Improvements in Machinery for Raising and Lowering the Stage Scenery and Cloths of Theatres and the like.

摘要

13,364. Lytton, E. June 15. Theatrical appliances. - Relates to theatrical apparatus described in Specification No. 24,261, A.D. 1901, for raising and lowering stage scenery, cloths, &c. The ropes carrying the scenery are each wound on a drum c, Fig. 1, mounted loosely on a shaft a driven by an electromotor, and actuated through a clutch e, controlled by an electromagnet i. A brake q and pawl nx, Fig. 2, engaging ratchet teeth r on the drum, are also operated with the clutch by means of an inclined groove m1 in a sliding rod m. The motor is reversed from the stage. The clutch is brought out of gear by a spring k or a second electromagnet. In a modification, shown in Fig. 4, the clutch lever f1 is mounted on a tubular shaft carrying an arm i1, which, when the clutch is in gear, is held by a catch m2 but is automatically released by tappets t1, t3, Fig. 6, on the screen engaging stops on cords attached to arms on the internal shaft o1. A cam u1, Fig. 4, thereby turns the catch m2 and frees the lever i1. A pawl engaging the ratchet teeth w1 is also operated from the shaft o1 by an arm f2. The cam u1 may be curved, as shown in Fig. 4a, so as to act in both forward and backward movements. The winding-drum c may be actuated by a hydraulic cylinder, through rope and pulley multiplying-gear. The annular space round the ram is connected to the main so that, when the valve, actuated by an electromagnet, opens the rear end of the cylinder to exhaust, the ram is forced in and allows the scenery to descend by gravity.