Improvements in and relating to Tellurians.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tellurians.
I, SAMUEL MILTON REAVIS, a Citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Frankfort, in the County of Clinton and State of Indiana, one of the
United States of America, Student, 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 invention relates to improvements in tellurians. The object of my invention
is to produce a tellurian which is simple and inexpensive of construction and
durable, and which will be adapted to illustrate the greatest possible number of
phenomena for the simplicity of its design.
!
Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of the device.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the instrument along plane h³ h² of Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the essential portions of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the base of the instrument on which diagrams and
illustrations of times of events and motions of the earth are shown.
The same letters and numbers refer to the same parts in different figures.
S, is the sun, E the earth, and M, the moon. For simplicity in showing and
describing the construction and arrangement of connected and co-operating parts
which are secured together and have no relative motion such parts are shown in.
Figure 2 with common sectioning.
B is a base or support for the apparatus and has a flat top surface, on which
illustrations and diagrams are shown.
CD is a column supporting the apparatus, and its axis passes through the sun S.
The sun is supported on the top of the wire 34, which is secured in the end F of
the column CD. The earth is supported and carried by the lever L, which is
pivoted on the end F of the column CD, and moves in a horizontal plane about
the vertical axis v³ ³ in the direction of the arrows rr, Figures 3 and 4, which
thus carries the earth around the sun in a direction from west to east..
The device is constructed to operate automatically and regularly, so that it will
not require manipulation when used in lectures. A coiled spring 27, Figures 2
and 3, is secured at one end to the top F of the column C D, and the other end is
secured by the pin 28 to the lever L and is capable of turning the lever L about
the pivot F in the direction of the arrows rr. Any suitable means may be.
employed for regulating the speed of rotation of the lever L under the force of
the spring 27, as a pawl-and-ratchet-device.
1 is a stationary spur-wheel on the column C, and 2 a pinion engaging the
wheel 1 and supported on and turning with the bearing-pin Z, which is supported
by a second lever N, pivoted to the column D by a boss, Y, and which turns with
the lever L by suitable connections.
31 represents a balance-wheel for controlling the speed of rotation about the
column CD caused by the spring 27. Any other suitable speed-regulator may be
connected to the bearing-pin Z for regulating the action of the spring 27 and the
speed of the lever L.
The earth E is supported and carried by the crank-arm Q, which is secured to
the upper end of the shaft W, that is held and turns in the boss O on the end of
the lever. L. The axis of rotation aa of the earth is inclined to the vertical
line through the shaft W, so that the equatorial plane of rotation ee may be
'inclined twenty-three and one-half degrees to the plane of the earth's orbit h h, as
shown in Figure 2. The earth E is supported and turns on a sleeve V, shown
made integral with or attached to the arm Q. A collar U, connected to the
t'
3

page_text: earth E, turns upon and about the lower end of the sleeve V and has a bevel-
pinion 14, which engages the spur-wheel 13 on the shaft X, that is held and turns
in the boss R on the end of the arm Q. The earth is rotated about its axis a a
when the arm Q turns about the axis vv by the..wheels 11 12 13.
The spur-
wheel 11 is connected to the boss O on the lever L and is stationary. When the
arm Qturns about the axis vv in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3, the
wheels 12 and 13 turn, in, the direction of the arrow. and thus cause the bevel-
pinion 14 and the earth E to. rotate in the direction of the arrows *, Figure 3, or
from west to east. The arm.Q is rotated by means of the bevel-wheels 3 4 5 6
and the shafts 17 and W. The shaft 17 is supported under the lever L by means
of the lugs 29, and the shaft W is supported in the boss O on the end of the
lever L. The bevel 3 is stationary, so that when the lever L carries the shaft 17
around with it the bevel 4 is caused to rotate, whence the bevels 5 and 6 rotate and
cause the arm Q to turn in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3.
"
The apparatus so far described is designed to cause the earth to change its
ecliptic inclination during the annular rotation of the earth around the sun. If the
relative positions shown are those of the "1st of July," then on the "1st of January
the arm would project in the opposite.direction relative to L, or toward the sun,
and the earth's axis would be inclined at the top away from the sun.
When the
bodies S and E come into the positions shown again, it will be the "1st of July
again, and the earth will have made an annual revolution. Consequently the
operating mechanism must be proportioned so that the proper relative velocities
will be given to the earth and moon in their motions about the sun.
""
The moon is revolved about the earth by the means of the mechanism Q7 8 9 10
18 21 22 24 15 16. The bevel 7 is secured to the hub P and is stationary. The
bevels 8 and 9 are secured on the ends of a shaft carried in a bearing in the lug 30,
cast to the under side of the arm Q. The bevel drives the bevel 10 on the
lower end of the shaft 18. The upper end 26 of the sleeve V is made square, and
the spur-wheel 15 is thus secured thereon in a stationary manner.
21 is a lever pivoted by the pin 19 to the upper end of the shaft 18, so that,its
outer end may have a vertical movement.
16 is a pinion having a bearing 22-in the end of the lever. 21.
23 is a nut, which secures the pinion 16 to the lever 21, and the wire 24, which
supports and carries the moon, is secured in its top. The end of the shaft 18 plays
freely in a slot 20 in the lever 21. A washer 25 is placed between the top surface
of the wheel 15 and the under surface of the lever 21, and its upper surface is
inclined at an angle of five degrees, as indicated by the dotted line m, which is
parallel with the line cm through the centres of the earth and moon and which
shows the inclination of the moon's orbit to the plane through the centres of the
earth and sun, or to the earth's orbit. The washer 25 may be adjusted to show the
precession of the moon's orbit. Since the washer 25 is made wedge-shaped, by
turning it about the stem 18 it will raise or lower the lever 21 and hence vary the
precession of the moon. Of course the washer is stationary, and as the relative
positions of the earth and moon.are constant a change in the position of the washer
will throw the moon up or down. When the arm Q is rotated about the axis vv,
the stationary bevel 7 causes the bevels 8 9 10 to rotate and thus the shaft 18,
which causes the lever. 21 to rotate about the axis v. Since the wheel 15 is
stationary, the motion of the lever 21 causes the pin 16 to rotate and hence the
moon to revolve around the earth..
The apparatus described is so arranged that the moon revolves about the earth
from west to east. Since when the moon revolves about the earth it always
presents the same side to the earth, it will make one rotation on its axis, although,
rigidly connected to the support 24, so that the instrument shows the rotation of
both the earth and the moon. The sun is placed at S centrally over the pivot F,
about which the lever L and the earth rotate. A small sphere may represent the
sun, or any suitable light may be located at that point.
This instrument is capable of showing the variation of the earth's motion or

page_text: velocity in its orbit during an annular revolution. A regular speed of the lever L
and the axis vv about the axis v3 8 is produced by the spring 27 and suitable
regulating means as the balance-wheel 31. Since the earth makes one revolution
around the sun in one year, the shaft W rotates once in a year, since the pinions 3
and 6, are equal, and also the pinions 4, and 5, and causes the pin 32, attached to
the bevel 6, to describe a circle in one year. Since the lever N, is pivoted to the
column D independently of the lever L, these two levers are free to be moved
independently about the axis 3, 3. When the pin 32, is in the position shown; the
the lever L, is directly over the lever N; but when the shaft W rotates the pin 32,
presses against the side of the slot 33 in the lever N and tends to force the outer
end of the lever N, forward, or contrary to the direction of the arrow ², Figure 3.
The motion of the lever N is the correct motion of the earth about the sun with
reference to rapidity and regularity through space. Pin 32 plays around and is
the same distance from the centre of the bevel 6 (or axis e, v,) as the centre of the
earth. The earth must come nearer to or farther from the sun. In the position
shown pin 32 is farthest from the sun. Then the centre of the earth, being over
pin 32, is farthest from the sun. A movement of ninety degrees from the position
shown of bevel 6 will result in an increasing retardation of the lever N until the
lever N is behind the lever L the distance of the pin 32 from the centre of the
bevel 6. During the following ninety degrees the lever N will be brought back-
ward, gaining until at the point indicating "January 1," when the levers N and L
are together. During the following ninety degrees the lever N is brought forward.
During the final ninety degrees the lever N is retarded until it and the lever L'are
coincident, as at first, or in the position of "July 1." The counter effect of the
lever N is that of pulling backward during the time that the pin 32 is within 'the
circle described by the centre of the bevel 6 about the axis D, and from October to
March inclusive, and that of pushing backward while the pin 32 is without the
circle described by the centre of the bevel 6 about the axis D, and from April to
September, inclusive, but always serving as a retardation, and the intensity varying
with the movement caused by the pin 32 moving under the impulse of the spring 27.
This will allow pin 32 to move to and fro with reference to the sun and also travel
with the lever N, and the earth will be kept in true position as it is over pin 32.
Remember, I could regulate the lever L, but the centre of the earth would not
always be over the centre of that lever, so I apply a second lever and regulate it,
and by so doing the earth will move with the lever and receive regularity. Such
action would be effective and observable, since the yearly motion would take place
within a short space of time when operating the instrument to illustrate the relative
motions and positions of the sun, earth, and moon.
Fig. 4 shows the base of the instrument made with a flat top surface and an
elliptical margin of the same shape as the orbit of the earth. The axis coincides
with the lines ³, h², and h³, 1ª³, and the sun S is shown in the focus near
"January 1."
C is the hole in the centre of the base, in which the stud C, Figure 2, is
secured.
The sun is shown in the focus in Figure 4 in order to show its relative position to
the earth's orbit. The sun would be placed in the instrument vertically over the
centre of the column C, as shown in Figure 2. Since the eclipse of the earth's
orbit approximates closely to a circle, the base can be made circular, as in Figure 3.
and answer the purpose equally well.
The wheel 1 on the column C may be made as large as the disk B, Figure 3,
and serve both as a wheel and the part having the diagrams and illustrations shown
in Figure 4.
In the design of a base shown in Figure 4 the margin is marked off into three
hundred and sixty-five and one-fourth days. Within the margin are two ellipses
concentric with each other and with the margin, and they are divided circumferen-
tially into spaces.
Lines drawn radially inward from the margin separate the said
spaces from each other, and the radial lines mark the positions of the first day of

page_text: each month, and the intervening space between two such adjacent lines shows the
intervening month. The name of the month is placed in the space between the
two adjacent radial lines and the inner ellipse, and the names of the days are placed
in the space between the margin and the adjacent ellipse and just inside of the
marginal row of day-marks. The name of each month and the Figure "1" are
placed by the radial line separating months and drawn from the marginal mark
indicating the first day of the particular month. The names of other important
days are also written in the marginal space at the marks denoting those days.
Radial lines are drawn from the inner ellipse inward, forming twelve central
spaces, in which the names or signs of the zodiac are placed.
The arrangement shown in Figure 4 furnishes the longest line for the divisions
denoting days and convenience of referring any day of any month to that month
and to the whole year and places the signs of the zodiac in a less conspicuous place
and also where they can be made large and more ornamental. The names of days,
months, and signs are written in the spaces where they belong; but the base would
be elaborately lettered and illustrated. The positions of the wheel 1 and the
.level L are shown in dotted outline to show the relative positions of the parts and
the amount of chart unobstructed by the apparatus. The arrows rr indicate the
direction of the motion of the lever L and also the path of the earth in its orbit.
Starting with "January 1," the earth would pass over the margin of the chart.
By following the day-marks around all of the days of January will be passed and
"February 1" reached. In that manner all days of the year may be passed over
Each month has
and the corresponding particular features and phrases observed.
its particular number of days, and the month of February is shown with one-fourth
of a day over three hundred and sixty-five, whieh illustrates how in four years a
complete additional day is added to the twenty-eight days of February. The days
limiting the different periods of the zodiac are marked in the day marginal space,
and radial lines are drawn from these marks inward, separating the contiguous
spaces which represent the periods during which those signs are associated with
particular portions of the year. An index I, Figure 4, may be attached to the
under side of the end 35 of the lever L and be bent downward over the wheel 1 and
have its point pass over and near the day marks on the margin of the base B. The
index is shown in Figure 4 pointing to the first day of July, which is the time of
aphelion. Perihelion occurs January 1 and is marked on the margin of the base.
In using the instrument the spring 27 would cause the lever L and supported
parts to rotate regularly around the pivot F in the direction of the arrow
the pointer I would indicate the relative positions of the sun and earth in space
during such motion and also the time of month and year, the chart and index being
referred to in observing positions in space at certain times and the moving earth and
moon being referred to in observing the motions of those bodies, since the pointer
is at "July 1" when the earth is in the position of "January 1."
r and
The essential features of this invention embodied in this instrument consist in a
stationary central support, stationary toothed wheels, and turning toothed wheels
engaging the latter and mounted on proper shafts.
The drawings are made to a scale in which four inches equal one foot, and the
proportions are intended to be practicable for construction and use. The mechanism
must be designed with dimensions and speeds which will cause correct relative
notions of the earth about the sun and the moon about the earth. If the bevels 3
and 6 have the same number of teeth and the bevels 4 and 5 have the same number,
then the arm Q will rotate about the axis vv in the same time that the lever L
rotates about the axis v³, v³.
In order to have the earth rotate once every twenty-four hours and make three
hundred and sixty-five and one-fourth revolutions in one year, two hundred and
ninety-three teeth would be made on wheel 11, twelve on pinion 12, one hundred
and fifty on wheel 13, and ten on the bevel pinion 14. In order to have uniformity
of action between the shaft W and the lever L, the wheel 1 would have two
hundred and ninety-two teeth also. In the figures the diameter of the earth is
AN

page_text: 9 inches, that of the moon two and one-half inches, and the distance of the centre
of the sun from the centre of the earth is twenty inches, and that of the noon from
the earth nine and one-half inches.
The following phrases and events are shown on the chart in Figure 4, January 1,
earth in perihelion; February, sun lowest, time later than clock-time; March 21,
spring equinox; April 15, sun and clock coincide; June 14, clock and sun coincide;
June 21, sun twenty-three and one-half degrees north of the equator; July 1, sun in
aphelion; September 22, autumnal equinox; November 1, sun fastest; December 21,
sun twenty-three and one-half degrees south of the equator; December 24, sun and
clock coincide.
All phenomena due to the relative motions and positions of the sun, earth, and
moon can be shown by means of the instrument in the hands of a lecturer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearings, an integral boss at the extremity of the
lever, having a vertical axis, a vertical shaft turning in the lever-boss and having
an integral horizontally-projecting arm at its upper end, with its boss resting and
supported on the end of the frame-lever boss, whereby it supports the connected
shaft, a bevel-wheel on the end of the vertical shaft below the boss, a stationary
bevel on the frame-lever support and concentric with its axis, and a horizontal shaft
having a bevel-wheel on each end and supported by the frame-lever, one bevel on
the horizontal shaft engaging the stationary bevel on the stationary support and
the other bevel engaging and driving the bevel on the vertical shaft at the end of
the frame-lever, and the rotation of the frame lever about its pivot causing the
described gearing to operate, substantially as set forth.
2. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing, an integral boss at the extremity of the
lever, having a vertical boss and having an integral horizontally-projecting arm at
its upper end, a toothed wheel at its lower end, a stationary toothed wheel secured
directly to the frame-lever boss, a vertical shaft turning in a boss at the end of the
projecting arm, a pinion on the lower end of the latter shaft, engaging the stationary
wheel on the frame-lever, a wheel on the upper end of the same shaft, a pinion
engaging the latter toothed wheel and connected to and arranged to rotate the
earth-sphere, a horizontal shaft supported and carried by the frame-lever, having a
toothed wheel at each end, and a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically
to the frame-lever support and engaging and driving the said mechanism intervening
between it and the sphere substantially as set forth.
3. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearings, a boss at the extremity of the lever a
vertical shaft turning in the lever-boss, an arm secured to the top of said shaft and
projecting horizontally and having a boss at its outer end, a second vertical shaft
held and turning in the end boss of the projecting arm, a toothed wheel on such end
of the second shaft, a stationary toothed wheel on the second vertical shaft, a
stationary toothed wheel secured and concentric with and to the frame-lever boss
and engaging the lower wheel on the second vertical shaft, a support for the earth-
sphere, connected to the projecting arm of the first vertical shaft, a toothed wheel
connected to the earth-sphere and engaging the upper toothed wheel on the second
vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having a toothed
wheel at each end, and a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to the
frame-lever support and engaging and driving the said mechanism intervening
between it and the earth-support, substantially as set forth.
3
4. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearings and having a boss at its extremity, a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support

page_text: and also a toothed wheel, a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to the
frame-lever support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having one
toothed wheel at one end engaging the stationary toothed wheel and a toothed
wheel at the other end engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, and a
motor device connected to and arranged to automatically operate the frame-lever
and connected apparatus, substantially as set forth.
5. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing and having a boss at its extremity a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support
and also a toothed wheel, a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to
the frame-lever support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having
one toothed wheel at one end engaging the stationary toothed wheel and a toothed
wheel at the other end engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, and a
spring connected to the frame-lever support and to the frame-lever and arranged to
automatically operate the frame-lever and connected apparatus, substantially as set.
forth.
6. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing and having a boss at its extremity, a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support
and also a toothed, a stationary wheel connected concentrically to the frame-lever
support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having one toothed wheel
at one end engaging the stationary wheel and a toothed wheel at the other end
engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, a motor device connected to and
arranged to automatically operate the frame-lever and connected apparatus, and a
speed regulating device constructed to operate as a dead-weight, connected to the
frame-lever, and adapted to control the motion of the lever, substantially as set
forth.
7. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing and having a boss at its extremity, a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support
and also a toothed wheel, a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to the
frame-lever support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame lever and having a
toothed wheel at one end engaging the stationary toothed wheel and a toothed
wheel at the other end engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, a motor
device connected to and arranged to automatically operate the frame-lever and
connected apparatus, and a speed regulation device consisting of a lever pivoted to
'the frame-lever support, a pin on the toothed wheel of the vertical shaft at the end
of the frame-lever, working in a slot in the extremity of the second pivoted lever, a
stationary toothed wheel secured concentrically to the frame-lever support, and a
pinion carried by the second lever and engaging the stationary wheel and having
connected thereto a balance wheel, substantially as set forth.
8. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing and having a boss at its extremity, a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support
and also a toothed wheel, a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to the
frame-lever support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having a
toothed wheel at one end engaging the stationary toothed wheel and a toothed
wheel at the other end engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, a stationary
toothed wheel at the top of the boss on the end of the frame-lever, a horizontal
shaft carried by the earth-sphere's support and having a toothed wheel at each end,
an upright shaft supported by and having bearings in the earth-sphere's support
and extending through the centre of the earth-sphere and having a toothed wheel
at its upper end, and means supported above the earth-sphere by the latter's support,
capable of supporting and moving the moon and the stationary toothed wheels on
the frame-lever boss driving the horizontal shaft, the upright shaft, and the moon-
moving apparatus by means of their toothed wheels when the earth-sphere support
is rotated, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 9. In a tellurian, the combination of a stationary support, a frame-lever pivoted
to turn horizontally about its bearing and having a boss at its extremity, a vertical
shaft turning in the boss and having connected thereto the earth-sphere support
and also a toothed wheel, a stationary toothed wheel connected concentrically to.
the frame-lever support, a horizontal shaft carried by the frame-lever and having a
toothed wheel at one end engaging the stationary toothed wheel and a toothed
wheel at the other end engaging the toothed wheel on the vertical shaft, a stationary
toothed wheel at the top of the boss on the end of the frame-lever, a horizontal
shaft carried by the earth-spheres support and having a toothed wheel at each end,.
an upright shaft supported by and having bearings in the earths-sphere's support
and extending through the centre of the earths-sphere, a stationary toothed wheel
secured to the top of the earth-sphere support, a lever pivoted to the upper end of
the said upright shaft, and a pinion at the extremity of the said lever for supporting
and moving the moon, and the stationary toothed wheel on the frame-lever boss
driving the horizontal shaft, the upright shaft, and the moon-moving apparatus by
means of their toothed wheels when the earth-spheres support is rotated, substan-
tially as set forth.
10. In a tellurian, the combination of an earth-spheres supporting and moving
apparatus, an earth-sphere supported and moved thereby, an upright moon apparatus.
moving shaft extending through the earth-sphere, a stationary toothed wheel
supported above the earth-sphere, a lever pivoted to the upper end of the upright
shaft a pinion at the extremity of the said lever for supporting and moving the
moon, and means constructed in connection with the said pivoted lever for causing
an inclination of the moon's orbit during the revolution of the moon about the
earth-sphere, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1th daw of T.1 1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.