GB2094536A

GB2094536A - A zodiacal sphere

Info

Publication number: GB2094536A
Application number: GB8203101A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: VERNEY JOHN SEBASTIAN
Current assignee: VERNEY JOHN SEBASTIAN
Priority date: 1981-02-03
Filing date: 1982-02-03
Publication date: 1982-09-15

Abstract

A zodiacal sphere comprises a base structure (10), an outer sphere structure (20) and an inner sphere structure (30). The base structure (10) incorporates a ring (11) representing the horizon. The cardinal points of the compass, North, East, South and West, are marked on the horizon ring (11). The outer sphere structure (20) is mounted on the base structure (10) and is freely rotatable about an axis lying East-West (15, 17) in the plane of the horizon ring (11). The outer sphere structure (20) incorporates a pair of mutually perpendicular rings (21 and 22) representing the Earth's equator and the meridian respectively. An inner sphere structure (30) incorporating an annular disc (33) representing the ecliptic, is mounted freely rotatably on and within the outer sphere structure (20). The outer sphere structure (20) can be prevented from rotating relative to the base structure (10) by means of a pin (25) which is engagable in one of a plurality of holes (24) around the outer circumference of the meridian ring (22). The twelve signs of the zodiac may be embellished on the planar surface of the annular disc (33) representing the ecliptic. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A zodiacal sphere This invention relates to armillary spheres, and in particular though not exclusivey, to zodiacal armillaries.

According to the present invention there is provided an arirnillary sphere comprising a base structure having a ring reprësenting a horizon, an outer sphere structure having a pair of rings representing respectively an equator and a meridian, the outer sphere structure being mounted for rotation on the base structure, and an inner sphere structule mounted for rotation on and within the outer sphere structure, the inner sphere structure incorporating an annular disc representing an ecliptic.

The outer sphere structure is preferably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on the base structure by means of pins.

The armillary sphere may comprise means for holding the outer sphere structure in any one of a plurality of rotational positions relative to the base structure, and the holding means may comprise a plurality of holes on the circumferential periphery of the ring representing the meridian in the outer sphere structure, into any one of which holes a pin mounted in the base structure is selectively engageable.

The base structure preferably includes a strut assembly for supporting the ring representing the horizon generally horizontally.

The outer sphere structure comprising the rings representing respectively the equator and the meridian may also comprise a support ring, the three rings being arranged in mutually perpendicular planes.

The inner sphere structure comprising the ring representing the ecliptic may also comprise two support rings, said two support rings being arranged in mutually perpendicular planes and the ring representing the ecliptic being set at an angle of approximateiy 66+0 to one of said two support rings and at an angle of 900 to the other of said support rings.

By way of example, one embodiment of an armillary sphere according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an armillary sphere according to the invention; and Figure 2 is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

An amillary sphere, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a base structure 10, an outer sphere structure 20 and an inner sphere structure 30.

Each structure is made of a suitable material, which may for example be wood, plastics or metal, and the component parts of each structure are held firmly together by means of, for example, adhesive. The armillary sphere is designed to stand on a flat surface such as a table top.

The base structure 10 comprises a top ring 11, a base ring 12 and four support struts 13. The top ring 11 supported parallel to the base ring 12 by means of the four support struts 1 3 which are equally spaced apart, the base structure 10 thus forming the skeleton of a cylinder. The top ring 11 of the base structure 10 represents the horizon, the four support struts being arranged to intersect the top ring at the cardinal points of the compass, namely North, East, South and West. These cardinal points of the compass 14, 1 5, 1 6 and 1 7 respectively are marked on the top ring 11.

The outer sphere structure 20 comprises three identical rings 21,22 and 23 which are arranged in mutually perpendicular planes and which together form the skeleton of a sphere. Ring 21 represents the Earth's equator and ring 22 represents the meridian. Ring 23 is a support ring for ensuring that the outer sphere structure 20 remains rigid. The outer sphere structure 20 is pivotally mounted on the base structure 10 in such a way as to allow the outer sphere structure freedom to rotate about an axis passing through the points of intersection of ring 21 and ring 23.

The outer spherical diameter of the outer sphere structure 20 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the top ring 11 of the base structure 1 0. A pair of pins, located respectively at points 1 5 and 17 in the top ring 11 of the base structure 10, form the axis about which the outer sphere assembly 20 rotates relative to the base structure 10. The pins are engaged in holes on the outer sphere structure and corresponding holes at points 1 5 and 1 7 on the top ring of the base structure.

Ring 22 is embellished with graduated markings which extend through 1 800 around its edge. These markings form a scale which represents degrees of latitude, namely 0 to 900 North and 0 to 900 South. Also, around the outer circumferential periphery of the ring 22 there is a plurality of holes 24 corresponding to the degree calibrations. A pin 25 slidably mounted at point 14 on the top ring 11 of the base structure 10 is selectively engageable with any one of the plurality of holes 24 in ring 22. Thus, by engaging the pin 25 with one of the holes 24 in ring 22, the outer sphere structure 20 can be fixed relative to the base structure 10, that is, the horizon is set at a particular latitude.

The inner sphere structure 30 comprises a pair of identical rings 31 and 32 which are arranged in mutually perpendicular planes. Rings 31 and 32 are support rings for an annular disc 33 which is set at an angle of 66+0 relative to ring 32 and at an angle of 900 relative to ring 31 ,the inner sphere structure 30 thus also forming the skeleton of a sphere. The outer spherical diameter of the inner sphere structure 30 is slightly smaller than the inner spherical diameter of the outer sphere structure 20. The inner sphere structure 30 is pivotally mounted on and within the outer sphere structure 20 in such a way as to allow the inner sphere structure 30 freedom to rotate about an axis passing through the points of intersection of ring 31 and ring 32.A pair of pins, located at the points of intersection of rings 22 and 23 on the outer sphere structure 20 form the axis about which the inner sphere structure 30 rotates relative to the outer sphere structure 20. The pins are engaged in holes at the points of intersection of ring 22 and 23 of the outer sphere structure and corresponding holes at the points of intersection of ring 31 and 32 of the inner sphere structure. The annular disc 33 of the inner sphere structure represents the ecliptic. One planar face of the disc 33 is divided into 12 equal divisions, each division representing one sign of the Zodiac and being appropriately marked. The disc 33 may have degree calibrations extending around its outer circumferential periphery.

This embodiment of an armillary sphere according to the invention can be used to demonstrate the principles of the constantly changing angular relationship between the great circles of the ecliptic, or Zodiac, the meridian, the equator, and the horizon at any given place on the earth.

The Ecliptic is the path of the earth's orbit round the sun, hence the great circle of the apparent path of the sun round the earth. The Zodiac is the belt of sky extending about 80 on either side of the Ecliptic, within which the apparent paths of the planets always remain. The complete circle of the Zodiac is divided into 12 equai sections known as the Signs of the Zodiac.

The Zodiacal Sphere is an indispensable aid to teachers and students of astrology, and anyone endeavouring to understand the 3-dimensional geocentric framework on which the birthchart or horoscope is based.

Claims

1. An armillary sphere comprising a base structure having a ring representing a horizon, an outer sphere structure having a pair of rings representing respectively an equator and a meridian, the outer sphere structure being mounted for rotation on the base structure, and an inner sphere structure mounted for rotation on and within the outer sphere structure, tbe inner sphere structure incorporating an annular disc representing an ecliptic.

2. An amillary sphere as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer sphere structure is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in the base structure by means of pins.

3. An armillary sphere as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising means for holding the outer sphere structure in any one of a plurality of rotational positions relative to the base structure.

4. An armillary sphere as claimed in claim 3 wherein said holding means comprises a plurality of holes on the circumferential periphery of the ring, representing the meridian in the outer sphere structure, into any one of which holes a pin mounted on the base structure is selectively engageable.

5. An armillary sphere as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base structure includes a strut assembly for supporting the ring representing the horizon generally horizontally.

6. An armillary sphere as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer sphere structure comprising the rings representing respectively the equator and the meridian also comprises a support ring, the three rings being arranged in mutually perpendicular planes.

7. An armillary sphere as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner sphere structure comprising the ring representing the ecliptic also comprises two support rings, said two support rings being arranged in mutually perpendicular planes, and the ring defining the ecliptic being set at an angle of approximately 66+0 to one of said two support rings and at an angle of 900 to the other of said two support rings.

8. An armillary sphere substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.