Sinking vessel simulation apparatus

Claim 2

A sinking vessel diaplsy apparatus having a normal phase and a sinking phase in the operating cycle comprising: a. a model of a vessel consisting of two or more separate sections, b. support means for holding said vessel in an assembled state and in a horizontal position in the normal phase, c. first drive means for moving said vessel along a predetermined path in the horizontal position in the normal phase, d. second drive means for driving said holding means downwardly from said horizontal position and off said predetermined path in the sinking phase, e. said holding means also supporting said vessel in a separated state in the sinking phase of the display apparatus such that the holding means and the second means cooperate to simulate the destruction and sinking of a vessel upon a successful hit of said vessel.

Claim 3

A sinking vessel display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said second drive means drives said support means in such manner that said vessel section is gradually inclined with respect to the horizontal line as it is moved downwardly.

Claim 4

A sinking vessel display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which subsequent to said normal and sinking phases is provided a recovering phase in one cycle of said display apparatus, said support means supporting said vessel sections in a separated state also in said recovering phase, and said second drive means drives said support means in said recovering phase in such manner that starting from the lowermost support position of said vessel sections where said sinking phase terminates, said respective vessel sections may be moved upwardly as they are assembled together and restored to their substantially horizontal attitude until they form a complete vessel held substantially along a horizontal line at the uppermost support position when said recovering phase terminates.

Claim 5

A sinking vessel display apparatus having one operating cycle consisting of normal, sinking and recovering phases, comprising a model of vessel consisting of two or more vessel sections, first support means for supporting said vessel sections in an assembled state to form a complete vessel in said normal phase of said display apparatus and for supporting said vessel sections in a separated state to form a destroyed vessel in said sinking and recovering phases of said display apparatus, and first drive means for driving said first support means in said sinking phase in such manner that starting from the uppermost position of said vessel sections in said normal phase where the assembled complete vessel is held substantially along a horizontal line, said respective vessel sections are moved downwardly as they are separated from each other and at least one of said vessel sections is gradually inclined with respect to the horizontal line, and for driving said first support means in said recovering phase in such manner that starting from the lowermost support position of said vessel sections where said sinking phase terminates, said respective vessel sections may be moved upwardly as they are assembled together and restored to their substantially horizontal attitude until they form a complete vessel held substantailly along a horizontal lone at the uppermost support position when said recovering phase terminates.

Claim 6

A sinking vessel display apparatus having one operating cycle consisting of normal, sinking and recovering phases, comprising a model of vessel consisting of two or more vessel sections, first support means for supporting said vessel sections in an assembled state to form a complete vessel in said normal phase of said display apparatus and for supporting said vessel sections in a separated state to form a destroyed vessel in said sinking and recovering phases of said display apparatus, and first drive means for driving said first support means in said sinking phase in such manner that starting from the uppermost position of said vessel sections in said normal phase where the assembled complete vessel is held substantially along a horizontal line, said respective vessel sections are moved downwardly as they are separated from each other and at least one of said vessel sections is gradually inclined with respect to the horizontal line, and for driving said first support means in said recovering phase in such manner that starting from the lowermost support position of said vessel sections where said sinking phase terminates, said respective vessel sections may be moved upwardly as they are assembled together and restored to their substantially horizontal attitude until they form a complete vessel held substantailly along a horizontal lone at the uppermost support position when said recovering phase terminates.

Claim 7

A sinking vessel display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, which further comprises a second support means for supporting said first support means and said first drive means along an endless track, a second drive means for driving said first support means and said first drive means along said endless track, a first control means responsive to an input signal for switching said display apparatus from said normal phase to said sinking phase provided that said second support means is in one part of said endless track, and a second control means responsive to the transfer of said second support means from said one part to the other part of said endless track for switching said display apparatus from said sinking phase to said recovering phase.

Claim 8

A sinking vessel display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said first support means consists of a support member fixedly secured to a horizontal rotary shaft at one point, which in turn supports said vessel sections at separated points thereon at least one fixedly and the others pivotably, and said first drive means consists of an electric motor and a transmission system for transmitting the rotary motion of said electric motor to said horizontal shaft and also to the pivotal shafts of the pivotably supported vessel sections.