US1096826A - Auditorium or hall for buildings. - Google Patents

Description

P. CLEMENT.

AUDITORIUM 0R HALL FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZB, 1913.

1 96,826. Patented May 19, 1914.

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FCLEMENT.

WITNE$SES INVENTOR.

BY 1 z fi4-v Q. ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CBJWASHINGTDN, D. c

P. CLEMENT.

AUDITORIUM OR HALL FOR BUILDINGS, APPLIOATION FILED JAN.28, 1913.

1,096,826. Patented May 19,191 L 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I FCLEMENT. W'TNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY COLUMBIA I'LANOGIIAI'H c0. wAsmNuTuN. D. c.

F. CLEMENT.

AUDITORIUM 0R HALL FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLIOATION rum) JAN.2B,1913.

1 09 2 Patented May 19, 1914.

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F. CLEMENT. AUDITORIUM OR HALL FOR BUILDINGS. APPLICATION IILBD JAN.28, 101a.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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. IIIIIIQ'IIIIIA ""INVENTOR BY J ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANoanAPM CO-WABIHNUTON. D. c.

FRANZ CLEMENT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

AUDITORIUM OR HALL FOR BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 19114:.

Application filed January 28, 1913. Serial No. 744,638.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANZ CLEMENT, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at No. 5e Motzstrasse, Berlin, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Auditorium or Hall of Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well known, although rarely expressed fact that in places of entertainment, restaurants, cafes, concert-halls, music-halls, bazaars and the like the attention of the guests is given to a great extent and irequently for the greater part not to the items of the musical, artistic or other prog'ain, but, so far as the arrangement of the particular hall or the like establishment permit-s, to the guests who are sitting within the circle of vision and particularly to the toilets of the ladies.

This invention has now for its object to provide an improved construction of a hall or other establishment suitable for a restaurant or caf, or for the giving of concerts and variety performances, or for the holding of exhibitions, bazaars and the like, which shall take into consideration this tendency of the guests to observe one another.

According to this invention fresh groups of guests will always appear opposite each seat so that the desire of looking at one another is amply satisfied, whereas at the same time the risk of the mutual inspection as suming the character of staring is safely avoided.

This improvement is effected according to this invention in the following manner: The auditorium or hall for the guests is composed of several superposed tiers, circles or balconies forming closed rings, all or part of which are revolubly mounted on suitable constructed platforms and are adapted to be slowly rotated in different directions by any suitable mechanical means. The central part of the ground floor which preferably is not adapted to revolve serves either simply for the accommodation of guests or as a stage for musical, comical, artistic and similar performances.

The fixed ceilings and rear walls of the different tiers or balconies as well as the outside surfaces of the balustrades may be decorated with interchangeable series of pietures showing interconnected events, symbolic representations and the like. During the slow revolution of the tiers, the series of pictures may be inspected by the guests at their leisure. If a number of towns or cities contain similar establishments of this kind, then the picture series may be interchanged between the different towns at certain intervals of time.

\Vhen applying the new arrangement to exhibitions or bazaars the objects to be exhibited are preferably placed on the platforms surrounding the revoluble rings so that within a certain period of time, which is to be suitably determined, all the objects exhibited on a platform will travel past each table on the corresponding ring or at least appear to do so to the guests sitting at the tables.

An embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of one example of the improved auditorium or hall, Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan of the central portion of the ground floor forming a stage which consists of two sect-ions and is adapted to be raised, Fig. t is a vertical section through a revoluble tier or balcony together with the driving mechanism, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4, the revoluble part being removed, Fig. (3 shows a vertical section through the stage which is made in two parts and which is adapted to be raised, and Fig. 7 is a plan of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 without the wooden flooring.

In Fig. 2 the sections through the stationary parts are indicated by section lining in one direction, whereas the sections through the movable parts are indicated by section lining in the opposite direction. A indicates the revolving tiers or rings, and P indicates the stationary platforms on which they are mounted. Both the stationary and revolving platforms are provided with seats and tables for guests. The first and second tiers of the revolving platforms are made of such a width that they can accommodate two rows of tables Z) 7), the back row of tables 7) being arranged at a suitably higher level than the front row. a. comu'umication between the two rows being established by the four stairs c. In the third and fourth tier,

however, only one row' of tables is provided. Two staircases T adjoining the superposed stationary platforms give access to the rings A. The buffets B are placed between the two staircases in an extension or outbuilding which likewise adjoins the stationary platforms.

A method of mounting the tiers or rings A on the platforms P is shown in Figs. 4t and 5 as applied to a ring which can accommodate only one. row of tables. The bearing surface of the platform P which projects freely ('5. 6., unsupported) inward over the pillars S, is formed by the radially-extending I-beams z and the two track rails u, u for the roller sets 0, a, 0 which rails are formed from trough-bars and are arranged on the top of said I-beams 2'. The revoluble ring is formed by radially extending I-beam sections j which are rigidly secured to a pair of track-rails u, a which are similar to the first mentioned track-rails and the ends of which I-beam sections support rings 6, e of angle-iron. The panels of the lattice work thus formed are further sub-divided by T beam sections 0 arranged in the center be tween the two rings 6, e.

The rollers 0 0 have different diameters, the arrangement being such that their common surface outlines are situated'on a cone, the center of which is situated in the vertical center-line or axis of the building. F or the purpose of keeping the sets of rollers 0, a, 0 permanently the same distance apart from each other and exactly in a radial position two sleeves m, m are revolubly arranged 011 each axle a near the rollers 0 and 0" always between two adjusting rings a, n, a, n. Each inner sleeve m is connected to the outer and inner sleeve m, m of the immediately preceding sets of rollers and to the inner sleeve m of the next following set of rollers by means of flat bars f, f and f respectively.

The driving mechanism is constructed as follows in the illustrated example. A. vertical shaft to extends at two preferably diametrically opposite points through the superposed pillars S, S. On this shaft there is arranged beneath the floor level of each platform a wheel member consisting of two bevel wheels 70, 1 c and a collar 72. in such a manner that it may be moved in an axial direction to a certain extent.

Through the medium of amechanism (not shown) which may substantially consist of, a clip embracing the collar 72., a crank rotatably mounted in a slot in the pillar S and provided with a handle, and of a connecting rod connecting the inner crank arm to the clip, it is possible to cause the wheel member is, is, h to adjust itself at three different levels so that in one position the bevel wheel is, inanother position the bevel Wheel and in a third position none of the two bevel wheels engages with the bevel wheel 70 mounted on the outer end of the shaft stump w. The gear Wheel a which is likwise mounted on the shaft w gears with a rack a rigidly secured to the lower face of the horizontal flange of the angle-iron ring c. Depending upon the level at which the wheel member 7c, is, h is adjusted the ring A revolves in the one or the other direction or it remains stationary.

Theccntral portion of the ground floor which is preferably not adapted to revolve forms in the illustrated example a stage C, D made in two sections adapted for vertical adjustment. The I-beam ring 9 on which the lattice-work of the central portion C is mounted is supported by four spindles s rigidly secured to said ring which spindles may screw in the screw threaded bores of sprocket wheels 1 suitably mounted in the ceiling of the vault or basement so as to be able to rotate said wheels. The ends of the spindles downwardly projecting from. the bores of the wheels are arranged inside the cavities of the pillars supporting the vault roof. The ring shaped part D encircling the central part C of the stage is likewise sup ported by spindles s which are adapted to screw in similar wheels 1" as the sprindles s.

The wheel systems 1 and rfl" are driven by mutually independent endless chains t, t which pass over driving wheels g, g which are arranged at a suitable place in the vault, roof or ceiling. Further each of these chains passes from the inside around that pair of gear wheels r 7' and r 1%, respectively which is situated nearest to said driving wheels whereas the other gear wheels 9, r and 1", 1*" respectively are encircled by said chains from the outside. lVhen adopting this arrangement for the two chains, the

bores in the four wheels 73, r and r r as well as the spindles adapted to screw therein must be provided with left hand'threads if the other wheels and spindles are provided with right-hand threads as these wheels must rotate in a direction opposite to that in which the other Wheels rotate. Covering strips or prevent the chains from dropping off the wheels.

From the outer edges of the parts' c and D of the stage there are suspended curtains g y which may be replaced by others when said parts C and D are arranged at different levels and which may be removed altogether when the two partsof the stage descend to such an extent that they are on a level with the ground floor. 7

The rate at which the rings A areto rotate is to be so slow that the rotation is scarcely noticed when passing from the stationary platforms on to the tiers or rings.

In the illustrated example, for instance the upper (fourth) tier or balcony maybe stationary, while'the third and second circle are slowly rotated in a right hand and left hand direction. The first tier or circle is then preferably allowed to rotate in a right hand direction at a somewhat greater speed than the second circle.

If both the ground floor space and the stage are used as a restaurant, then access is given to the two parts of the stage by removable stairs p, as shown in Fig. 1. If the stage is to be used for artistic performances of any kind, then access may be had to the same through an opening 12 (shown dotted in Fig. 1) which is preferably arranged in the center of the central part C and which may at the same time serve as trap-door, if so desired. To this opening stairs (not shown) lead from below. In certain cases this opening may be surrounded by banisters.

What I claim is 1. In an auditorium or the like the combination with a stage or the like, of tiers of seats fixed in relation to said stage, tiers of seats horizontally revoluble in relation to said stage and to the fixed tiers of seats, and means for revolving said revoluble tiers of seats slowly past said fixed tiers of seats, whereby the guests are enabled to inspect one another as well as said stage.

2. In an auditorium or the like, the combination with a stage or the like, of annular girders forming part of the fixed structure of the auditorium, tiers of seats fixed on said annular girders,radial cantaliverbeams forming part of the fixed structure of the auditorium, and arranged at a certain distance below said annular girders, inverted trough rails fixed to the undersides of said annular girders, upright trough rails fixed to the upper sides of said radial cantaliver beams, rollers arranged to travel between said inverted trough rails and said upright trough rails and tiers of seats carried by said rollers, whereby the last mentioned tiers of seats can be caused to revolve slowly horizontally in relation to the tiers of seats fixed on said annular girders and to said stage.

3. In an auditorium or the like, the combination with a stage composed of a pluralit of sections, of fixed tiers of seats fixed in re ation to said stage, tiers of seats horizontally'revoluble in relation to said stage and also to said fixed tiers of seats, vertically movable but non-rotating screw spindles connected to sections of said stage, nuts for said screw spindles, revolubly mounted in the ground floor, rings of teeth on said nuts, and one or more driving chains engaging said rings of teeth, whereby the stage sections connected to said screw spindles can be adj usted to any desired levels by operating said driving chain or chains accordingly.

4. In an auditorium or the like, the combination with a stage composed of one or more sections of fixed tiers of seats fixed in relation to said stage, tiers of seats horizontally revoluble in relation to said stage and also to said fixed tiers of seats, a pair of vertieally movable but non-rotating screw spindles connected to said stage or each section of said stage, a nut for each of said screw spindles revolubly mounted in the ground floor, a ring of teeth on each of said nuts, and a driving chain, engaging the toothed ring of one nut on the outside, and the toothed ring of the other nut on the inside, the threads of the screw spindle and nut belonging to the outside-driven toothed ring of said pair being of opposite hand to the threads of the screw spindles and nut belonging to the inside driven ring of said pair.

In testimony whereof I arllix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ CLEMENT.- lVitnesses WOLDEMAR I'IAUPT, HENRY HAsrnR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G.

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