Design features of the mechanisms of the turntable of Donetsk theaters

Abstract

The change of design of the turntable, familiar to the stage of any modern theater, in the 20th century was a reflection of the real possibilities and the development of technology. Some engineering solutions have been lost, but the stages of finding the optimal solution are proposed to be considered by the example of changing the designs of the mechanisms of the turntables of Donetsk theaters. The chronology of the installation of mechanisms — 1941, 1956, 1961, 1968, 2011 allows determining the features of the elements of the rotation mechanism, linking them with specific historical events. During this period, there was a stage of technology change, which is of main interest in the study of the features of these mechanisms. Massive riveted structures, which became the reason for the legend about the use of a locomotive turntable in the mechanism, were replaced by reinforced concrete and welded structures, which became standard in the 1970s. And the reconstruction of the rotation mechanism of the stage of the House of Slavic Culture in 2011 led to the installation of rubberized balancing rollers, a gear motor with frequency control of rotation speed — examples of modern technical solutions, but the foundations that determined the dimensions of the structure were laid in 1926. The historical interval of more than 60 years has been reflected in the design of the main elements of the turntables and has become the topic of this article.