US3835554A — Mini-scale space mechanics simulator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 365 words

A space simulator, comprising: a base; a sun shaft secured to the base and extending a distance generally vertically therefrom; a sun model secured to the end of the sun shaft, opposite the end of the sun shaft secured to the base; a horizontal arm, having opposite ends, journally supported on a portion of the sun shaft and rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; an earth shaft, having a portion journally extending through a portion of the horizontal arm, a portion of the earth shaft shaped at a predetermined angle forming an inclined portion representing the inclination of the earth''s rotational axis; means having a portion connected to the sun shaft and another portion connected to the earth shaft rotating the earth shaft during the rotation of the horizontal arm about the sun shaft; a hollow rotating shaft rotatably supported on the inclined portion of the earth shaft, the inclined portion of the earth shaft extending through the hollow portion of the rotating shaft; an earth model secured to the rotating shaft and being rotated about the inclined portion of the earth shaft via the rotating shaft; and earth drive means having a portion connected to the earth shaft and another portion connected to the rotating shaft drivingly rotating the rotating shaft and the earth model connected thereto in a rotated position of the earth shaft simulating the rotation of the earth, comprising: an earth drive gear secured to the earth shaft; a gear secured to the rotating shaft drivingly rotating the rotating shaft in a driven position thereof; gear means having a portion gearingly connected to the earth drive gear and another portion gearingly connected to the gear secured to the rotating shaft rotatingly driving the gear secured to the rotating shaft in a rotated position of the earth shaft; an earth drive support having a portion supportingly connected to the gear means; and means having a portion connected to the earth drive support and a portion connected to the horizontal arm maintaining the position of the earth drive support stationary relative to the horizontal arm during the rotation of the horizontal arm about the sun shaft.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 365 words

A space simulator, comprising: a base; a sun shaft secured to the base and extending a distance generally vertically therefrom; a sun model secured to the end of the sun shaft, opposite the end of the sun shaft secured to the base; a horizontal arm, having opposite ends, journally supported on a portion of the sun shaft and rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; an earth shaft, having a portion journally extending through a portion of the horizontal arm, a portion of the earth shaft shaped at a predetermined angle forming an inclined portion representing the inclination of the earth''s rotational axis; means having a portion connected to the sun shaft and another portion connected to the earth shaft rotating the earth shaft during the rotation of the horizontal arm about the sun shaft; a hollow rotating shaft rotatably supported on the inclined portion of the earth shaft, the inclined portion of the earth shaft extending through the hollow portion of the rotating shaft; an earth model secured to the rotating shaft and being rotated about the inclined portion of the earth shaft via the rotating shaft; and earth drive means having a portion connected to the earth shaft and another portion connected to the rotating shaft drivingly rotating the rotating shaft and the earth model connected thereto in a rotated position of the earth shaft simulating the rotation of the earth, comprising: an earth drive gear secured to the earth shaft; a gear secured to the rotating shaft drivingly rotating the rotating shaft in a driven position thereof; gear means having a portion gearingly connected to the earth drive gear and another portion gearingly connected to the gear secured to the rotating shaft rotatingly driving the gear secured to the rotating shaft in a rotated position of the earth shaft; an earth drive support having a portion supportingly connected to the gear means; and means having a portion connected to the earth drive support and a portion connected to the horizontal arm maintaining the position of the earth drive support stationary relative to the horizontal arm during the rotation of the horizontal arm about the sun shaft.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 165 words

The space simulator of claim 1 wherein the means maintaining the position of the earth drive support stationary relative to the horizontal arm during the rotation of the horizontal arm is defined further to include: means journally connected to the inclined portion of the earth shaft having a portion connected to a portion of the earth drive support supporting the earth drive support in a predetermined spacial relationship relative to the earth shaft, the earth drive gear and the gear secured to the rotating shaft; a hollow fixed shaft having one end connected to the horizontal arm, a portion of the earth shaft journally extending through the hollow portion of the fixed shaft; and a curved arm, having one end connected to the fixed shaft and the opposite end portion slidingly connected to a portion of the earth drive support maintaining the earth drive support in a stationary position relative to the horizontal arm during the rotation of the horizontal arm about the sun shaft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 132 words

The space simulator of claim 2 wherein the means journally connected to the inclined portion of the earth shaft and supportingly connected to the earth drive support is defined further as a time chart having a plurality of time indicating indicia inscribed and spaced thereon indicating the time of day and night; and wherein the space simulator is defined further to include: a time indicator, having one end connected to the rotating shaft, the time indicator supported a distance generally above the time chart and extending a distance radially from the rotating shaft terminating with a pointer end portion, the time indicator rotated via the rotating shaft to predetermined positions with respect to the time indicating indicia demonstratively indicating the time of day and night in rotated positions of the horizontal arm.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 245 words

The space simulator of claim 1 defined further to include: a hollow fixed shaft having one end connected to the horizontal arm, a portion of the earth shaft journally extending through the hollow portion of the fixed shaft; a moon shaft journally extending through a portion of the horizontal arm spaced a distance from the earth shaft; a second gear secured to the earth shaft; a moon drive gear secured to the moon shaft meshingly engaging the second gear, the second gear rotatingly driving the moon shaft via the moon drive gear in a rotated position of the earth shaft; a pulley wheel journally connected to the fixed shaft and rotated relative thereto in a driven position thereof; a pulley wheel connected to the moon shaft; a drive belt connecting the pulley wheel connected to the moon shaft and the pulley wheel connected to the fixed shaft drivingly rotating the pulley wheel connected to the fixed shaft in a rotating position of the moon shaft; a moon support having one end connected to the pulley wheel connected to the fixed shaft and rotatable relative thereto; and a mooN model connected to the end of the moon support opposite the end connected to the pulley wheel, the moon support supporting the moon model in a predetermined spacial relationship with respect to the earth model and revolving the moon model about the earth model in a rotating position of the pulley wheel connected to the fixed shaft.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 100 words

The space simulator of claim 4 defined further to include: a moon phase indicator plate secured to the fixed shaft, having a plurality of moon phase indicia inscribed and spaced thereon indicating the moon phases; and a moon phase indicator having one end connected to the moon support and the opposite end supported above the moon phase indicator plate in indicating proximity with the moon phase indicia inscribed thereon, the moon phase indicator rotated via the moon support to predetermined positions with respect to the moon phase indicia demonstratively indicating the moon phase in rotated positions of the horizontal arm.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 69 words

The space simulator of claim 1 defined further to include: a hollow celestial sphere, having an outer peripheral surface, celestial bodies printed thereon and a portion connected to a portion of the earth shaft supporting the celestial sphere and the earth model disposed within the hollow portion of the celestial sphere in a predetermined spacial relationship demonstratively showing the spacial relationship between the earth model and the celestial bodies.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

The space simulator of claim 6 defined further to include: a support strap connected to the celestial sphere and extending about a portion thereof; and a plurality of spaced zodiac indicator plates, each of the zodiac indicator plates connected to a portion of the support strap and indicating the relative position of each of the signs of the zodiac relative to the celestial bodies inscribed on the celestial sphere.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 80 words

The space simulator of claim 6 defined further to include: a sun simulator secured to one end portion of the horizontal arm having a circularly shaped portion of a diameter scaled proportional to the diameter of the sun; and a plurality of planet models, each planet model being of a size scaled to represent the size of a predetermined planet, the scale of the planet models substantially corresponding to the scale of the scaled diameter of the sun simulator portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 80 words

The space simulator of claim 8 defined further to include: a strip of metallic material connected to the celestial sphere; a plurality of planet plates, each of the planet models secured to one of the planet plates; a plurality of connectors, each of the connectors constructed of a magnetic material and secured to one of the planet plates removably attaching each planet plate to the celestial sphere via the magnetic bond between the connectors and the strip of metallic material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 214 words

The space simulator of claim 6 defined further to include: a plurality of support arms, each support arm connected to the outer peripheral surface of the celestial sphere; a support strap connected to the support arms extending circumferentially about the outer peripheral surface of the celestial sphere; a strip of metallic material connected to the support arms, spaced a distance from the support strap, and extending circumferentially about the outer peripheral surface of the celestial sphere; a plurality of zodiac indicator plates, each of the zodiac indicator plates connected to the support strap and to the strip of metallic material and extending therebetween, each zodiac indicator plate indicating the relative position of each of the signs of the zodiac relative to the celestial bodies inscribed on the celestial sphere; a plurality of planet models, each planet model being of a size scaled to represent the size of a predetermined planet, the scale of the planet models substantially corresponding to the scale of the scaled diameter of the sun simulator portion; and a plurality of connectors, each of the connectors constructed of a magnetic material and secured to one of the planet plates removably attaching each planet plate to the celestial sphere via the magnetic bond between the connectors and the strip of metallic material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 244 words

A space simulator, comprising: a base; a sun shaft secured to the base and extending a distance generally vertically therefrom; a sun model secured to the end of the sun shaft, opposite the end of the sun shaft secured to the base; a horizontal arm, having opposite ends, journally supported on a portion of the sun shaft and rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; an earth model supported on one end portion of the arm rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; a moon model supported on said one end portion of the horizontal arm rotatable about the earth model; a sun simulator secured to one end portion of the horizontal arm opposite the end having the earth model and the moon model secured thereto, having a circularly shaped portion of a diameter scaled proportional to the diameter of the sun; and a plurality of planet models, each planet model being of a size scaled to represent the size of a predetermined planet, the scale of the planet models substantially corresponding to the scale of the scaled diameter of the sun simulator portion, and each of the planet models positionable a scaled distance from the sun simulator representing the distance between the planet represented by the planet model and the sun thereby demonstratively providing a scaled representation of the planets, the sun and the distances separating the planets and the sun.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 244 words

A space simulator, comprising: a base; a sun shaft secured to the base and extending a distance generally vertically therefrom; a sun model secured to the end of the sun shaft, opposite the end of the sun shaft secured to the base; a horizontal arm, having opposite ends, journally supported on a portion of the sun shaft and rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; an earth model supported on one end portion of the arm rotatable about the sun shaft in a rotated position of the horizontal arm; a moon model supported on said one end portion of the horizontal arm rotatable about the earth model; a sun simulator secured to one end portion of the horizontal arm opposite the end having the earth model and the moon model secured thereto, having a circularly shaped portion of a diameter scaled proportional to the diameter of the sun; and a plurality of planet models, each planet model being of a size scaled to represent the size of a predetermined planet, the scale of the planet models substantially corresponding to the scale of the scaled diameter of the sun simulator portion, and each of the planet models positionable a scaled distance from the sun simulator representing the distance between the planet represented by the planet model and the sun thereby demonstratively providing a scaled representation of the planets, the sun and the distances separating the planets and the sun.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

The space simulator of claim 10 wherein the sun simulator is defined further as being hollow, partially spherically shaped and constructed of a translucent material; and wherein the space simulator is defined further to include: illumination means supported within the hollow portion of the sun simulator illuminating the sun simulator in one position thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

The space simulator of claim 10 defined further to include: a hollow celestial sphere having celestial bodies printed thereon, the earth model and the moon model being supported within the hollow portion of the celestial sphere demonstratively showing the spacial relationship between the earth model, the moon model and the celestial bodies.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The space simulator of claim 10 wherein the scale of the scaled diameter portion of the sun simulator is defined further as being on a scale of approximately 1 inch representing approximately 100,000 miles.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-09-16	1978-03-18	1978-09-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-09-16	1982-03-18	1982-09-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-09-16	1986-03-18	1986-09-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mini-scale space mechanics simulator

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