GB2353891A - An orrery or display device for showing relative positions of objects orbiting a centre point e.g. planets - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a stack of annuli 13A-19A centred about a common axis, the bottom annulus 19A having the smallest internal diameter 19B and the top annulus 13A having the largest internal diameter 13B. At least one display object 13-19 is mounted on an annulus 13A-19A by way of an upwardly projecting member 13C-19C. Support means 36-43 are spaced around the periphery of the annuli, and coupling means 45-48 thereon are driven by drive shafts 36-43 to rotate each annulus independently. A programmable processing means is provided for controlling the rotation. Also disclosed is a housing D for the device, means for illuminating the device, a remote control device, and a display means.

Description

2353891 DISPLAY UNIT This invention is concerned with a display unit.

It is concerned with a display unit representing relationship between a set of objects and in particular for a representation of planets in the Solar System for astrological purposes. In GB Patent Application 2 240 652 there is described an instrument for displaying relative positions of astrological features having a number of rotatable annular indicator wheels each carrying representation of given features driven under the control of a microprocessor.

Further development work has revealed a need for additional features to provide, amongst other thing, for sufficient accuracy of operation to ensure credible results.

According to the present invention there is provided a display device for showing the relative positions of objects which each orbit on a circular path about a centre point, comprising: a stack of annuli; each annuli having a centre located on, but spaced apart from, the centre point of the remaining annuli, on a common axis wherein each annulus is stacked one above the other; the lowest annulus in the stack having and internal clearance with the smallest inside diameter; a progressive increase in the inside diameter of the internal clearance of each vertically succeeding annulus to the highest annulus in the stack which has the largest internal clearance with the greatest inside diameter; at least one display object being mounted on a given annulus by way of an upwardly projecting member extending up and through one or more of the internal clearances of the or each annuli located above the annulus on which the object is mounted; at least two support means being provided for each annuli each support means for a given annulus being spaced from the other around the periphery of the annulus; 2 coupling means for rotating the annulus about the common axis independently of the remaining annuli in the stack; drive means for each of the coupling means to provide for the application by the coupling means of torque at or near the periphery of an annulus to rotate it about the axis; and programmable processing means for governing operation of the drive means and so of the annuli about the common axis.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the device includes a housing shrouding the stack of annuli. The shroud can incorporate a series of columns spaced around the stack of annuli.

Preferably in a device according to the first preferred version of the present invention the shroud incorporates a series of drive shafts spaced afound the stack of annuli. Typically each drive shaft serves to mount a coupling for an annulus of the stack. Additionally each drive shaft serve to include support means for at least two annuli in the stack.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version or variant thereof the device incorporates means for illuminating at least part of the device. Typically the means for illuminating serve to illuminate one or more of the annuli and /or one or more of the objects.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version or variant thereof means are provided to regulate operation of the programmable processing means comprising a remote control device operationally linked to the processing means by infra red or other electromagnetic wave signal transmitting means. Typically the remote control device can be stored in a housing incorporated in the device.

3 According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version or variant thereof the device includes an auxiliary display means for information relating to the objects, their relative positions, alignment or state of progress during an operation involving movement of one or more annuli.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of an astrological display device of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device; Figure 2 is a view from the side; Figure 3 a view from above; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross section omitting for the sake of clarity features shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The drawings variously show a display device 11 for showing in simplified form firstly the apparent positions as seen from the Earth of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets of the solar system out to Saturn, relative to the band of constellations known as the Zodiac; and secondly the positions of the same objects, including the Zodiac, relative to the horizon of an observer situated on Earth at given latitude and longitude. Figures 1 and 4 show the device 11 covered by a glass dome D to protect the device while allowing it to be viewed and operated. Figures 2 and 3 show the device 11 with the dome D removed.

The individual objects are represented and mounted as follows (Figure 4):

Object Reference Mounted on By way of Annulus column Saturn 13 13A 13C Jupiter 14 14A 14C Mars 15 15A 15C The Sun 16 16A 16C Venus 17 17A 17C Mercury 18 18A 18C The Moon 19 19A 19C 4 The Earth is represented by a central sphere 81 carried on a column 82 extending downwardly to base plate B (Figure 4) The objects 1319 can each orbit on a circular path about a common vertical central axis A on which Earth sphere 81 is also located.

The annuli 13A to 19A together make up stack 20. Each annulus MA-19A has its centre located on axis A but vertically spaced apart from the remaining annuli.

In the stack 20 each annulus 13A-19A is stacked one above the other; the lowest annulus 19A in the stack 20 having a central circular aperture 19B having the smallest inside diameter in comparison with the remaining annuli. The stack 20 is aligned to provide a progressive increase in the inside diameter of the central aperture of each vertically succeeding annulus up to the highest annulus 13A whose central aperture 13B has the largest diameter of the annuli in the stack 20.

The display objects 13-19 are mounted on, respectively annuli 13A-19A In each case by way of an upwardly projecting stem, respectively stems 13C19C. The stemsl3C-19C, with their respective objects 13-19, extend up and through the internal clearances of the, or each, annulus located above the annulus on which a given object is mounted. In this way the objects, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4, project above the stack of annuli 20 and the ring 30 forming a static top annulus to an open work shroud 31 which serves to locate the stack 20 on base 32.

Display object 12 comprises an annulus 12A with its upper face inscribed with representations of the signs of the Zodiac. It is mounted on annulus by means of three or more columnar supports raising it to the level of support ring 30. The display object 12 is mounted relative to a screening plate 80 fixed to the upper side of support ring 30 which screening plate serves at any one time to hide half of the inscribed Zodiac display object 12.

Base 32 includes three radially extending integral projections 33-35 which incorporate, respectively, adjustable feet 33A-35A providing for the accurate levelling of the device 11 on a table top or other location on which the device 11 is to be used.

As will be seen from Figures I and 2 the ring 30 serves to locate eight drive shafts 36-43 at their upper ends. Lower ends of shafts 36-43 extend rotatably through holes in base ring 44 mounted in base 32. The ring 30 is supported by eight columns C1-8 secured to base ring 44.

Each drive shaft 36-43 has mounted on it four pairs of discs. Typically shaft 36 has disc pairs 45, 46, 47, 48 which serve to support an outer area of, respectively, annuli 18A, 16A, 14A, 12A. Adjacent shaft 37 serves to receive four disc pairs 49, 50, 51, 52 which serve to support an outer area of, respectively, annuli 19A, 17A, 15A, 13A. In total each annulus is supported at four regions uniformly spaced a-round the periphery of the annulus. It has been found it is only by supporting each annulus in this way at several points around its periphery that a reproducible and optimised rotation of each annulus can be obtained.

The annuli 12A-19A are each capable of independent rotation caused to rotate by means of a toothed rim provided on the outer periphery of the annulus as shown in Figures I and 2.

Each of the drive shafts 36-43 is provided with a toothed cog located between two adjacent disc pairs. Typically (Figure 2) on column 39 cog 65 serves to drive annulus 14A.

In the base 32 there are provided electrically powered stepper motors coupled to each of columns 36-43 so that each column can be rotated independently at an accurate predetermined speed to rotate the associated annulus with consequent motion of the object mounted on the annulus relative to the central earth object 81 and screening plate 80 relative to the remaining objects 13-19.

6 The base 32 also includes micro-processing means whereby operation of each of the stepper motors can be controlled according to one or more programmed sequences. Extension 60 on the base 32 houses a keyboard 61 and an auxiliary display means. These serve to enable operating requirements to be entered together with further programming steps if required.

In an alternative embodiment the extension can be dispensed with and a separate remote control unit can be used to operate the device 11 with a slot in base 32 to store the remote control unit.

Other versions of the invention can be used to provide representations of the information. One provides a display device where the annuli correspond to those in stack 20 in the exemplary embodiment but mounted vertically for rotation about a common horizontal axis rather than as described above thounted horizontally for rotation about a vertical axis. In another version rather than provide separate stepping motors for each annulus a single motor can be used whose driving output is switched mechanically between each annulus in turn so that over a given period the required relative motion is displayed.

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Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1 A display device for showing the relative positions of objects which each orbit on a circular path about a centre point, comprising: a stack of annuli; each annuli having a centre located on, but spaced apart from, the centre point of the remaining annuli, on a common axis wherein each annulus is stacked one above the other; the lowest annulus in the stack having and internal clearance with the smallest inside diameter; a progressive increase in the inside diameter of the internal clearance of each vertically succeeding annulus to the highest annulus in the stack which has the largest internal clearance with the greatest inside diameter; at least one display object being mounted on a given annulus by way of an upwardly projecting member extending up and through one or more of the internal clearances of the or each annuli located above the annulus on which the object is mounted; at least two support means being provided for each annuli each support means for a given annulus being spaced from the other around the periphery of the annulus; coupling means for rotating the annulus about the common axis independently of the remaining annuli in the stack; drive means for each of the coupling means to provide for the application by the coupling means of torque at or near the periphery of an annulus to rotate it about the axis; and programmable processing means for governing operation of the drive means and so of the annuli about the common axis.

   2 A display device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the device include a housing shrouding the stack of annuli. 3 A display device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the shroud incorporates a series of columns spaced around the stack of annuli.

   8 4 A display device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the shroud incorporates a series of drive shafts spaced around the stack of annuli. 5 A display device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein each drive shaft serves to mount a coupling for an annulus of the stack. 6 A display device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the drive shaft serve to include support means for at least two annuli in the stack. 7 A display device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device incorporates means for illuminating at least part of the device. 8 A display device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the means for illuminating serve to illuminate one or more of the annuli. 9 A display device as claimed in Claim 7 any preceding claim wherein the means for illuminating serve to illuminate one or more of the objects.

   10 A display device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the programmable processing means can be regulated by a remote control device operationally linked to the processing means by infra red or other electromagnetic wave signal transmitting means. 11 A display device as claimed in Claim 10 including means for housing the remote control device. 12 A display device as claimed in any preceding claim including an auxiliary display means for information such as information relating to the objects, their relative positions, alignment or state of progress during an operation involving movement of one or more annuli.

   9 13 A display device as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.