Table structure and rotating magnet system simulating gravitational forces on spacecraft and displaying trajectories between Earth, Venus, and Mercur

Small, J. G.

English

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July 27, 1965 JAMES E. WEBB 3,196,558 
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND. SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
MEANS FOR VISUALLY INDICATING PLIGHT PATHS OF VEHICLES 
BETWEEN THE EARTH, VENUS AND MERCURY 
Filed Yay 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 
- .  
N A* 
% (ACCESSlQ4 NUMBER) ( T H E )  
3 ( N A S A  CR O R  T M X  O R  A D  NUMBER) (CATEGORY) 
Y 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700026078 2020-03-17T02:06:29+00:00Z

July 27, 
Filed May 
1965 JAMES E. WEBB 3,196,558 
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
MEANS FOR VISUALLY INDICATING FLIGHT PATHS OF VEHICLES 
-. 
BETWEEN THE EARTH, VENUS AND MERCURY 
16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 
INVENTOR. 
JOHN 6 SMALL 
July 
Filed 
3,196,558 United States Patent 0 6 c e  PI.tenled 27, 1961 
1 2 
Sun. Set into the surface of the table 1 are circular tracks 
PATEIS OF VEEHICEES BETWEEN TI%E EARTH, 
VENUS AND h%ERC&IRPr 
James E. Webb, Administratas of the NaBonaI Aero- 
~aut ies  and Space !&dministwiiom, with respect to an 
~nccntiom of SoLana G. SmaIP 
Fikd May 16, 1963, Ser. No. 281,069 
1 @Bairn- (C1. 35-45) 
10 and 111 representing, respectively, thc path of travel 
of the planet Mercury and the planet Venus. It should 
be recognized that the circular tracks 710 and 11 are ap- 
proximations of the paths of Mercury and Venus for the 
actual paths of these planets are slightly eccentric and 
are in slightly di9erent planes. 
Arranged for rotation on the trackr 10 and 11 are 
planet-representing structures 12 and 93 which corre- 
10 spond to the planets Mercury and Venus. Each struclcrc 
This i~veniioil relates lo mxns  for visually indicating includes a frame 14  having a vertical portion on one side 
night paths of vellicles between the Earth, Venus and of which is n~ounted a magnet 15 held in place on thc 
Mercury and the principal object of this invention is to frame by a bolt 14 and retainer bar 17. The poles of 
provide a means in the form of a table stiucture repre- the magnet 15 are directed downward and ca~ried by the 
sentative of the solar system in the region including the l r ,  frame 14. Between the poles of the magnet is a wheel 
Earth, which is contoured to cause gravitationzl xove- 18 arranged to ride on the corresponding track 10 or E l .  
ment of a spherical object toward the centcr of the table Arms 19 and 20 extend horizontally from the planct- 
in scaled correspondence wilh the gravitational eii'ect of representing structures 12 and 13 respectively. The alnl 
tlre Sun on a space vehicle in the represented region of the 2.D is joincd to a shaft 211 located at the center of the table 
solar system, and whereby magnets are moved in circular 20 and projecting above the dome 9. The arm 99 is joi~ed 
paths in scaled coriespondence to the >lanets Venus and to the upper end of a sleeve 22 sugported ;n concentiic 
Mercury to simulate the gravitational field of thesc plants relation with the shaft 211 by bearings 23.  The sleeve 
on an abject passing nearby, and wherein means is pro- 22 is supported by bearings 23 within a journal sleeve 
tiGed to initiate movement of a magr?et;c ball on said 25 projecting through the donla 9 and errtending below 
table in a p3th and at a scaled velocity from a point rep- 25 the table 1. 
resentative of the Earth, thereby to represect the flight Disposed below the table 1 is a motor 26 having a hori- 
path of a space vehicle. zontal shaft which extends into a first housing 24 and is 
A Iurther object is to provide a means whereby flight connected to a vertical shaft 28 by beveled gears 29. The 
paths of space vehicles moving from !he Earth to other ends of the shaPt 28 are supported in bearings 30 within 
planets may be visually represented to aid in understand- 30 the housing 27 and are connected to a counter shaft 31 
ing the matlrematical and related plobien~s of space lby means of spur gears 32 and 33. The counter shaft 31 
fl~gbt. extends into a second housing 34 having a wall comnl3n 
164th the above and other objects in view as may appear to the first housing 27. The counter shaft is supported 
hereinafter, relerence is directed to the accoii1pany;ng on bearings 35 and 36. 
drawings, in which: 3.5 The lower ends of the shaft 21 and sleevc 22 projcct 
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a table structure into the second housing 34 and are provided with gears 
embodying the invention; 37 and 38 respectively, which, in turn, mesh with gears 
2 is an enlarzed elevational view of one of the 39 and 40 mounted on the counter shaft 31. The gear 
p!anet-representing structrires take3 frorn 2-2 of FIG- pairs 37 and 39 and 38 and 40 are so selected that tlae 
URS 1; 40 planet-rcpresenting structures 12 and 13  rot~.te about the 
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view thereof taken through Sun-representing dome 9 at speeds proportional lo the 
3-3 of FIGURE 2; rates of rotation of the planets Mercury and Venus. 
FIGURE 4 is an edargcd frnamentary sectional view Located at a fixed position representing a point in the 
tzliei~ t h i o ~ ~ g h  4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing particularly orbit of the Earth, is a post 41 which projects upwardly 
tlzc launchin3 means far the space vehicle-rcpresentir~g 4.3 from the surface of the table 9. A collar 42 is rotatably 
member; and vertically adjustable on the post 41 and is adapted to 
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thercof be loclted in position by a set screw 43. A horizontal 
take2 tllrorgh 5-5 of FIGURE 4; set screw 44 extending radially from the collar 42 serves 
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fra,omcntary sectional view to pivotally support a channel track 45. By reason of 
tahcn through 6-6 of FIGURE 1 showing the planct- 50 the adjustment afforded by the collar 42 cl:d the set screws 
rcprescnt;;!g str~ctares in alignment with the launching 43 and 44, the channel traclt may point in any direction 
means diqposed at a location representing the Earth; about the axis of the post 49 and may be disposed at 
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view va~ious inclinations. 
talzen within circle 7 of FIGURE 6 ;  A space vehicle-representing member in the form of a 
FIGURE 8 is a fragncntary sectional view taken 53 magnetic ball 46 is adapted to be launched by gravity 
through 8-8 of FIGURE 6; acd along the channel track 45 so as to roll toward the center 
FIGURE 9 is a graphic plot of ihe sloping surface of of the table. 
the table. Pn simulating the gravitational pull of the planets on 
The mzans for visnally indicating P,;z11t paths of vehicles the ball 46 at the time ball is launched from the channel 
between the Earth, Venrs and Mercury, includes a table 60 track 45, the gravitational pull of the planets is provided 
1 s1:pported on legs 2 having adjustable feet 3 so that the by the magnets 95 mounted on the structures 12. and 13. 
tab!e may be snpparted in a level condition. The table For example, the Earth's orbit around the Sun is approxi- 
is provided with a marginal rim 4 and is provided with an mately 93-million miles while that of Venus is 67-million 
uypcr surface 5 which slopes inwardly toward the cecter miles and Mercury is 36-million miles. Therefore, sup- 
of the table, the degree of slcpe increasing toward the 65 pose the gravitational pull of the Earth upon the ball 46 
ccnter. The sloping sulface 5 terminates in a circular has a value of 1.00 then the gravitational pull for the 
collector channel 6 ,  tbe surface of which is inclined to planet Mercury would be .38 while that for Vcnns be .85 
provide a low point which comrnunicatcs with a return and the gravitational pull of the Scn would be 27.89. 
tube 7 disposed under the table and which terminates in Using a standard ALNICO magnet sold by Crucible 
a receptacle 8. 70 Steel Company it has been found that if the Earth were 
T i e  central portion of the table within the collector represanted by a magnet it would be Crucible magnet 
channel 6 is in the form of a dome 9 and represents the #MA1078; while that representing the planet Venus would 
. 3,196,558 
3 4 
be #MA1077; and that for the planet Mercury or for ing to the launching conditions of space vehicles from the 
planet Mars, which would have the same gravitational pull Earth. The ball 46 is initially mechanically or manually 
of .38, would be #MA1075. held and then released at the appropriate instant which 
The gravitational pull of the Sun on the ball 46 being will cause the ball to follow a trajectory calculated to 
27.89 as compared with the pull of the Earth of 1.00 is 5 intersect one of the planet-representing structures 12 or 13. 
not simulated in this disclosed embodiment by a magnet Actual intersection is not required for the magnets 15 
but by providing the proper slope to the surface 5 of table are arranged to produce magnetic fields representing the 
1. Thus, the ball 46 will be attracted toward the center gravitational fields associated with each of the planets. 
of the table 1 due to the Earth's normal gravitational pull Thus, if the trajectory of the ball 46 is such as to pass 
on the ball 46 as hereinafter described. 10 within the magnetic fields of the planet-representing struc- 
With reference to FIGURE 9 the contour of the table tures 12 or 13, the ball will be drawn toward the planet- 
surface 5 is graphically represented by the curve 55 be- representing structure and thus deviate more or less from 
tween points 50 and 51. The angle e is the angle between its normal path, depending on how close the ball passes 
the horizontal axis X and a straight line 52 tangent to the planet-representing structure. If the ball or space 
curve 55 at point 58. It has been found by experiments- 15 vehicle-representing member is not actually captured by 
tion that the inclination of line 52 with respect to the the planet-representing structure, it passes to the collector; 
horizontal axis X at point 50 must be .026 (the tangent channel 6 and is returned to the receptacle 8 for re-use4 
of the angle 6 )  in order for the ball 46 to roll toward the While the particular embodiments of the present inven-1 
center of the table when it leaves the ramp 45 at near zero tion have been shown and described, it will be obvious to1 
velocity. 20 those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may 
This value of .026 can also be used to represent be made without departing from this invention in its 
dy broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended 
- 
claim is to cover all such changes and modifications as 
dx fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 25 What I claim is: 
in the following equations for determining the X and Y Means for visually indicating flight paths of space 
coordinate for the points along the curve 55 as follows: vehicles, comprising: 
K (a) a magnetic ball; y=- 
X2 (b) a table for supporting said ball and representing 30 a portion of the planetary system including a central 
where X and Y are the coordinates and K is the gravita- area regresenting the Sun, the surface of the tabb 
tional constant representing the pull on the ball 44 at any having a progressively increasing, downward slope 
point on the curve 55. toward the Sun-representing ceztral area in propor- 
In order to express this equation in such a mariner as iion to the gravitational field of the Sun whereby said 
to include the slope 35 ball tends to roll toward said Sun-representing area 
with increasing acceleration; 
9' /=.C)Z6 
dx (c) a drive means disposed under said table and includ- ing coaxial drive sbafts extending upwardly through 
it is necessary to differentiate. the central portion of the table; 
KX-a 0 
(d) radiating arms disposed above said table and joined y,-= 
Xz to said shafts, said arms dimensioned to correspond 
to the radial distances between selected planets and 
dy = -2KX-adz the Sun; 
(e) planet-representing e le~ents  carried by said arms 
-2K dy-- 
-
45 for rotation on the upper side of said table about said 
dx Xa Srm-representing central area, said elements being 
magnetized to establish magnetic fields representa- dYXs 
dx .026X8 tive of the gravitational fields associated with said K=-=- planets; 
-2  -2 50 (f) and a launching means for said ball for initiating 
If X=18.9 then movement of said ball on said table at a predeter- 
.026 18.9--81.4 mined velocity for spiral movement toward the Sun- K= - representing area across the paths of said planet- 
- 2 representing elements. 
55 and 
y=-=--.L- 4-0.22+ 
X"s.92 
Thus, using the above formula the points along the curve 
55 can be determined and the table surface 5 constructed 60 
to simulate the Sun's gravitational pull on the ball 46. 
Operation of the means for visually indicating flight 
paths of vehicles between the Earth, Venus and Mercury, 
is as follows: 
The Mercury and Venus-representing structures 12 and 65 
13 are caused to rotate about the orbit-representing tracks 
10 and 11 at speeds corresponding to the relative travel of 
these two planets about the Sun. The launching track 45 
is adiusted as to direction and inclination to cause the 
References Cited by the Examiner 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
1,314,623 9/19 Wagner -------------- 273-120 
1,524,378 1/25 Antes ------------- 273-120 X 
1,567,251 12/25 Ekstein -------,------ 273-120 
2,226,032 12/40 WAlberg --------------- 35-45 
2,949,652 8/60 Humbert --------------- 3 5 4 6  
2,992,512 7/61 Pettit ----------------- 46-242 
3,035,356 5/62 Musser ----------------- 3 5 4 5  
FOREIGN PATENTS 
150,33 1 2/53 Australia. 
647,284 12/50 Great Britain. 
magnetic ball 46 representing a space vehicle to travel 70 EUGENE R. CAPOZJO, Primary Examillere 
outwardly from the post 411 representing the Earth in the 
various directions and at the various speeds correspond- JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner. 


Means for visually indicating flight paths of vehicles between the Earth, Venus, and Mercury Patent

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