WO1997036662A1

WO1997036662A1 - A hoist for the superstructural machinery of a theatre

Info

Publication number: WO1997036662A1
Application number: PCT/DK1997/000134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bent Johannsen
Original assignee: Birch & Krogboe A/S
Priority date: 1996-03-29
Filing date: 1997-03-26
Publication date: 1997-10-09
Also published as: AU2567397A; DK36296A

Abstract

The superstructural machinery of a theatre consists of a scenery manoeuvring device for the lowering of scenery flats and as well as a spot pulling machinery for positioning and removing other properties (4). According to the invention the spot pulling machinery is arranged on traverses (13) that are movable relative to travelling rails (14). The point pull further comprises a drum winch having a motor (15), a gear (16) and a drum (10). In case of raising and lowering, respectively, of an object, the inventive arrangement may be caused to occupy an accurate position relative to the stage floor. Moreover the hoisting winch is so arranged that when the drum (10) has performed one revolution, it or optionally a reversing pulley will have moved such distance which corresponds to the diameter of the rope. It follows that the selected position on the theatre stage which the object is desired to occupy is well determined and that unintentional displacements of the hoisting spot do not occur during the raising and lowering, respectively, of even very heavy objects. Alternatively a displaceable reversing pulley (23) is provided from where the rope (8) travels across a further reversing pulley (25) whereby the hoisting spot for the rope (8) may also be secured. The point pulling units may also be made with dual suspension of properties (4) which are hereby prevented from rotating about a vertical axis.

Description

A hoist for the superstructural machinery of a theatre

The present invention relates to a hoist for the superstructural machinery of a theatre, wherein the superstructural machinery may have scenery manoeuvring devices for raising and lowering scenery flats and other flats, as well as spot pulling machinery for raising and lowering spatial properties and optionally living creatures .

The properties may thus have a spatial configuration or their longest dimension may be m a direction which is different from the direction of the scenery manoeuvring device which is usually perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the theatre.

As a play, an opera, etc., progresses on a theatrical stage the setting often changes as will appear i.a. from different scenery flats and other flat properties being alternately raised and lowered, and various other properties also being hoisted up or down.

The entire machinery that raises and lowers the properties and flats mentioned above is located above the proscenium and is collectively referred to as superstructural machinery. The operating machinery may be arranged above the stage, on the stage walls or outside the proscenium.

Since the number of properties to be used as a play progresses is often very large and many different scenery flats are also to be used to form settings or the like, it is understood that quite a comprehensive display of technique is provided in connection with the superstructural machinery. There may be as many as s^everal hundreds of ropes to carry the scenery flats and independent properties which are often not altogether light.

EP 0 423 360 describes a hoist machinery arranged for conveying properties to any location on a stage. The properties as such are suspended from two components that are arranged in different levels and are so arranged that the two components are individually and mutually movable.

The use of the hoist machinery known from EP 0 423 360 Al prevents the use of the commonly employed scenery manoeuvring devices with battens.

In this manner a property may thus be positioned anywhere on a stage. However, this known construction presupposes a fairly high constructional height since the two components that are movable relative to each other are so arranged that the one component is suspended in the other. How the property is raised or lowered from the two components, however, does not appear from the publication.

It is now the ob ect of the invention to provide a hoist of the kind described m the introductory part which distinguishes itself m being easily operated, requiring low constructional height and being readily fitted even in case due regard should be taken to several scenery flats during construction of the system.

The object of the invention is achieved m that the spot pulling machinery consists of one or more hoist devices each of which is arranged on a movable support, said support being arranged between the drop lines of the ropes that are associated to the scenery manoeuvring devices, said ropes securing the scenery battens. In this manner the spot pulling machinery may be adapted to any stage whereby the hoisting spot(s) may be located anywhere on the stage without any kind of collision occurring with the scenery flats or the battens and ropes carrying them.

The supports being in the form of traverses suspended perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the proscenium between the drop lines for the ropes that carry the scenery battens, a very simple manner is provided of constructing the support as such which does not require much space .

The traverses are also conveniently movable on rails that are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the theatre. In addition to ensuring that the constructional height remains low, the option of moving the spot pull along the entire stage is readily available.

It is a further advantage that the hoist devices comprise a drum which is movable relative to the supports whereby it is possible to effect movement m two directions, viz. longitudinally and transversally of the longitudinal axis of the theatre.

As featured in claim 5 the hoist devices may be locked to the support whereby it is ensured that once a spot on a stage has been selected, in which e.g. an object is to be raised or lowered, there is no risk during hoisting of the object being displaced from the spot m which it is to be positioned. This effect is further enhanced by the fact that the traverses may also be secured relative to the travelling rails.

In order to ensure that the hoist may be mounted at the lowest possible level, the hoists advantageously consist of a hoisting winch operated by a motor which is optionally via gear arranged for winding or unwinding, respectively, a rope onto and from a drum.

As featured in claim 8 the drum, the gear and the motor may be solidly anchored relatively to each other which means that complex coupling mechanisms between the individual elements can be avoided.

As featured in claim 9 a particular advantage is obtained by the movement of the drum relative to the supports being controlled to have travelled such distance on the support which corresponds to the diameter of the rope wound or unwound, respectively, onto or from the drum once the drum has performed one revolution, whereby the hoisting spot remains stationary.

In this manner the major advantage is obtained that in case of raising and lowering an object, the object will always be firmly fixed relative to the spot where the object is to be located, since the rope will always have the same orientation, motor, gear and drum being moved exactly such distance which corresponds to the stretch necessarily travelled by the drum in order for it to be able to receive the rope evenly thereon.

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein

Figure 1 depicts a proscenium in a perspective view, seen from the one side (in Denmark often designated the King's side, cf. the Danish Royal Theatre. In Germany designated Linke Seite. In France designated gauche or Cote Jardin. In England Left Side) , Figure 2 schematically illustrates a portion of a spot pull according to the invention,

Figure 3 is a top view of the spot pull according to Figure 2,

Figure 4 schematically illustrates several spot pulls according to the invention arranged m a proscenium, whereas

Figure 5 illustrates the spot pulls according to Figure 4, seen from above,

Figure 6 illustrates a first embodiment for the spot pulling unit,

Figure 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the spot pulling unit,

Figure 8 illustrates a third embodiment of the spot pulling unit, and

Figure 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the spot pulling unit.

In Figure 1, a proscenium 1 which may be used for e.g. plays, operas and the like is designated by 1.

The proscenium 1 has a floor 2, and at the top of the proscenium there is a ceiling or rather a floor 5 that delimits a space m the uppermost portion of the proscenium in which the so-called superstructural machinery of the theatre is arranged. The superstructural machinery is arranged for raising and lowering e.g. scenery flats 3 or properties, such as a cross referred to by tne reference numeral 4 and which is carried by a rope 11. Figure 1 also illustrates how the spot pull according to the invention is configured, an example hereof being indicated by the reference numeral 9.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the spot pull 9 shown in Figure 1. As will appear from Figures 2 and 3 the spot pull is mounted on traverses 13 connected by crossbars 20. At the suspension devices 19 which are provided with wheels 18, the traverses 13 are suspended in the travelling rails 14. The traverses 13 carry a frame 21 which is provided with wheels 22. On the frame 21 a hoisting winch is arranged that consists of a platform 6 with a motor 15, a gear 16 and a rope drum 10 which is connected to the gear 16 by means of a coupling 17. Firmly attached to the motor 15 or the drum 10, equipment may be provided for controlling and guiding the hoisting movement 23, such as e.g. end stop and indication of position, speed and direction of movement of the rope' s end point.

Figure 2 further illustrates that a pre-stressing weight 12 is provided to which a further rope 11 may be connected which may carry a property, such as the property 4 shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, Figures 2 and 3 illustrate that the traverses are suspended from rails 14 which are in the form of profiles in which wheels 18 from suspension devices 19 on the traverses 13 may travel. The traverses are connected to each other by means of crossbars 20.

The hoisting winch functions in the following manner: If an object is to be raised or lowered at any location on the stage, the traverses 13 which carry the hoisting machinery are caused to move along the travelling rails 14. In this manner the object is arranged in one direction. By moving the frame 21 that carries the hoisting machinery on the traverses, a movement transversally to the direction of movement of the traverses is obtained which means that the hoisting spot may be located in a random point of co-ordinate on the stage. Said movements may be brought about by means of pull ropes conveyed to an operation site m the fly loft or by means of a motor drive for the wheels 18 and 22 that carry the traverses 13 and the frame 21.

The construction of the hoist machinery is particularly significant according to the invention where the drum 10 is movable, and according to the invention it is also extremely essential that, during raising and lowering, respectively, the drum 10 will move m such a manner that when the drum has performed one revolution, it will have moved a distance which corresponds exactly to the thickness of the rope which is to be wound onto and unwound from the drum, respectively. A corresponding effect is obtained by means of a reversing pulley which is displaced relative to the drum when the latter rotates. In this case the rope must be passed across yet another reversing pulley, as illustrated schematically in Figure 7.

In addition to the spot into which the property is to be lowered being firmly fixed, this movement pattern of the hoisting winch will entail a minimal wear of the rope and any reversing pulleys that are part of the hoisting winch.

In Figure 4 the principles of the spot pull according to the invention is shown arranged in a proscenium. As will appear several traverses 13 are arranged m the proscenium. This is devised in such a manner that the length of eacn traverse 13 corresponds to the distance between adjacent drop lines for tne ropes that carry the scenery battens and which are also to be raised and lowered independently of the presence of the traverses. Besides, this has also been shown in Figure 1 wherein four spot pulls are illustrated, but of course nothing prevents the presence of more in the proscenium.

Of course, although shown in Figures 4 and 5 that the traverses 13 have the same length, nothing prevents their having different lengths, the length of the traverses being in reality only a question of adapting them to the distance between the drop lines for the ropes that carry the scenery battens.

Figure 4 also illustrates that the traverses are arranged m travelling rails close to the rafter footing of the stage ceiling 5 construction. However, nothing prevents the traverses from being arranged m planes above the rafter footing, since ropes that originate m the spot pull may always be arranged to drop between the lines produced by the battens of the scenery manoeuvring devices .

As will appear from Figures 6, the entire hoisting winch consists of the platform 6 with the drum 10, the gear 16, the motor 15 and equipment for controlling and guiding the hoisting movement 23 which is displaceable relative to the drum 10 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the rope and the increase m the windings in the rope drum for each revolution of the drum, respectively.

Figure 7 illustrates and embodiment of the spot pulling unit where a reversing pulley 24 is displaced relative to the drum 10 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the rope and the increase m the windings in the rope drum for each drum revolution, respectively. Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the spot pulling unit which prevents the property 4 from rotating. This is obtained by means of an additional rope drum 26 which is solidly connected to the rope drum 10. From the additional rope drum 26 a rope 27 is passed across a reversing pulley 28 which is solidly mounted on the frame 21 and from there across a further reversing pulley 29 which is also solidly mounted on the frame 21. From here the rope 21 is conveyed to an additional tightening weight 30 to which the property 4 is secured by the rope 31.

Finally, Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the spot pulling unit which may also prevent the property from rotating. This is obtained by the rope 8 being conveyed across a pulley 32 and further to a fixed spot 34 on the frame 21. To the shaft of the pulley 32 a raising yoke 33 is secured which is provided with securing spots 35 and 36 for suspension ropes 11.

As will appear the invention provides an extremely simple construction of spot pulls for a theatrical stage even m case of very limited space. The safety of the inventive system has also been increased compared to previously when it was common that spot pulls were manoeuvred only manually m the superstructural machinery.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A hoist for the superstructural machinery of a theatre, wherein said superstructural machinery may have scenery manoeuvring devices for raising and lowering scenery flats (3) and other flats, as well as spot raising machinery for raising and lowering e.g. spatial properties (4) and optionally living creatures, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the spot pulling machinery consists of one or more hoists, each of which is arranged on a movable support (13), each of said supports being arranged between the drop lines for the ropes associated with the scenery manoeuvring devices that secure the scenery battens.

2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supports (13) are in the form of traverses (13) which are suspended perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the theatre between the drop lines for the ropes that carry the scenery battens (3) .

3. A device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the traverses (13) may be moved on travelling rails (14) that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the theatre.

4. A device according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hoists (10,15,16) comprises a drum (10) which is movable relative to the supports.

5. A device according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hoisting point of the rope (8) may be fixed relative to the supports.

6. A device according to claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the traverses (13) may be locked relative to the travelling rails (14) .

7. A device according to any one of claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hoists consist of a hoisting winch driven by a motor (15) which is, optionally via a gear (16), arranged for winding and unwinding, respectively, a rope onto and from a drum.

8. A device according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the drum (10) , the gear (16) and the motor (15) may be solidly anchored relative to each other.

9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the movement of the drum relative to the supports (13) is so controlled that when the drum has performed one revolution it will have travelled such distance on the support which corresponds to the diameter of the rope which is wound and unwound, respectively, onto and from the drum.

10. A device according to claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the rope (8) from the drum (10) travels across a displaceable reversing pulley (24) and from there to an additional reversing pulley which is solidly anchored relative to a frame (21) .

11. A device according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the frame (21) may be locked relative to the traverses (13) .

12. A device according to any one of claims 1-11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spot pulling unit is provided with an additional drum (26) which is solidly secured to the driving machinery, e.g. by being solidly connected to the drum (10), and from the additional drum (26) the rope (27) is conveyed across reversing pulleys (28 and (29) to an additional tightening weight (30) which m combination with the other tightening weight (12) constitutes the suspension from the property (4) which is hereby secured m its orientation without rotating.

13. A device according to any one of claims 1-12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the rope (8) from the drum (10) is conveyed across a reversing pulley (32) in which a raising yoke (36) is suspended and from there to a fixed spot (34) on the frame (21) whereby the property (4) may be suspended m two ropes (11 and 31) and is hereby secured in its orientation without rotating.