Improved apparatus for use in teaching physical geography and the like

摘要

414,268. Orreries. HOWDEN, T. G., 10, Retreat Road, Hampton, Victoria, Australia. Dec. 4, 1933. No. 34049. [Class 146 (ii).] An orrery comprises a globe supported on the end of an arm adapted to be moved around a plate indicating the sun on a fixed pillar, the globe being on the extremity of a second arm adapted to rotary movement as the first arm moves, there being also provided a daylight screen around the globe and a pointer extending from the sun plate to the globe surface adapted to move with the globe as it turns about the pillar. The terrestrial globe 5 is fixed with its axis appropriately inclined to an arm 18 carried by a spindle 17 to which is attached a gear 12 meshing with a gear 11 fixed to a shaft 10 which carries a second gear 9 meshing with a fixed gear 8. The support 16 for the spindle 17 and the rod 10 are rigidly connected to a rotatable pillar 13 passing over a fixed member 6 to which is attached a sun disc 7 bearing the names of months of year, and if desired of the weeks and an ellipse representing the earth's orbit. By these means, as the support 16 is moved round the pillar 6, the globe 5 proceeds in its orbit round the sun plate 7 and the position of the poles is suitably varied in relation to the direction of the sun. Attached to the support 16 is a fixed vertical screen 20, while a second screen 21 is carried thereby, the first serving to divide the earth into parts having day and night while the space between the screens enjoys twilight. The pillar 13 also carries a pointer 14, to which is attached a rotatable sleeve 24 connected by rods 22 to a second sleeve attached to a second pointer 23 ; these two pointers represent rays from the sun and can be adjusted so that the pointer 23 can be brought adjacent any desired point on the globe surface. Attached to the pointer 14 is a protractor 25, which is provided at its upper end with a slit in which a quadrant plate 26 is hingedly mounted. The plate is calibrated and can be used to determine the position of the sunrise or sunset north or south of east or west for any place on the earth's surface. The globe and its connections may be supported in an adjusted position by one or more brackets 27.