US530128A - Illusion apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P; Iwsfzlv'zvvhfl ILLUSIUN APPARATUS.

N0. 530,128.- Patented Deo. 4, 1894.

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j P. ROSENZWEY.

' ILLUsIoN APPARATUS.

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i UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL RosENzwEY, vor rinLADELPi-uA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUSION APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,12, dated'December 4, 1894.

Application filed September 1, 1894. Serial No. 521,923. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, i5 may concern,.-

Beit known that L'PAUL RosENzwEY, a citizen of the'United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia,- in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illusion Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to an apparatus adapted to produce illusions; and it relates more' pliance; and, third, to provide such an appa ratus and its accessories fork elevating and lowering the'same with movable scenery adapted to-establish and make the ascent within a building or structure specially arrangedtherefor, as faras possible realistic.

My invention'stated in general terms, co mvprises an illusory apparatus constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and general features of my in vention, will. be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, andin which- Figure l, is a vertical section through a building provided with a well or circular internal compartment,showing the balloon suspended therein and the actuating means therefor, also the movable platforms leading to the entrance and exits of the structure, the movable scenery, motive power and mechanism controlled thereby, for permitting of the travel thereof and raising and lowering of the same. Fig. 2, is a transverse section of the structure with the illusory appliance of my invention, shown in application therein; and Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the movable sceneryor canvas and its actuatingmechanism, controlled by motive power such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings A, is the structure in the form of a hippodrome or circular building .with a well a, and with a dome a', in the top thereof.

a2 and a3, are openings in the sides or surfaces of the building faced with stud-pieces to receive movable platforms a4 and a5, provided with straining pieces or struts aand a7, and raised and lowered by means of chains or cords as and a9, passing over pulleys 0,10 and 0,11, pivotally secured into the building in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1, and engaging at their lower looped ends with shafts to be presently explained.

A and A2, are entrance and exit pavilions located adjacent to and communicating with the openings a2 and a3, in the walls of the building A. The interior wall of the building is provided with canvas suitably painted to represent the desired illusory effects in connection with a balloon ascension and so as to make the illusion as far as possible complete.

B, is the balloon provided with a basket b, which is supported therefrom `in the usual manner.

b', is an eye secured toy vthe upper end of the balloon and detachably engaged by the hook b2, of a block and tackle mechanism B', hooked to the dome a', and having a rope Yor chain b3, leading therefrom over a pulley b4, and winding onto a grooved pulley b5, mounted on the main driving shaft c, which is actuated by a reversible steam engine C, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. l and 2.'

The movable platforms a4 and a5, when in their normal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the balloon B, is in a lowered position, the basket o, thereof closes the space between the two platforms so as to enable the occupants of the basket to alight and pass to the exit pavilion A2, and of those waiting to make an ascension to enterY through the opposite pavilion A', and by the platform wall of the building on both sides to the respective pavilions Will have been closed by the movable platform at and c5, rising and seating automatically therein, by means to be hereinafter fully explained.

In the lower portion of the well of the building is located a rectangular-shaped framework C', consisting of base-strips 014 and 015, having inclined braces c2 and c3, secured thereto and supporting or strengthening uprights or supports c4, c5, c, and c7, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The uprights or supports are each provided with channeled ways 0B and o9, and in the inner sides of the series of uprights or supports are provided grooves C10 and c, for purposes to be presently described.

D and D', are end rolls journaled to brackets d and d', in sliding engagement with the channeled ways c8 andcg, of the series of uprights or supports c, c5, c6 and o7. These brackets are provided with vertical internally threaded tubular bearings d2 and d3.

D2 and DE, are rollers having the end journals thereof frictionally engaging the grooves c10 and c, of the series of uprights or sup ports of the frame-work. Mounted on one of the journals of the upper roll D', is apulley d4, engaged by a belt (Z5, which passes around a pulley cl2, secured to the main driving shaft c, of the engine C.

d6 and (Z7, is a series of vertical threaded rods or stems engaging the tubular threaded bearings d2 and cl?, and at their lower ends supported in socketed bearings (ZB and C19, which are secured to the uprights or supports c, c5, e6 and c7, and at their opposite ends provided with miter-gear wheels d10 and du. These wheels mesh with complemental mitergear wheels d and d, which are keyed or otherwise secured to cross-shafts d and d, journaled to the tops of the said series of uprights or supports and on one of the ends of both of said shafts are provided pulleys dw and d1", engaged by belts d and d1, which latter engage also a pulley c, rigidly secured to the main driving shaft c, whereby in the rotation of said driving shaft by means of the reversible engine C or other suitable motive power, motion is imparted to the series of pulleys and belts for permitting of the actuation of said miter-gear mechanism to rotate the series of vertical threaded rods or stems da and di, to not only by frictional contact of the rollers D, D', D2 and D3, with the painted canvas D4, cause the latter to travel but also the bearings d2 and (Z3, to move up and down on said stems or rods and therewith said scenery D4. With the rise of the scenery D4, the balloon in the manner above explained will be lowered and the belt d5, connected with the pulley d, and pulley cl2, of the main driving shaft, will slacken and thus enable the block and tackle mechanism B', to operate so as to permit the basket b, of the balloon B, to assume the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, to permit of the discharge of the passengers therefrom and for enabling others to enter for another ascension of the balloon.

The movable canvas D", it will be understood is to be painted to give the desired effects looking onto thesame from the elevated position of the balloon and the painted stationary canvas of the well and about the dome of the structure on the interior thereof will be painted to represent sky or other effects so as to make the spectacle not only realistic but also to enliven the illusory sport and in order to make the same still more complete electric lights may be employed to represent the stars, moon and other bodies disposed behind or in suitable connection with the painted canvas of the structure.

The operation of the apparatus of my invention, is as followsMotion is imparted to the main driving shaft c, by means of the reversible engine C, which communicates motion to the belt and pulley connections and ruiter-gear mechanism hereinabove described, so that when the movable platforms a4 and a5, are in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the basket b, of the balloon B, has cleared the space A5, between them, the balloon will be caused to occupy an elevated position at the top in the dome a', of the structure by the winding of the chain or cord h3, connected with block and tackle mechanism B', onto the grooved pulley b5, of the main driving shaft c, and at the same time the movable platforms at and a5, will be caused to assume by rising, a position in the openings a and a7, of the structure and the traveling scenery D4, will assume a lowered position in the well a, as indicated in full lines in Fig. l, by means of the ruiter-gears rotating the series of threaded stems or rods, thereby causing the bearings of the series of brackets to travel downward in the channeled ways of the series of uprights or supports c4, c5, c6 and c7, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l.

It will be manifestly obvious, that as to minor details, modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my in' vention,` and hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangements of the members of the actuating mechanisms of the balloon as hereinbefore explained; but

I-Iaving thus described the nature and ob.

jects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An illusion apparatus, comprising a structure having a well or chamber, openings for exit and entrance, a balloon and its ac cessores, movable platforms adapted to engage said openings, movable scenery, motive power and mechanism controlled thereby for actuating said platforms, sceneryand balloon, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. An illusion apparatus, comprising a structure provided with a well or chamber, having movable platforms adapted to close IOC IIO

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scones 's openings in the-wall of said structure, a balloon and block and tackle mechanism, scenery movable in several directions, an engine and means for controlling said balloon, scenery\and platforms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

3. An illusion apparatus, comprising a structure provided with a well having platforms adapted to close openings in the wall thereof, entrance and exit pavilions communieating with said openings, a balloon provided with a basket, means adapted to elevate and lower said balloon, scenery and mechanism for controlling said platforms`and scenery, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A11 illusion apparatus, comprising a structure provided with a we ll havingpainted stationary and movable scenery therein, movable platforms adapted to close the openings leading to entrance and exit pavilions, a balloon with a basket, mechanism for raising and lowering certain of said scenery with the raising and lowering of said balloon, substantiially as and for the purposesset forth.

e. An illusion apparatus, comprising a structure provided with an internal chamber or well having a balloon suspended therein, canvas adapted to be raised and lowered and moved transversely of said well, motive power and means for controlling said balloon andl scenery, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f PAUL ROSENZWEY. A Witnesses:

GEo. W. REED, RICHARD C. MAXWELL.

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