IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GLOBES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Verdun, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
GLOBES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste
Verdun at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th October 1858.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE VERDUN, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and
of 4, South Street, Finsbury, Loudon, Gentleman, do solemnly and
sincerely declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF GLOBES " to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a new mode of constructing globes repre-
senting the earth or the heavens, and also uranographic machines,
georamas, and cosmoramas. I have two systems of constructing the

page_text: said globes, reference being had to the Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
First system, Figure 1.-The globe is composed of a tube A, having
two convex disks D, D', fixed at its extremities. A screw Vof the
same length as the axle is fixed to the disk D, and plays in a nut fixed
to the other disk D' by means of two small rods; it is fixed to the disk
with a small pin crossing the tube at opposite sides, and sliding in
narrow longitudinal slots in the tube. When the screw turns to the
right the disk D' ascends in a straight line; the extremities of the rod
play in the two narrow slots x, s, in the length of the tube.
I fix two small iron strips t, t', along the axle at right angles to the
slots. The iron rings B, B', B", having two grooves made inside are
set on the strips, and are fixed to a thin wooden circle c, c', c", by means
of three iron rods. The rings are attached to each other by two small
chains or strings, which must be just as long as the distance the rings
are to be set apart.
The number of wooden circles must be proportionate to the diameter
of the globe; they must be so shaped and distanced from one another as
to form a spherical frame.
The disks D, and D', as also the wooden circle c, c, c, are covered
with a wooden cloth, and I thus obtain a perfect sphere or globe.
The envelope is printed and coloured with figures representing the earth
or heavens. The screw being turned to the right, the disk D' is drawn
up, and causes the rings to follow, which coming near to one another
will fold the cloth envelope in regular plaits.
Second System, Drawing II.-The apparatus is composed of two
tubes T, T', Figure 2, entering onc in another. The opposite ends of
these tubes are fixed in the centre of convex disks D, D'. There is a
screw within the tubes, its head is maintained in the larger tube near
the disk D, it is as long as the tubes, and plays in a nut fixed at the
remotest end within the smaller tube T", which enters the larger one;
when the screw is turned to the right the tube shortens, and when turned
to the left it is elongated. In order to have the small tube travelling
without twisting within the larger one, there is a slot or groove cut
through the larger tube, in which slides a pin fixed on the smaller tube.

page_text: A number of long springs, made either of wood, cane, or whalebonc,
arc attached at both ends to the disks D, D', where they are hinged
round the disks somewhat like the ribs of an umbrella, but nearer to
each other. When the screw is turned by the handle M to the right
the axle shortens, the hinge motion of the disks causes the springs
to bend, and to assume the shape of half circles or meridium lines
at equal distances apart, as is seen in the west of Figure 2. There is
then a perfect regular frame, which being covered with a spherical
printed envelope produces a globe, as seen at the part cast of Fige 2.
If the envelope is made fast to at least half of the springs at their
natural places, and the screw is turned to the left, all the springs will
straighten together, and the envelope will be regularly folded between
each spring.
Several globes constructed according to this system, and representing
the planets of our system, might be combined.
Another globe covered with a diaphragm cloth, having an electric or
other light set in the centre, would serve to illumine the planets in the
rotative motions given to them. This machine of light & economic
construction would help to demonstrate the motions of the heavenly
bodies.