Improvements in Panoramas with Animated Views.
Year: 1899

page_text: PRUNAL DI ECIFICATION.
Improvements in Panoramas with Animated Views.
I, RAOUL ADRIEN GRIMOIN SANSON, of Avenue de la Motte-Piquet, No. 15,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
It is a well known fact that "panoramas formed by a number of pictures
painted on canvas have been in existence for some considerable time, and that
such pictures enable a spectator standing in the centre to perceive the various
fixed points of the surrounding horizon.
The present application has for its object to provide a panorama having ani-
mated views enabling a spectator standing in the centre of this panorama to
have the illusion of a balloon ascent; this illusion being produced by the pro-
jection on a screen of animated views taken by means of cinematographs and
which views being placed in the car impart to the spectator, when the projection
takes place, the illusion of a balloon ascent at the same time as they exhibit the
movements of the objects taken directly by the cinematographs. The apparatus_
for taking negatives will thus have to be fixed below-the car so that the operator
will be able to take the required cinematographic views. When the positives
are thrown or projected on to the screen-which is the object of the present
application the apparatus is arranged below a stationary car wherein the
spectators stand. This apparatus is intended to project or throw upon a vertical
and polygonal screen the different cinematographic views so that the spectator
standing in the stationary car will view the animated scenes reproduced by the
cinematograph while under the illusion of a balloon ascent owing to the shifting
motion of the scenery proper. To render the illusion of a balloon ascent still
more thorough and to allow the passage from one view on to another, 1 may
combine my improved panorama with canvas having the appearance of clouds
and concealing the end of the view taken during the ascent so as to impart to
the spectator the illusion that he is in the clouds, the latter being dissipated
when descending on account of the withdrawal of the canvas in question in
order to allow for the projection of the view taken whilst the balloon soars; this
succession of views and clouds can be reproduced as long as desired and can be
terminated by the view taken when the balloon descended.
The
In carrying the invention into effect I place a vertical shaft in the centre of
the apparatus carrying at its lower end two driving pulleys: one fixed and the
other loose, these pulleys serving to transmit motion by means of a belt. This
vertical central shaft carries a large toothed wheel gearing with a number of
spur wheels mounted at the periphery of the large wheel. Each spur wheel
actuates an ordinary cinematograph hereinafter more fully described.
number of spur wheels depends thus upon the number of single cinematographs
used for the projection of the panorama. For example, assuming that the
panorama comprises twelve cinematographs, (although it is obvious that this
number can be varied according to the dimensions of the screen and the power
of the projectors) these cinematographs are arranged in a circle and the whole
of the mechanism can be elegantly concealed by walls arranged-by way of

page_text: example to form a car such as used for balloons in such a manner that the
spectators standing on the upper platform may have the illusion of a panorama
surrounding them and reproducing the movements either of persons, of animals
or of objects. The spectators thus located on the platform cannot see the pro-
jectors below them so that the illusion can be absolute.
All the cinematographs employed in the arrangement being similar, I shall
merely describe one of them.
It consists essentially of a vertical axis upon which is mounted its driving
wheel, i.e., one of the spur wheels before referred to. This vertical axis carries
at its upper end a bevel pinion gearing with another similar but vertical pinion
imparting a motion to a horizontal shaft carrying a toothed wheel actuating the
film feeding mechanism. This film starts from a storage roller arranged over-
head, and passes through feed mechanism, causing the said film to form a pleat
before reaching the rectilinear part through which the projection is effected.
Below this rectilinear part is arranged the feed roller, and after the film has
been acted upon by this roller it reaches the winding up roller, which is set in
rotation by a small driving chain. A condenser is arranged at a suitable
position and nearer the centre of the apparatus is the source of light, whilst the
object glass is arranged on the opposite side of the condenser from the light.
It may be added that instead of having a large driving wheel I may use a chain
passing around the various spur wheels, and set in motion by any suitable wheel.
Dated this 19th day of January 1899
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applican
I, RAOUL ADRIEN GRIMOIN SANSON, of Avenue de la Motte-Piquet, No. 15,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, 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:
It is a well known fact that "panoramas" formed by a number of pictures
painted on canvas have been in existence for some considerable time and that
such pictures enable a spectator standing in the centre to perceive the various
fixed points of the surrounding horizon.
The present application has for its object to provide a panorama having ani-
mated views enabling a spectator standing in the centre of this panorama to
have the illusion of a balloon ascent; this illusion being produced by the pro-
jection on a screen of animated views taken by means of cinematographs and
which views being placed in the car impart to the spectator, when the projection
takes place, the illusion of a balloon ascent at the same time as they exhibit the
movements of the objects taken directly by the cinematographs. The apparatus
for taking negatives will thus have to be fixed below the car so that the operator
will be able to take the required cinematographic views. When the positives
are thrown or projected on to the screen-which is the object of the present
application the apparatus is arranged below a stationary car wherein the
spectators stand. This apparatus is intended to project or throw upon a vertical
and polygonal screen the different cinematographic views so that the spectator
standing in the stationary car will view the animated scenes reproduced by the

page_text: cinematograph while under the illusion of a balloon ascent owing to the shifting
motion of the scenery proper.
To render the illusion of a balloon ascent still
more thorough and to allow the passage from one view on to another, I may
combine my improved panorama with canvas having the appearance of clouds
and concealing the end of the view taken during the ascent so as to impart to
the spectator the illusion that he is in the clouds, the latter being dissipated
when descending on account of the withdrawal of the canvas in question in
order to allow for the projection of the view taken whilst the balloon soars; this
succession of views and clouds can be reproduced as long as desired and can be
terminated by the view taken when the balloon descended.
In order to render my invention more fully understood I have shown, by way
of example, in the accompanying drawings, the necessary means for setting up
my improved panorama.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan view.
Each
In carrying the invention into effect I place at ca vertical shaft in the centre
of the apparatus carrying at its lower end two driving pulleys: one a fixed and
the other loose, these pulleys serving to transmit motion by means of a belt.
This vertical central shaft carries at d a large toothed wheel gearing with a
number of spur wheels o mounted at the periphery of the large wheel d.
spur wheel o actuates an ordinary cinematograph hereinafter more fully
described. The number of spur wheels e depends thus upon the number of single
cinematographs used for the projection of the panorama. For example, as shown
in the drawings, I have assumed that the panorama comprises twelve cinemato-
graphs (although it is obvious that this number can be varied according to the
dimensions of the screen and the power of the projectors). These cinemato-
graphs are arranged in a circle and the whole of the mechanism can be elegantly
concealed by walls arranged-by way of example-to form a car such as used
for balloons in such a manner that the specatators standing on the upper platform
may have the illusion of a panorama surrounding them and reproducing the
movements. either of persons, of-animals or-of-objects. The spectators thus
located on the platform cannot see the projectors below them so that the illusion
can be absolute.
All the cinematographs employed in the arrangement being similar, I shall
merely describe one of them.
It consists essentially of a vertical axis upon which is mounted its driving
wheel e, ie, one of the spur wheels before referred to. This vertical axis
carries at its upper end a bevel pinion gearing with another similar but vertical
pinion imparting a motion to a horizontal shaft carrying a toothed wheel
actuating the film feeding mechanism p. This film starts from a storage
roller arranged overhead, and passes through feed mechanism n, 1, causing the
said film to form a pleat before reaching the rectilinear part through which
the projection is effected. Below this rectilinear part is arranged the feed
rolleri, and after the film has been acted upon by this roller it reaches the wind-
ing up roller which is set in rotation by a small driving chain.
As s is arranged a condenser and at t is the source of light, whilst the object
glass is arranged at j on the opposite side of the condenser from the light.
It may be added that instead of having a large driving wheel d, I may use a
chain passing around the various spur wheels o and set in motion by any suitable
wheel.
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. A panorama with animated views giving to the spectator-standing in the
centre the illusion of a balloon ascent; the said panorama consisting essentially
of cinematographic apparatus arranged in a circle and actuated by mechanism

page_text: driven by a wheel or a chain so as to cause them to move synchronously, in
combination with a vertical and polygonal screen whereon are thrown or pro-
jected the positive proofs, the negatives of which have been taken during a real
balloon ascent, i.e., either during the ascent, soaring or descent of the said
balloon, substantially as herein described and shown.
2. In combination with the apparatus above described and in order to conceal
from the spectators' sight the change of views taking place, canvas, representing
clouds and interposed at the end of each view between the screen and the fixed
car containing the spectators, sbustantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 9th day of October 1899.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.