US539731A - Theateical - Google Patents

Description

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W FESSLER THBATRIGAL APPLIANGE.

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FESSLER. THEATRIGAL APPLIANGB.

No; 539,731. Patente-d May 21, 1895.

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W FESSLER THEATRIGAL APPLIANGE.

No. 539,731. Patented May 21, 1895.

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` THEATRIGAL APPLIANGE.

No.V 539,731. Patented May 2,1', 1895.` .Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WALTER FESSLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR THREE-FOURTHS TO EUGENE ROBINSON AND JAMES E. NUGENT, OF SAME PLACE.

TH EATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,731, dated May 21, 1895.

Y Application ned August s1, 1894. serai No. 521,885. (No modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER FEssLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art` to l and the novelty pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a perspective showing a locomotive, a tender, a screw-toe, a boiler for supplying the power and steam, and a blower; Fig. 2, a perspective showing the manner of attaching the panorama to the frame; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the locomotive, tender, and screw-toe; Fig. 4, a plan showing the arrangement of gears for giving motion to different parts of the locomotive and tender, as will hereinafter be described; Fig. 5, a top plan showing part of the top of the locomotive and the power and air supplying devices; Fig. 6, a

front elevation of the cylinder; Fig. 7, a perspective showing the arrangement of gearing on the locomotive and tender; Fig. 8, a top view of the panorama; Fig. 9, a horizontal seotion of the panorama; Fig. 10, a perspective showing a journal-box; Fig. 11, an end elevation of the smoke-stack, and Fig. 12 a rear elevation of the cylinder.

My invention is here shown applied to a locomotive but it will be obvious from the following description that it can be applied to other forms of devices such as wagons, boats and similar conveyanoes.

A represents the locomotive and A the tender. `These parts are mounted upon a frame-work A2 that rests upon the stage door and supportsthe locomotive and tender at an .elevation sufficient for the use of a screw toe A3 that is placed in front of the framework A2 to conceal the same or that part below the wheels of the locomotive, and also when rotated apparently giving to the foreground a receding motion as the locomotive apparently moves forward.

To all appearances the locomotive will be the same as those in use upon the real railroads, at least that part of4 the locomotive that is presented to the audience. The drive wheels A4 and A40, the connecting rods A5 A0, the cross-head A7, the piston-rod A8, the cylinder A0 having the usual piston and valve chest A10, avalve rod A12, truck wheels A12 and A120 and pilot A14, are substantially the same as upon the ordinary locomotive in appearance as well as in operation, except that the power is not derived from the action of the steam upon the piston in the cylinder.

The axles and other rotating parts of the device are journaled in the frame-work A2 as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, and these axles are geared together so that the .parts attached thereto will revolve in unison.

Power is derived from an engine A15 connected with a boiler A16 in the usual way and to a shaft A17 by a belt A18 that passes over the band pulleys A10'and A20. The shaft A17 also carries a band pulley A21 that is connected withanother bandV pulley A22 on the axle A24 of the front driving wheel A4. This axle A24 carries two sprocket-wheels a and a. The kwheel a has a chain connection a2 with a sprocketvwheel as on axle A25`of the wheel A13 to rotate said wheel A12, and its companion wheel A120 by the intermediate gear consisting of sprocket-wheel a4, a chain a5 and sprocketwheel a0. On shaft or axle A25 is placed another sprocket-wheel a7 geared by a chain a1? `to a sprocket-wheel a0 on a shaft d10 that earries the ecoentrics @12.

The wheel a on axle A24 1s connected by a chain (112 with a sprocket-wheel a14 on the axle"` n.22 of the drive wheel A40 which carries two sprocket-wheels a140 and @15. The wheel 0,140

is geared by a chain d10 to a wheel @17 on shaft @L1B supported by standards 0.180 on a cross-piece d10 of the frame and having a IOO miter-wheel d that gears with a miter-wheel and are of sufficient size to -move the pano- @21on the lower end of a vertical shaft 0,22 ramavery rapidly. The journal boxes 190 at that will be described farther on. The wheel one or both ends of the panorama may be pro- 7o c45 is connected by a chain @222 to a sprocketvided with a set-screw b2 working in a frame 5 wheel 0.220 on shaft A20 mounted upon a crossbs in the outer end of 'the shoulder to which piece 0,231 of the frame-work by means of it is attached for the purpose of adjusting or standards @240 and @25 and carries amiter gear tightening the panorama when needed. By wheel d20 that engages a horizontal ruiter-gear rapidly rotating the panoramas B and B5 in 75 wheel @27 having a vertical shaft @270 which connection with the rapidly rotating wheels ro will be referred to farther on. Shaft A20 carof the locomotive and tender, the valve and ries a second sprocket-wheel @2B connected by piston gear, and the screw toe, a strong illua chain d20 with sprocket-wheel 0,20 on shaft a31 sion scene is produced. that also carries two more sprocket-wheels @22 To give life to the locomotive real steam is 8 and @22andtenderwheel 024. Vheel @22 is conused in the steam chest and cylinder which x5 nected by a chain 0.05'to `wheel @200D shaft a37 are constructed" upon the same principle as that also has the tender wheel @22 on its front the real device, only the steam does not operend. Wheel 0.22 is connected by a chain L00 ate the parts asin the latter. The steam adto wheel @44 on shaft L42 that carries tender mitted can be let out at the air valves d orbe 85 wheel @42' and a second sprocket wheel @44 delivered to the exhaust d in the smoke stack zo that is geared by a chain 0,45 to wheel Q on or both if desired. The steam is supplied shaft @47 which carries the tender wheel 0.42. from the boiler by means of pipe D which has By this arrangement of gears the wheels una branch d2 leading to the cylinder and one der the locomotive and tender will all revolve D3 to the smoke-stack D where it terminates 9o in one direction in combination with the in a funnel-shaped device d2 with the apex of z5 valve and cylinder mechanism and atas higha the funnel down so that the steam entering rate of speed as may be desired. therein will expand and leave the smoke stack The shaft A17 has upon one end a miter-gearunder very little pressure but great volume to wheel 040 that gears with the shaft d50 ot' the produce the appearance of smoke leaving the 95 screw toe A2, and when shaft A17 is turned to stack. To add to the illusion, part or all of 3o give the wheels under the locomotive and the steam entering the cylinder is allowed to tender the same movement that they would escape by exhaust pipe d to the funnel and have in going forward, the screw'toe is reas the supply from this source will be intervolved to give the spiral the appearance of mittent and not reduced in volume it will give rac going backward. If the movement of shaft the same effect as the blast through the steam 35 A17 be Vreversed the wheels will appear to nozzle in the smoke stack of the real device move backward, while the spiral ywill apparproduced. Another pipe d5 may be run to the ently move forward. In both cases the effect cab D2 and provided with a try-cock d4. The produced will be that the ground in front of steam issuing from these different points mam5 the locomotive will be apparently receding as terially add to the illusion, giving to the loco- 4o the locomotive is apparently moving in the motive the actual appearance of life which is opposite direction. further added to by a continuous or intermit- The manner of constructing the screw-toe tent blast of air that will blow the artificial is immaterial. It is shown in Fig. 3 as supsmoke and the steam toward the rear of the r ro ported at each end and at the middle. train and blow off the caps and make the hair 45 To aid as far as possible to the illusion, the and clothing ofthe persons inthe cab stand boiler B and the lbody B5 of the tender are outwardly in the same manner as they actumade in the form of a panorama and painted ally would if going at the rate of speed that to represent their respective originals and the locomotive is supposed to be going in the r 15 when moved rapidly give off the glint or have scene presented. The means for producing 5o the shimmering appearance that the originals this effect is a blower E operated by a belt E havewhen in a bright light or when thelococonnecting it with pulleys E2 on shaft A47. motive and tender are moved rapidly on the The blower has a pipe extensionrE2 with a funtrack. In each case the panorama frame connel mouth that is about the same height as 12o sists of shoulders b b b2 and b2 connected toand in front of the pilot, but hidden from the getherin any suitable way, preferably by the audience'as is also Athe other parts not formrope guides b4 having the guide slots b5 for the ing part of the locomotive and tender, that panorama, and any intermediate means for are shown in the drawings. As many branch supporting the upper part of the frame from pipes maybe used as may be desired but only 125 the lower part which is secured to or :forms two are here shown-one e leading to the cab 5o part of the frame-work A2. The shoulders b and arranged to blow upon thepersons in the b h2 and 190 have journal boxes f90 for thevercab, and the other e in front of the cylinder tical shafts 022. and 0,270 shown in Figs. 4, 7, 8 to blow the steam escaping from said cylinand 9, and vertical shafts @222 at the opposite der toward the rear of the engine. [3o ends of panorama, (Figs. 8 and 9.) These The operation of the device is as follows:

y shafts carry a roller marked respectively B The scene may be opened with the engine and B2 B3 and B4, one at each end of the panostanding still or going at full speed. If standrama for the boiler and the body of the tender ing still the usual movements for starting are inade by the persons in the cab andthe speed is gradually worked up, the wheels being caused to revolve more rapidly and all the -rest of the parts of the scene moving in unison, no matter how great the ultimate appearance of speed maybe. If the scene opens showing the locomotive going at full speed,

the locomotive willhave been started before the scene opened and the wheels and steam and air blast willrbe shown in full operation all Worked from one shaft that will give to the .whole device a uniform action that will prewill be sucked in by the fan which would also be reversed when the movement of the moving parts of the locomotive are reversed.

What I claim as new isl. In a device for producingillusions upon the stage, the combination of a conveyance having its wheels and parts of its body moving in the direction in which the conveyance is supposed to be moving while other parts of the body are at rest, and a screw toe arranged in front of the body and rotated to give the appearance of the ground receding in the direction opposite to that in which the conveyance is supposed to be going.

2. In a device for producing illusions on the stage, the combination in a locomotive running gear having its wheels geared to move in the same direction and a panorama boiler above said wheels and geared to move inthe same direction as the wheels on the locomotive.

3. In adevice for producing illusions on thee stage, the combination of a locomotive having it wheels geared to move in the same direction; and its boiler. in the form of a panorama geared to move in the same direction as the wheels: a steam-supplyingdevice for the smoke stack, and a ycylinder and a blower for moving the smoke and steam in the direction opposite to that in which the locomotive is supposed to be moved.

4:. In a device for producing illusions on the stage, the combination of a locomotive having its wheels geared to move in the same direction and its boiler in the form of a panorama geared to move in the same direction as the wheels; and the steam-supplying device for the smoke stack and the cylinder, an exhaust pipe connecting the cylinder with smoke stack having an enlarged steam exit 'pipe in which said exhaust pipe enters.

5. In a device for producing illusions on the stage, the combination of the locomotive having its wheels geared to move in the same direction and its boiler in the form of a panorama geared to move in the same direction as the wheels; a steam-supplying device for the `smoke stack and the cylinder, an exhaust pipe connecting the cylinder With smoke stack having an enlarged steam exit pipe in which said .exhaust pipe enters; and a blower for moving the smoke in the direction oppositeto that in which the locomotive is supposed to be moving. l Y

6. In a device ofthe kind described the combination of a smoke stack having a funnelshaped top a cylinder having a steam-supply` ing pipe at each end, a steam supply-pipe connected with the lower end of the funnel and a steam supply pipe of the cylinder, and an exhaust pipe leading from the cylinder to the funnel.

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

WM. H. BUDD, J. G. H; SIMPSON.

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