in such a manner that it may be
observed for any part of the unit of time, corresponding to the equivalent part of
a complete revolution.
The interior rotating hoop may be fixed to the shaft in various ways.
Figure 3 shows a sphere in which the interior hoop s' is fixed by two opposite
rivets n to a hoopt perpendicular to it, this hoop t being traversed by and fixed to
the spindle A. A.
This construction, similar to that of an armillary sphere, permits the arrange-
ment of spheres within each other on the shaft.
In order that the spheres s' may have the required eccentricity and inclination
of the orbit, it is advisable to make in the hoop t, where it is traversed by the
spindle A A, longitudinal slots v, in order that the spindle may be fastened to the
sphere in the position required, by small setting screws which are not shown.

page_text: If it is desired that the marks M representing the planets should be luminous,
they are made as small transparent or opaque balls fastened on the hoops s, and are
illuminated by a light which may be stationary or revolve. The relative positions
of the marks resulting from revolution may be observed directly, or their images
may be reflected by a plane or curved mirror arranged outside the system of
spheres, and these images may be observed on a small scale, which facilitates
observation.
In order to enlarge the images and render them more distinct, the rays of light
reflected by the small bodies representing the planets may be projected on a dark
coloured wall through lenses suitably fixed to the loose exterior hoops, close to the
small bodies and thus a very distinct image of the dark firmament, with the planets,
is obtained.
The rays of light reflected by the small bodies may also be reflected on a
spherical mirror w arranged within the system of spheres, and similar to the
ornamental ball-mirrors used in gardens, and projected thence outwards.
As exterior sphere may be arranged simply a wider hoop which is made to
revolve with the axis and has fixed stars marked on its inner surface.
This hoop
may be opaque and perforated for each star so as to give passage for the rays of
light from the interior illuminating appliance. Or the hoop may be made of glass
or other transparent material, on the inner surface of which uneven points reflecting
the rays of light are arranged at suitable places, so that the rays sent back from
these points are reflected by the inner spherical mirror and may be projected
outwards.
The whole system of spheres may be surrounded by a spherical shell of thin
wire-fabric in order to be transparent, or it may be opaque, (a hollow terrestrial
globe) provided with small transparent openings or lenses at certain points. In
this manner it is possible to illustrate the part of the firmament visible from a
certain point of the terrestrial globe, with its varying planetary appearances, since
the opening or the lens allows passage for only the images of that part of the
firmament which is really visible at the place occupied by the supposed observer.
In order to facilitate the fixing of the small bodies or mirrors representing the
planets they are not fastened immovably on the loose hoop, but can be displaced
both radially and laterally along small bars, which are immovably secured to the
hoop as shewn in Figure 4. On the loose hoops is fastened a small bar a, upon
which slides a rotatable sleeve carrying a transverse bar b. This sleeve may be
secured in the required position by a small setting-screw. The transverse bar may
be either smooth or screw-threaded, so that the small body c representing the
planet having a hole through it may be slid or screwed on to the bar and secured
by a small setting screw, or the arm 6 may carry a sleeve which carries the small
body e the lens or the small mirror representing the planet.
The peripheries of the two hoops s and s' forming the sphere must in that case
be made somewhat smaller than they really ought to be, since the mark representing
the planet does not rest immediately on the loose hoops; but the exact proportion:
(circumferences: circumference :: time of revolution: to time of revolution
minus one time-unit) must obviously be maintained.
Each of the loose hoops s the inner periphery of which rolls upon the interior
revolving hoops must have sufficient weight to insure its being carried along by
the revolution of the inner hoop, without its sliding. To prevent the loose exterior
hoop from sliding off the interior hoop, one of the pair of hoops may be made with
flanges as shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
Instead of hoops s and s¹ I may employ transparent balls, flattened parallel to
the plane of their ecliptic, one of these balls being fixed to the shaft, the other
loosely hanging on the first or lying within it, in an eccentric position. The loose
ball will then roll on or in the revolving ball, as in the case of the hoops above
described.
In order to illustrate the changes of position of planets which are in their motions
dependent on each other, spheres may be employed which have, instead of one

page_text: supported loose hoop s, several such hoops, rolling upon each other, as shewn in
Figure 7, or within each other, Figure 8. The hoop s, rolling on the outer
periphery of the revolving hoop s¹ or rolling on its inner periphery carries the next
loose hoops and so on. Experiments made with such inultiple spheres may
perhaps lead to the explanation of many appearances in the firmament and to the
discovery of some law as to reciprocal dependence of some heavenly bodies.
The shaft A. A. is preferably caused to revolve by clockwork.
correctly the apparatus provided with a dial for indicating the time will form a
perpetual calendar.
If this works
If the clockwork is arranged to impart to the shaft a rapid motion, it will be
possible to illustrate within a short time changes of position in the firmament, which
occupies in reality a much longer time.
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 :-
1st. Apparatus for illustrating the reciprocal changes of position of planets
consisting of a number of spheres arranged around a common shaft, each sphere
consisting of two hoops, the outer and larger of which, on which is a mark M
representing the planet, being loosely suspended on the inner hoop s' which is fixed
to the shaft, so that as the outer hoop follows the revolution and rolls upon the
outer periphery of the inner hoop owing to the greater circumference of the outer
hoop, the mark M, after one evolution of the sphere, will be behind its original
position by a fraction of the circumference of the hoop, corresponding to the
difference of the circumferences of the hoops s and s', substantially as described
with reference to Figure 1.
2nd. Apparatus of the kind above referred to in which each sphere consists of a
hoop fixed to the shaft, in which hoop rests a smaller, loose eccentric hoops,
bearing the mark M, and rolling within so that after each revolution the mark M,
Is in advance of its original position, by a fraction of its periphery, corresponding
to the difference of the circumferences of the hoops s and s¹ substantially as described
with reference to Figure 2.
3rd. In apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim making the hoops s
and of such diameters that the circumference of the loose hoop s is to that of the
inner hoops, as the time of revolution of the planet represented by M is to the
same time of revolution less one time-unit, substantially as described.
4th. In apparatus such as referred to in the second claim, making the hoops s
ands of such diameter that the circumference of the loose hoop s is to that of the
outer hoops as the time of revolution of the planet represented by M, is to the
same time of revolution increased by one time-unit, substantially as described.
5th. In apparatus such as are above referred to arranging within the system of
spheres a light illuminating the marks, representing planets, which may consist of
small bodies, mirrors or lenses c, secured permanently or adjustably to the loose
hoops so as to illuminate the system directly or to project outward, images on
mirrors or dark walls substantially as described.
6th. In apparatus such as are above referred to, arranging for representing the
fixed stars, an outer sphere, rotating with the shaft A. A. and consisting of a hoop,
on which the fixed stars are represented by perforations or by uneven objects
reflecting light, substantially as described.
7th. In apparatus such as referred to in the first four claims, with or without the
sphere for fixed stars referred to in the 6th claim, arranging in the centre of the
system of spheres, a spherical mirror w, reflecting outwards the rays of light falling
on its surface, substantially as described and shown.
8th. In apparatus such as referred to in the first four claims, in combination
with the interior light referred to in the 5th claim with or without the sphere for
fixed stars referred to in the 6th claim or the spherical mirror referred to in
the 7th claim, for illustrating the condition of the portion of firmament visible from

page_text: a certain point on earth, a spherical shell, which may be formed as a terrestrial
globe, surrounding the whole system of spheres, and provided at certain places with
small openings or lenses through which can be projected some of the marks
representing the planets and stars, or reflected images of these marks, substantially
as described.
9th. In apparatus such as are referred to in the first and second claims, the
arrangement of a number of loose eccentric hoops, ss*. . . . . rolling upon each
other as shewn in Figure 7, or within each other as in Figure 8, and suspended on
or placed within a single supporting hoop s' firmly fixed to the shaft A. A.
substantially as described and shewn.
10th. In apparatus such as are hereinbefore referred to, the use instead of
hoops ss. *
of transparent balls, flattened parallel to the plane of their
ecliptic, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1893
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.