Ellipsograph for describing and cutting ellipses with minimal axial dimension

Winn, L. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20546 
27, 1971 REPLY TO ATTN OF: GP 
TO : USI/Scientific & Technical Information Division 
Attention:: Miss Winnie M e  Morgan 
FROM : GP/Qffice of Assistant General 
Counsel for Patent 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned 
U-S, Patents in STAR 
In accordance with the procedures contained in the Code GP 
to Code US1 memorandum on this subject, dated June 8, 1970, 
the attached NASA-owned U , S ,  patent is being forwarded for 
abstracting and announcement in NASA STAR, 
The following information is provided: 
U,S, Patent No. 
Corporate Source 
Supplementary 
Corporate Source 
NASA Patent Case No.: 
W 
Gayle Parker 
NASA-HQ 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710011604 2020-03-17T02:54:44+00:00Z
Jan. 23, 
F i l e d  
L A  VERN E. WlNN . .- . -. - -  
96 
ELLIPSOGRAPH FOR FANTOGRAPH 
Aug. 29, 1966 2 She<* ,-Sheet 1 
I" 
INVENTOR .', ,-, 
LaVERN E. WlNN 
-c 
* __.- _-- 
~ \.-* " -  
BY 
ATTORNEYS 
Jan. 23, 1968 L A  VERN E. WfNN 3,364,578 
ELLIPSOGRAPH FOR FANTOGRAPH 
Filed Aug. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 
W E N T O R  
LaVERN E. WlNN 
BY 
ATTORNEYS 
3 , ~ ~ 4 , ~ ~  United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 23, 1368 
1 2 
3,364,578 
ELLIPSOGRAPH FOR PANTOGRAPH 
La Vern E. Winn. HamDtOn. Va.. assignor to the United 
States of America as reprefentea by-tbe Admiaistrator 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 576,195 
3 Claims. (CI. 35-31) 
to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein mounting assembly 12 is shown 
as having top frame member 14 and bottom frame mem- 
ber 16 connected by end frame members 18. Thus, mount- 
ing assembly 12 generally forms an elongated oval con- 
figuration with track menbers 24 and 26 respectively 
attached to frame members 14 and 16. Track members 
24 and 26 are shown as having dovetail grooves or tracks 
20 and 22, respectively. Although the grooves are shown 
The invention described herein was made by an em- to be of dovetail configuration, it is readily apparent that 
ployee of the United States Government and may be lo any conventional type of track member could be utilized 
manufactured and used by or for the Government for as will be described more fully hereinafter. Screws 28 are 
governmental purposes without the payment of any royal- utilized for mounting track members 24 and 26 on frame 
ties thereon or therefor. members 14 and 16. 
This invention relates generally to apparatus for de- As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, track members 24 and 26 
scribing an ellipse and more particularly to an ellipso- 15 are at substantially right angles to one another and ver- 
graph permitting description of ellipses having minimal tically spaced to provide for tracer beam 30 which is 
axial dimensions. disposed between the two track members. Top clamp 32 
Various methods have been utilized previously for and bottom clamp 34 are mounted on tracer beam 30 
drawing ellipses. However, these devices generally re- which could be of hexagonal shape as shown in order to 
quired the use of complicated sets of charts or directions 20 more readily and accurately accommodate clamp mem- 
for computations in utilization of the apparatus or were bers 32 and 34. Clamps 32 and 34 each include base 36 
unable to describe ellipses having minimal dimensions. and sides 38 which would most effectively correspond to 
This latter characteristic is critical when it is necessary a section of the configuration of tracer beam 30. Pin 40 
to describe ellipses having relatively small axes because extends base 36 as will be described more fully herein- 
the guides are unable to closely approach one another 25 afier. Set-screws 42 mounted on a side 38 of each of 
and thereby establish a minimum size for the elliptical clamps 32 and 34 permit accurate and rigid attachment 
axes. Minimal axes dimensions are extremely critical in of the clamps to tracer beam 30. 
various utilizations, such for example as in defining the Pin 40 may be rigidly attached to base 36 and extend 
elliptical templates of a small scale model. generally vertically therefrom for rotatable attachment to 
In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior 30 sliding shoes 44. Although pin 40 is described herein as 
art, the instant invention contemplates the use of a pair rigidly secured to base 36 and rotatably attached to  shoe 
of vertically spaced, substantially perpendicular tracks 44, it is to be understood that the reverse construction 
in which shoes adjustably mounted on a tracer beam dis- could also be utilized. Furthermore, it is obvious that pin 
posed between the tracks that is permitted rotation to 40 could be rotatably attached to both base 36 and shoe 
define ellipses of infinitely small axes. 35 44. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 shoes 44 are of generally 
It is an object of the instant invention to  provide a trapezoidal configuration for a mating and sliding engage- 
novel ellipse describing apparatus that is capable of defin- ment with dovetail tracks 20 and 22. 
ing ellipses having minimal axial dimensions. In order to  adapt the instant inventive ellipsograph 10 
It is another object of this invention to provide an for utilization with a pantograph that would cut ellipses 
ellipsograph that is of simple operation and readily dis- 40 from various materials, beam extension 50 is attached to 
mantled for storage. tracer beam 30 at one end thereof and has pin 52 mounted 
A further object of the present invention is to provide on extension 50 to provide a positive and rotatable con- 
a novel ellipsograph for utilization with a pantograph nection with the pantograph apparatus. It is to be under- 
cutter apparatus to permit cutting of ellipses from various stood, however, that the instant invention could well 
materials. 45 include an attachment (not shown) for tracer beam 30 
Still another object of the instant invention is to pro- that would mark or draw the desired elliptical configura- 
vide an ellipsograph in which vertically spaced tracks are tion. 
arranged substantially perpendicular to one another with To provide for rapid setting of the major axis dimen- 
a tracer beam disposed between the tracks and intercon- sion, tracer beam 30 has scale 54 marked thereon. Scale 
nected thereto by shoes fitting and sliding within the 50 56 on tracer beam 30 provides for rapid setting of the 
tracks. minor axis dimension of the desired ellipse. Although 
Generally, the foregoing and other objects are accom- scales 54 and 56 are shown in FIG. 3 to be on the side 
plished by utilization of a mounting assembly to which is of tracer beam 30, it is t o  be understood that the scales 
affixed a pair of tracks that are disposed substantially at could be located as desired with provision being made for 
right angles to one another and into which shoes are slid- 55 rapid and accurate setting of clamps 32 and 34. 
ably interconnected with a tracer beam disposed between In operation ellipsograph 10 provides for track mem- 
the two tracks. The tracer beam is capable of connection bers 24 and 26 to be substantially perpendicular as here- 
with a pantograph cutter to provide an ellipse cutting inabove described and tracer beam 30 disposed there- 
apparatus or the tracer bar may be utilized for drawing between with shoes 44 mounted for sliding engagement 
ellipses having relatively large to infinitely minimal axial 60 in tracks 20 and 22. If the ellipse to be described is to 
dimensions. be cut from a piece of material, beam extension 50 and 
A more complete appreciation of the invention and pin 52 would be appropriately attached to  beam 30 and 
many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily the pantograph apparatus. Obviously, shoe members 44 
apparent as the same become better understood by refer- are of a configuration that would easily fit within grooves 
ence to the following drawings wherein: 65 20 and 22 and provide substantially frictionless move- 
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the major ment therein while retaining a minimum of cIearance or 
component relationships of the instant invention: undesirable lateral movement. With ellipsograph 10 prop  
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the instant inven- erly mounted and assembled, it is necessary only to adjust 
tion; and clamps 32 and 34 on tracer beam 30. As noted herein- 
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of 70 above the adjustment is accomplished by locating clamp 
the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 32 on scale 54 in accordance with the major axis of the 
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly desired ellipse and utilizing setscrew 42 for rigid secure- 
3,364,578 
4 
ment of clamp 32 to beam 30. Clamp 34 would be ad- and movably engaging said beam means along its 
justed on scale 56 to the minor axis of the desired ellipbe length; and 
and setscrew 42 on clamp 34 utilized for rigidly securing securing means operatively associated with each sec- 
clamp 34 to tracer beam 30. In order to describe the ond means providing selective fixing of each second 
desired ellipse it is then merely necessary to rotate tracer 5 means to said beam means at points of engagement; 
beam 30 about itself and any given point, for example said beam means having spaced track portions, each of 
the center of pin 52, will describe the desired ellipse. said second means being spaced from each other on 
It is readily apparent that the instant ellipsograph assem- the track portions allowing said second means to 
bly permits the pivot points at the center of pins 40 to pass each other, said beam means having means 
be in alinement and thus permits the description of in- thereon for engagement with the pantograph appa- 
finitesimally small, as well as relatively large, ellipses. ratus; 
The above description of the operation of the instant whereby said device is adjustable to describe ellipses 
invention is just one specific example to give a clear indi- of infinitesimally small dimensions, 
cation of the simple and reliable ellipsograph device. It is 2. The ellipsograph of claim P wherein said second 
readily apparent that ellipses of any major or minor axis 15 means comprise a clamp member and said securing means 
may be readily described by a simple adjustment in the is a setscrew adjustably and rigidly securing said clamp to 
location of clamps 32 and 34. The inventive apparatus said beam means; and said first means is a pin drivingly 
permits rapid assembly and disassembly that can be ac- connected to said shoe means and said clamp member. 
complished with a minimum of eiTort and requiring a 3. The ellipsograph of claim 2 including scale means 
minimum of storage area. It is also a characteristic of the 20 mounted on said beam means to provide for rapid adjust- 
present invention that it is readily adaptable to construc- 
tion from any of many materials, such for example as 
wood, metal or plastics. 
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the 
subject invention are possible in the light of the above 25 
teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within 
the scope of the appended claims the invention may be 
practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 
Letters Patent of the United States is: 
apparatus in an elliptical path comprising: 
ment of said clamps. 
References Cited 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
246,174 8/1881 McComb _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  33-31 
905,107 11/1908 Schrieber _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  33-31 
2,039,584 5/1936 Dixon _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  33-31 
3,177,586 4/1965 Arno _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  33-27 
FOREIGN PATENTS 
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by 2,4092290 LiPP ----------------- 33-26 
30 
1. A device for guiding the cutter of a pantograph 
vertically spaced elongated track means extending sub- 
linear beam means disposed between said track means; 35 
a plurality of shoe means of a configuration for engage- 
ment with each of said track means; 
a plurality of connection means having a first means 
drivingly connected to each of said shoe means and 
a second means drivingly connected to the first means 40 
167,407 1/1951 Austria. 
318,024 8/1929 Great Britain. 
5901749 7/1947 Great Britain* 
266,659 5/1950 Switzerland. 
stantially at right angles; 
HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primmy Examiner. 
LEONARD FORMAN, Examinen 


Ellipsograph for pantograph Patent

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