Automatic tracking astronomical globe

• US 5,344,325 A
• Filed: 05/17/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zn-Hu Wang
• Original Assignee: Zn-Hu Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Zn-Hu
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/061,689
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 434/288, 434/287, 434/285, 368/15, 368/16, 368/17, 368/18
• US Class Current: 434/288
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/02 Tellurions; Orreries
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/06 Celestial globes

Abstract

An automatic tracking astronomical globe comprising an annular frame disposed on the upper portion of a mount in a vertical position, an azimuth circle secured across a diameter of the annular frame in a horizontal position, and a transparent celestial globe with a concentric, internal terrestial globe, disposed concentrically within the annular frame and azimuth circle by a polar axle. A synchronous motor disposed in the mount and operating through a globe rotation drive mechanism, rotates the celestial globe at the rate of one revolution per sidereal day. A pair of solar and lunar drive mechanism are disposed in two drive boxes secured to the inner wall of the celestial globe at diametrically opposed positions, and engaged with a stationary equatorial gear formed along the equator of the terrestial globe. The solar and lunar drive mechanisms affect the rotation of a solar and lunar marker around the circle of the ecliptic of the celestial globe, at the rate of one revolution per sidereal year and sidereal month, respectively. An integral Gregorian calender and Chinese lunar calender are also provided as well as a horizon sphere enabling the determination of the horizon co-ordinates of a celestial object represented on the celestial globe.

Claims

1. An automatic tracking astronomical globe comprising a mount with a base disposed on its bottom portion, an annular frame with an open inner periphery secured to the top portion of said mount in a vertical position, an azimuth circle secured perpendicularly across a diameter of said annular frame in a horizontal position, and a celestial globe with an enclosed, concentric terrestial globe disposed concentrically within said annular frame and said azimuth circle, wherein:

said terrestial globe has lines, lettering, and artwork formed on its surface denoting nations, bodies of water, borders, and other features as found on a conventional earth globe;

said celestial globe is made from a transparent material and has points, lines, lettering, and other features formed on its outer surface denoting stellar constellations and prominent celestial objects;

marking formed around the periphery of said annular frame, on one face thereof, define a latitude scale with units of degrees;

an annular polar axle yoke is rotatably secured within said annular frame in a concentric position;

a polar axle extends through the north and south celestial poles of said celestial globe, and through the north and south poles of said terrestial globe, with one end thereof rotatably secured to a first bearing and the opposite end thereof rotatably secured to a second bearing, said first bearing and said second bearing are secured to said polar axle yoke at diametrically opposed positions, with said first bearing disposed opposite the north celestial pole of said celestial globe and said second bearing disposed opposite the south celestial pole of said celestial globe;

said polar axle is engaged with said celestial globe by a clutch means secured to the region of the north celestial pole of said celestial globe, said clutch means allows manual rotation of said celestial globe;

a concentric sleeve covers a major portion of the length of said polar axle, with one end of said sleeve extending from and securing to the north pole of said terrestial globe, passing through the south pole thereof, the opposite end of said sleeve securing to the rotating block of a friction bearing, said friction bearing being disposed between the south celestial pole of said celestial globe and said second bearing, the fixed block of said friction bearing is disposed to the rear of said rotating block opposite said second bearing and is secured to said polar axle yoke, a knurled rotation knob is secured to the front of said rotating block and protrudes from the open inner periphery of said annular frame enabling manual rotation of said terrestial globe;

a rotation means, including a motor and an output shaft, are disposed within the lower portion of said mount;

said celestial globe is rotated by said rotation means by means of a globe rotation drive mechanism comprising a polar axle gear secured to one end of said polar axle in proximity to said first bearing, a ring gear rotatably secured within said polar axle yoke in a concentric position, a drive gear having a shaft secured thereto rotatably secured to the bottom portion of said annular frame with the shaft of said drive gear extending through the bottom thereof into said mount, and a clutch means disposed within said mount between the shaft of said drive gear and the output shaft of said rotation means;

said clutch means engages the output shaft of said rotation means with the shaft of said drive gear when engaged by a decoupling and raising mechanism, said drive gear being engaged with said ring gear and said ring gear being engaged with said polar axle gear;

a circumferential gear is formed around the outer periphery of said polar axle yoke, a coupler gear rotatably secured within said mount engages said circumferential gear through an opening formed on the bottom portion of said annular frame, a worm gear disposed within said mount is secured to a common shaft with said coupler gear;

a worm, disposed within said mount and secured to a shaft with one end thereof pivotably secured to an inner wall of said mount and the other end extending through a slot formed on the outer wall of said mount to secure to an external latitude adjustment knob, is engaged with said worm gear when pivoted upwards by means of said decoupling and raising mechanism, enabling said polar axle yoke to be rotated about an axis perpendicular with said annular frame by manually rotating said tilt adjustment knob;

said decoupling and raising mechanism disengages said clutch means, between said output shaft and said drive gear shaft, when raising said worm to engage said worm gear, and engages said clutch means when said worm gear is lowered;

a plurality of gear teeth are formed around the equatorial circle of said terrestial globe defining an equatorial gear thereon;

said celestial globe is formed in two halves, in a north celestial hemisphere and a south celestial hemisphere, the circular rims of said north and south celestial hemispheres are parallel with and in proximity to the ecliptic circle of said celestial globe, said north and south celestial hemispheres being separated by a small gap;

a first thin, annular, internally toothed ecliptic gear and a second thin, annular, internally toothed ecliptic gear both have a diameter nearly equal with that of said celestial globe, said first ecliptic gear and said second ecliptic gear being rotatably secured within said gap between said north and south celestial hemispheres, with said second ecliptic gear being disposed between said first ecliptic gear and said north celestial hemisphere;

a pair of drive boxes are secured to the inner surface of said celestial globe at diametrically opposed positions, each said drive box having a similar solar and lunar drive mechanism disposed within;

each said solar and lunar drive mechanism comprises an epicyclic gear engaged with said equatorial gear, a first set of coupling gears and a second set of coupling gears, a solar drive gear engaged with said first ecliptic gear, and a lunar drive gear engaged with said second ecliptic gear;

said equatorial gear of each said solar and lunar drive mechanism is engaged with a said solar drive gear thereof through said first set of coupling gears, and engaged with said lunar drive gear thereof through said second set of coupling gears;

clockwise rotation of said celestial globe about stationary said terrestial globe causes said first ecliptic gear and said second ecliptic gear to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, said first ecliptic gear completing one revolution for approximately every 366.261 revolutions of said celestial globe and said second ecliptic gear completing one revolution for approximately every 27.398 revolutions of said celestial globe;

a solar marker with a securing arm is disposed over the outer periphery of said first ecliptic gear, said securing arm of said solar marker being slidingly secured within a circumferential first retaining groove formed around the outer peripheral portion of said first ecliptic gear, likewise a lunar marker with a securing arm is disposed over the outer periphery of said second ecliptic gear, said securing arm of said lunar marker being slidingly secured within a circumferential second retaining groove formed around the outer peripheral portion of said second ecliptic gear;

said solar marker and said lunar marker rotate about and in proximity to the circle of the ecliptic of said celestial globe, being carried by the rotation of respective said first ecliptic gear and said second ecliptic gear, said solar marker and said lunar marker can be positioned about the circle of the ecliptic of said celestial globe by manually sliding said solar marker and said lunar marker along respective said first groove and said second groove;

whereby, said celestial globe completes one revolution about said terrestial globe in a clockwise direction relative to the north celestial pole thereof in approximately the period of a sidereal day, said solar marker completes one revolution in a counter clockwise direction about said celestial globe in approximately the period of a sidereal year, and said lunar marker completes one revolution about said celestial globe in a counter clockwise direction approximately in the period of a sidereal month;

with said polar axle yoke rotated to align said polar axle with the latitude mark on said latitude scale corresponding to the latitude of a user'"'"'s location, said celestial globe manually rotated to a proper initial orientation, and said solar and lunar markers moved to proper respective initial positions, the astronomical globe of the present invention will show the positions of the sun, moon, and celestial objects, represented on said celestial globe, relative to a user'"'"'s location at the time of observation.

2. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

markings formed around the periphery of said azimuth circle define an azimuth scale with units of degrees;

a horizon sphere made from a transparent material is disposed around and envelopes said annular frame and said azimuth circle;

said horizon sphere is formed in two halves, in an upper horizon hemisphere and a lower horizon hemisphere with respective diametrical rims, a pair of protrusions are formed on the rim of said upper hemisphere at diametrically opposed positions extending downward therefrom and a pair of recesses are formed on the rim of said lower hemisphere at diametrically opposed positions, a circular opening is formed on the lower portion of said lower hemisphere;

a first channel is formed along a diametrical arc of said upper hemisphere, extending perpendicularly from the rim of said upper hemisphere to the uppermost portion thereof, and a second channel is formed along a diametrical arc of said lower hemisphere, extending perpendicularly from the rim of said lower hemisphere to the rim of said circular opening;

said lower hemisphere is disposed over an annular support flange formed around the upper portion of said mount, with the rim portion of said circular opening resting therein, said upper hemisphere is disposed over said lower hemisphere with said protrusions of said upper hemisphere into said recesses of said lower hemisphere, and said first channel aligned with said second channel to define an elevation track;

markings formed to either side of said elevation track define an elevation scale with units of degrees;

at least one indexer is slidingly secured to said elevation track, said indexer comprising a cylindrical body with a pair of clamps formed on either side thereof engaging respective sides of said elevation track, and a viewing hole formed along the axis of said cylindrical body;

whereby, said horizon sphere can be rotated and said indexer slid along said elevation track to align said indexer over a celestial object represented on said celestial globe as determined by sighting through said viewing hole, the elevation mark on said elevation scale aligned with said indexer and the azimuth mark on said azimuth scale aligned with said elevation track correspond respectively to the local elevation and azimuth angles of the celestial object at the time of measurement.

3. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 2, wherein a sliding door is disposed on said lower horizon hemisphere near the rim thereof and slidingly secured over an aperture formed thereon, facilitating manual rotation of said celestial globe and said terrestial globe, and the manual positioning of said solar and lunar markers along the ecliptic circle of said celestial globe.

4. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

the circumferential outer surface of said celestial globe having an annular solar groove along the path adjacent to said first and second ecliptic gear;

an annular solar time scale being rotatable disposed in said annular solar groove and guided by two parallel annular ribs which are protruded at the two parallel sides of said annular solar groove;

said annular solar groove having a guiding slot;

a guiding stopper being protruded from the under surface of said annular solar time scale and inserted into said guiding slot;

said annular solar time scale further comprising an adjusting bar, said adjacting bar being extended from said annular solar time scale at a position respective to said guiding stopper;

a calendar pointer being formed on one of said ribs, a screw being screwed to said other rib for pressing said adjusting bar of the annular solar time scale in position;

said annular solar time scale being divided into 365 and 1/4 days and marks the date February 28 near saidguiding stopper, thus, we can move said adjusting bar to left or right so as to move said guiding stopper within said guiding slot for two days'"'"' amendment.

5. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein a compass is secured to said base of said mount.

6. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein said clutch means engaging said celestial globe with said polar axle comprises a precision overrunning type clutch, engaging said celestial globe with said polar axle in a clockwise direction of rotation and freewheeling in a counter clockwise direction, enabling manual rotation of said celestial globe.

7. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein said polar axle gear, said ring gear, and said drive gear of said globe rotation drive mechanism are bevel type gears with said drive gear and said polar axle gear being perpendicular with said ring gear.

8. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

said decoupling and raising mechanism comprises a disc wheel disposed within said mount, a shaft secured to said wheel and rotatably secured within said mount with one end thereof extending to the exterior of said mount to secure with an external decoupling knob, first and second pins formed respectively on opposite sides of said wheel at predetermined positions, with each said pin extending perpendicularly therefrom, a first and second collar with a respective pin extending from the outer sides thereof, and a first and second crank;

said first collar is secured in an axial direction to a portion of said sliding coupler and said second collar is secured in an axial direction to a portion of pivoted said shaft of said worm;

one end of said first crank is pivotably secured to said first pin on said wheel and the other end of said first crank is pivotably secured to said pin of said first collar;

one end of said second crank is pivotably secured to said second pin of said wheel and the other end of said second crank is pivotably secured to said pin of said second collar;

whereby, when said decoupling knob is rotated in a clockwise direction, said first crank pivots and raises causing said sliding coupler to move upwards and engage said sliding jaw thereon with said stationary jaw on said shaft of said drive gear, and said second crank pivots and lowers causing pivoted said shaft of said worm to pivot downwards and disengage said worm from said worm gear;

conversely, when said decoupling knob is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, said sliding coupler is lowered and said sliding jaw thereon disengages said stationary jaw on said shaft of said drive gear, and pivoted said shaft of said worm is pivoted upwards engaging said worm with said worm gear.

9. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

said epicyclic gear of each said solar and lunar drive mechanism and said equatorial gear are bevel type gears with said epicyclic gear inclined at an angle of approximately 22.5 degrees with respect to said equatorial gear;

said first set of coupling gears engaging said epicyclic gear with said solar drive gear comprises a first worm secured to a common shaft with said epicyclic gear, a first worm gear secured to a common shaft with a second worms, and a second worm gear secured to a common shaft with said solar drive gear;

said second set of coupling gears engaging said epicyclic gear with said lunar drive gear comprises a third worm secured to a common shaft with said epicyclic gear and said first worm, a third worm gear secured to a common shaft with a fourth worm, and a fourth worm gear secured to a common shaft with said lunar drive gear;

said first worm gear is engaged with said first worm, and said second worm is engaged with said second worm gear, in said first set of coupling gears;

said third worm gear is engaged with said third worm, and said fourth worm is engaged with said fourth worm gear, in said second set of coupling gears.

10. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

said locking means preventing the rotation of said polar axle yoke comprises a locking screw disposed over the uppermost portion of said annular frame and engaged with a threaded hole thereon, an internal cavity formed within the peripheral wall of said annular frame and in communication with said hole, and a brake shoe disposed within said internal cavity and in contact with an outer peripheral portion of said polar axle yoke;

whereby, when said locking screw is rotated to insert into said internal cavity the end of said locking screw impinges against said brake shoe, forcing said brake shoe against said polar axle yoke and preventing further rotation thereof.

11. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein:

a latitude indicator is secured to said polar axle, between said first bearing and the north celestial pole of said celestial pole;

said latitude indicator includes a pointer disposed over said latitude scale of said annular frame, and a securing eyelet through which said polar axle passes, securing therewith;

said latitude indicator facilitating accurate orientation of said polar axle relative to said annular frame.

12. An automatic tracking astronomical globe according to claim 1, wherein said circumferential gear and said coupler gear of said latitude adjustment mechanism are parallel spur type gears.