US1283510A - Sound-controlling machine. - Google Patents

Description

0. Mi HECK. SOUND CONTROLLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. I914- Patented Nov. 5, 1918..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

w m 8 1 i w a J v 1 a 1 a 3 H m u M mam/ 1 C. M. HECK.

SOUND CONTROLLING MACHINE. APPLICATION men 050.10. I914.

PatentedrNov. 5, 1918';

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. HECK, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

SOUND-CONTROLLING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs M. HECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of Wake and State of the machine.

of improved construction, adapted to deaden undesirable overtones, and to amplify the desirable tones The invention further embraces novel means whereby the resonance properties of the usual megaphone or sound amplifying horn, in sound producing machines may be accurately varied during the operation of A further object of the invention is to pro vide means whereby the resonance properties of the sound producing machine may be automatically adjusted, varied, and controlled by means operatively associated with a record surface, to the'end that the soundsas emitted to the audience will be 4,clear and free from unnaturalness, intensified and sof- -'tened as required, and otherwise more nearly approach the natural sound desired to be reproduced;

F urther, the invention includes a sound -.amplifying device or megaphone having therewithin adjustable sound absorption surfaces, and means for adjusting said surfaces tomodify the sounds.

.The invention also includes means for lengthwise adjusting the area or capacity of.

the resonance chamber, and in carrying out this feature of the invention, advantage is preferably taken of a novel construction and arrangement of doors for theoutlet end of said resonance chamber. Y

Other and further improvements an novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my invention will be appreciated from the description to follow, which for a clear understanding thereof, should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,.forming a part hereof, and wherein-is disclosed, for the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 10, 1914. Serial No. 876,467.

Patented Nov; 5, 1918.

purpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, as applied to sound reproducing instruments.

It is to be understood in this connection, however, that many minor changes may be made Without departing from the spirit or contemplation of the invention, and it is also to be understood that the resonance variations and softening of sounds as contemplated by me are equally applicable in the receiving of sounds for recording or in the reproduction of sounds after recording.

Figure l is a vertical section of a sound producing apparatus with my improvements applied, certain parts being shown in elevatlon;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the valve mechanism;

Fig. 4 is adetail perspective of one of the adjustable wings for the resonance chamber, enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the same, cut away, and illustrating the yieldable connection therefor; d fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of a record Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the adjustable felted surfaces;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective" of parts of the hand operating means; I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the bellows pump, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of parts of the releasing mechanism for the motor drive.

With more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the.

several views, 1 is a cabinet or casing which may be of any approved design and has a swinging top'2, as usual in the class of instrumen'ts under consideration. The inner surface of this top as well as other of the surfaces of the casing and frame parts, wherever convenient, may be provided with sound softening strips, as felted net work 3. Positioned within the casing-is a suitable motor, 4L, of an desired character,.the said motor being adapted to actuate through the 'medium of the rotatablespindle 5, a record supporting disklfi.

The sound box is generally indicated by" the numeral 7 and connects with a tubular shutters, and the rack bars being conmember 8, which latter terminates in an enlarged portion 9, projecting horizontally below the motor and opening at the front of the casing, the said member 9 constituting the sound amplifying device, horn, or megaphone proper.

The resonance chamber provided by the part 9 is preferably of substantially rectangular shape, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the inclosing wall comprising a top, 10, bottom, 11, and-sides, 12. In order to intensify, soften or, otherwise clarify the tones emitted from the resonance chamber, I preferably provide within the same, a plurality of adjustable surfaces, the said surfaces being of a character to adjust the area of the resonance chamber, as well as to adjust the amount of sound softening surface exposed to the sound waves. The adjustable surfaces just referred to preferably take the'form of shutters or blades, arranged in series, thereb constituting in effect auxiliary vertical. sides spaced inwardly from the sides 12' of the resonance chamber. These shutters are preferably constructed and arranged, as follows t 13 is a shaft having pointed terminals 14:, adapted to loosely engage in tapered recesses in the top and bottom walls ofthe resonance chamber. In order to provide a snug fit between the shaft 13 and the receiving recesses,

' and thereby overcome any unnecessary vibration or noise, in the movement of the same, I conveniently provide: on one or the other of the top and bottom walls, or 'on both of these walls, spring pressed blocks 15,

having recesses to engage the pointed terminals atone end of the shafts.

Positioned upon one side of the shaft and secured thereto is a strip 16, of wood or any other suitable relatively hard material, and

secured to the opposite side thereof is a simi may be presented innermost-within the path" of the soundwaves, to suit the required conditions.

Positioned upon the shafts 13, adjacent one end thereof, "are suitable pinions.19, adapted to be engaged by a reciprocating rack bar 20, there being a rack bar for each series-of veniently connected together, as by a cross .bar 21, arranged at a point rearwardly of the resonance chamber and adapted for com nection with suitable adj usting devices about to be described.

Suitable guides 22, maybe provided for the rack bars, and spring members 23 of any approved type may be utilized tonbrmally maintain the same in contact with the pinions 19, whereby to prevent any unnecessary play and objectionable noise between these parts in operation.

While various means may be employed to adjust the. rack bars and to in turn adjust the felt surfaced shutters, this means is preferably automatically controlled by the operation of the machine, and through the medium of means operatively associated with the record which is being reproduced, that is to say, the record is preferably of a character to have provided thereon, or in operative association therewith, suitable guide grooves or members adapted to actuate suitable means connected with the rack bars to ad ust the tone changing shutters of the resonance chamber, and thereby intensify, or soften and otherwise clarify the various portions of the reprdouction. 85

With a view to automatically controlling the position of the adjustable shutters, in the manner referred to, a convenient form I of record having thereon means for controlling the automatic adjustment of the 90 shutters is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in which A designates the record disk,

B the record groove or grooves, and C a guide groove or grooves, of variable depth, adapted to be engaged by and control the 95.- operation of the actuating'mechanism for the shutters, it being understood that as the depthof the grooves varies, so also will the position of the shutters.

The guide grooves C are so arranged with respect to the record grooves that in the re production, those portions of the. guide grooves designed to soften or accentuate as the case may be, any particular part of the record, Will be brought in registration with the shutter adjusting means, substantially simultaneously with the registration of the sounding needle with that particular part of the record grooves.

A motor 24 of any desired construction is provided, the'same having projecting therefrom a suitable drive gear 25, adapted to mesh with a suitable pinion 26, mounted upon a sleeve 27, keyed to the shaft 28, and

.adapted for slidable movement thereon, as

through the medium of an arm 27, which may project without the casing for convenient access, and in the operation thereof,

adapted to bring the pinion 26 into and out of contact with the gear wheel 25, as desired.-

The shaft 28 is supported in any desired manner, not shown, and terminates at one end in a crank support vadapted to impart movement to a pitman rod or crank 29, connected to a suitable bellows pump 30. The J15 bellows pump 30 preferably has spring held flaps 31-32, and is adapted for connection with a suitable vacuum chamber formed by the casing 33. The motor 24 with the bellows pump and associated parts constitutes the vacuum creating means .for the Vacuum chamber, which said chamber has communication through the duct 34 with a power pneumatic, preferably of bellows construction, 35. The power pneumatic has a movable wall 37 connected in any desired-manner, as by a rod 38, with the cross bar 21 of the racks 20;

Obviously a pump and piston arrangement may be substituted in lieu of the power pneumatic, if desired. Y

The normal position of the-power pneumatic 35 may be regulated as desired, through the medium of a. threaded extension 37', on the fixed wall thereof, adapted to engage a threaded aperture in a suitable guide member 38'. Positioned between the opposite walls of the bellows 35 and tending to push them apart is a spring 39, the said spring being adapted, at one end, to engage the movable wall of said bellows, and at its opposite end to engage a suitable disk 40,

having a threaded extension or stem 41, passing through the extension 37, and having screw threaded engagement therewith, to the I end that the compression of the spring may be regulated, as desired. 0

-Asuitable relief or pressure valve 42 is provided, the same having a stem leading to the outside, and adjustable at will; 43 is a tubular conduit adapted to establish communication between the vacuum chamber casing 34 and .the valve mechanism, which latter engages the guide grooves C of the record disk and is preferably constructed, substantially as follows .44 is a suitable valve casing, the same having a laterally extending tubular part 45, slidably mounted on one wall 46 of the closed end of the conduit 43, the tubular part 45 forming a bearing to permit of rotation of the valve casing into and out of operative position relatively to the record, and also permittingof any necessary relative lateral play between the valve casing and the conduit 43.;

The tubular part 45 isopen at its outer end, as indicated at 47, and at its inner end communicates with a suitable air chamber 48, thebottom Wall 49 of which has a suitable air inlet opening adapted to be normally closed by-a valve 50.- This valve 50.

is preferably balanced by opposing springs. the spring 51be1ng in the form of a leaf spring secured to a projecting end 52 of the valve, tending todraw the valve clownwardly into closed position, whereas the spring 53, preferably of the coil type, is securd to the upper surface of the valve and tends to open the same. The tension of the spring 53 may be adjusted as desired,

, through the medium of the threaded bolt 54, projecting without the casing and ter- -m1nating in 'a thumb nut 54".

When properly adjusted the valve 50 will be lightly closed, and the pressure of air or reduction of pressure of air, within the tubular conduit 43 (dependent upon whether the pressure or suction is used) is adapted to be controlled by the valve 50, in the following manner 55" is a needle adapted to be clamped in any desired manner to the outer end of a lever'56, pivoted at 57 to the valve casing '44, and said lever has at its opposite end a return bent portion 58 adapted to engage at one side the spring member 51, and at its opposite side a spring guide 59. The

spring guide 59 tends to pressthe end of the lever 56 against the spring member 51.

- one or more inlet openings-65', a suitable filtering cloth or the like'66, overlying said openings. If desired, a suitable felt lining may be provided for the valve casing 44, and also for the tubular member 43, and other associated parts. A suitable stop 67 is provided to limit the swinging movement of the valvecasing 44, and hold the same in elevated position.

The operation of the parts thus far described may be reviewed as follows The action of the motor is to withdraw air continuously from the pneumatic system and lower the pressure of the air therein. The action of the valve 50 as acted on by the outside pressure of the atmosphere is to permit air continually to pass'into the pneumatic system when the air therein has' reached a certain diminished pressure. It thus prevents the motor from producing more than a given reduction of pressure in the pneumatic system, which reduction amounts to enough to open the valve enough to make the rate of entrance of theair into the system equal to the rate at which it is being withdrawn. In detail the action is as the position of the sound modifying shutters v Again, it may 'be'desired, at times, to op- 30 conduit 43, which is necessary to open the valve 50. Q j

The depth of the groove controls the pressure which the needle lever has upon the spring 5l'of the valve 50. Thus for every new depth of the needle the valve is set to open at a new pressure. The motor 24: begins to create a reduced pressure in the power pneumatic or bellows 35 which causes the out'side pressure to push the movable face of the bellows 35 until the spring 40 equalizes the forces. The pressure decreases to the pointwhere it opens the valve 50. Beyond this, the pressure cannot'be reduced unless the needle point in its motion runs over a shallower place in the groove. Therefore, since a certain depth of groove represents a certain pressure in the system, and a certain pressure represents a certain contractionof the power bellows face, the face and groove change correspondingly, which in turn. adjusts the rack bars 20, to vary or wings heretofore described.

Many obvious changes may-be made in the various parts of the pneumatic control just described, and somewhat diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings.

crate the. adjustable shutters within the resonance chamber manually, as distinguished from the automatic arrangement heretofore referred 1 to, and I have. shown diagrammatically a means for this purpose,- the'same including an elongated lever es,

pivoted at 69, in any desired manner to a' .portion of. the framework of the .machine, said-lever having at itslower end. a loose connection with the connecting bar 21,

of the adjusting racks. The upper end of the lever 68,-terminates in a hand engagingr part 71, and a'suitable spring, 72 is'desi-gned tonormally retain the lever in. position against a stop 73 in a suitable guide inember 74. This spring, however, is not of suflicient strength to interfere witlr the move ment of-the adjusting racks 20 in the autom aticadjustment thereof. y

The guide way 73 is preferably provided with anysuitable meansfor retaining the lever'in adjusted positions, when the same is operated manually, and for purpose of illustration, this retaining means conveniently takes the form of a serrated edge on one wall of the guide 73 adapted to engaged by a suitable projecting part 75, on the lever 68. T

Through he medium of the hand adjusting mechanism just described, it will be appreciated that'the resonance properties of the megaphoneor sound amplifying device may be adjusted at any time during the re production of the record, or if desired, the shutters may be adjusted at the start of any particular record and retained in this ad- ;open end of the resonance chamber.

The motor for operating the control: for the shutters 'is prefera ly of the justed position. In this connection, a suitable indicator may be positioned on one of the shutters, as illustrated at 7 6, the indicator being movable over a suitable scale 77, visible at the front of the machine throng}; tle

re erably the guide grooves C of the records for the first revolutions are of a construction so as to make the automatic control maintain the shutters or wings at a determined position, indicated on the scale 77. If on starting the instrument, it is found that the indicator is not at its desired position, adjustment of nut 63 will adjust the pressure valve for the given groove depth and the pressure will bring the shutters into the desired position.

, tion best adapted to the record to be reproduced.

' lVhenthe hand lever 68 is'brought into 'play, it is desirable to detach the vacuum creating means forthe pneumatic system,

and wlth this in view, while any suitable means may be employed for this pur ose, I preferably take advantage of the s 'dable pinion 26 which may be moved out of o erati-ve position through the medium of t e lever operated collar 27 heretofore described. neumatlc coil spring type and connection may convcniently be provided for winding the same by the same crank mechanism that winds the record moving motor, and'likewise the first mentioned motor may beset into operation by t-hesame means employed to release the/record motor. ,For the purpose of the present invention, it is perhaps perferable actuating motor of a character not to be released at each operation of the releasmg means for the record'movmg motor so that to have thereleasing means for the bellows l thefirst mentioned motor will not be actuated with the incident wear on the parts when it is desired to utilize and hand adjusting means. previously described.

Suitablesound absorbing strips, asof felt j nay be positioned upon the walls 10 and II, or all'of the iiuallsof the resonance chamber,- and for purpose of illustration, I show these strips upon the bottom wall 11 thereof. In the form illustrated, the strips 77 are preferably 'stationary and overlying said strips I preferably provide a series of strips 7 8 separated from one another by an intervening' space '79, and connected through the medium of a bar or the like 80, adjustable 'at the front of the machine, whereby to exthat the same may, in one position, overlie thestrips 77 to the end that the felted surface will not be greater than the width of the strips 77. By further adjustment the' strips 78 will overlie to any desired extent the space intermediate the strips 77 and in one position will bridge said space to the end that substantially the entire exposed surface of the bottom wall will be covered with the felted surface.

It is customary in instruments of this kind to have a pair of pivoted doors at the out let end of the megaphone, which doors may be partially closed to soften the tone, and one of the features of my invention resides in providing in cooperation with the usual pivoted doors adapted to swing upon a vertical axis a cooperating pair of doors adapted to swing on a horizontal axis, the doors overlapping'at their edges, and adapted in "the open position thereof to provide a substantiall-y closed extension for the resonance chamber. The doors 80 at their pivotal connection 81 preferably have coil spring members 82, adapted to normally exert outward pressure on the doors to open the same,

whereas the doors 83 have at their pivotal connection suitable springs 84 tending to draw .the doors 83 into a closed position. In this way, the doors being in contact, the springs of the respective pairs of doors act in opposition, one to the other, and tend to maintain the doors in adjusted position to vary the out-let opening at the end of the resonance'chamber. The doors 83, when in closed position, willoverlie the doors 80, as illustrated.

.It is to be borne in mind that the means for actuating the valve 50 of the pneumatic system may be positioned in any desired manner upon the record disk, for instance, as illustrated in the drawings, or upon the reverse side of the-record, or in case a cylinder recordis utilized, the guiding grooves may be positioned thereon. Then again, an entirely separate disk or cylinder having grooves or actuating means thereon for the valve may be utilized.

- Also. while I-have illustrated the so-called Jhill and valley type of guide groove in the record, the improvements with slight variations may be applied to other equally well known types of grooves.

It will be observedthat when the shutters or wings of the resonance chamber are-closed they provide substantially auxiliary walls for the resonance chamber, thereby reduc ing the cross sectional area thereof. As the leaves of the shutters are opened small orifices therebetween are made, and inclined in such a direction asto interfere least with the ordinary resonance qualities. As they are opened farther, the inclination of shutters increases withthe result that agreater portion of sound waves is thereby defiected. Further, as the opening continues, more and more of the felted surfaces of the leaves becomes exposed. This will have the effect of taking out the harmful overtones or screeching of the reproduction and also soften the reflective character of the surfaces exposed by the shutter itself.

In the claimswherein the terms felt or felted are employed, the same are to be construed asof sufficient breadth to include other similar material having tone softening or poor sound reflecting qualities.

I claim 1. In a sound controlling machine having a resonance chamber the combination of adjustable means within the chamber for changing the resonance properties thereof, and motor means acting automatically at predetermined unequal intervals for making and maintaining the adjustment of said adjustable means.

2. In combination, means forming a teeonance chamber, and record controlled means modi ing the resonance properties of said cham er. I I

3. In combination with means adapted to be vibrated by the configurations in a groove of a moving record, means controlled by said record for varying the; tonal effect of the vibrations of the first said means.

4. In combination, a sound amplifying horn, internal means for adjusting the resonance properties thereof, "and a motor means for making and maintaining the ad justment of said adjustingmeans.

5. In combination, a resonance chamber, adjustable means therefor, a rotatable disk having a guide groove therein, and controlling means for said adjustable means adapted to engage said guide groove.

6. In combination with a record body, means adapted tobe vibrated by the configurations of said body, and a second means operated by configurations of said body for varying the tonal effect of the first said means. A Y

7. In a sound controlling machine, a sound amplifying device comprising an outer surrounding wall, and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall and substantially coextensive therewith, said inner wall comprising a plurality of movably connected sections, and means for simultaneously adjusting said sections.

.8. In a sound controlling machine of the character described, a sound amplifying device having outer inclosing walls, and an inner wall extending substantially parallel with one of the surrounding walls, said inner wall having a felted surface and being adjustable to vary the sound producing qualities of the device.

9. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer inclosing walls, and an inner wall extending substantially parallel to one of the surrounding walls, said inner wall comprising pivotally' connected sections, and a common actuating means there-' for.

10. In combination, a sound amplifying device, having outer inclosing walls, and an comprising one inner wall extending longitudinally of one of the surround-ing walls, said inner Wall or more pivotally mounted sections. I I

11.v In combination, a sound, amplifying device having outer inclosing Walls, an inner Wall extending longitudinally of one of the 'surrounding walls. said inner wall comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted sections, and means for simultaneously moving said sections about their pivotal supports.

12. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer inclosin Walls, and. an inner wall'extending longitu inally of one of the surrounding walls, said'inner Wall comprising a plurality of sections, said sections being rotatably mountedwhereby the same may be reversed.

13. In combination, a sound. amplifying device having outer inclosing walls, and an inner wall, said inner wall. comprising a plurality of movable sections having portions thereof of' different sound reflecting properties relative to other portions thereof.

14. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer inclosing walls, and an inner, wall, said inner wall comprising a plurahty of sectlons'having a felted sur ace and a hard surface and means for adjusting said sections whereby to vary the position.

relative .to oneanother of said surfaces .in the sound passage.

15. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer inclosing walls, and an inner-wall, said inner wall cdmprising one or more sections having on. one surface a 1 layer of material such as felt, and having a relatively hard opposite surface, said sections belng, reversible whereby to expose either the felted surface or the opposite relatively hard surface to the sound waves.

It}. In combination, a sound amplifying dev1ce having oppositely disposed outer side walls, and oppositely disposed inner side walls spaced laterally from the outer side walls, said inner side walls being adjustable to vary the sound producing qualities.

1 7. In combination, a 'sound amplifying device having oppositely disposed outer side walls, oppositely disposed inner sidewalls spaced laterally from the outer side walls, sald lnner side walls being adjustable to vary the sound producing qualities, andmeans for simultaneously adj usting' said .inner sidewalls.

12. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer side walls, inner side walls spaced laterally therefrom and each havlng a shutter or wing, and means for simultaneously adjusting the Wings of each section;

19. In combination, a sound amplifying device having outer side walls, inner side walls spaced laterally therefrom and each having a shutter or wing, and means acting record and a phonograph therefor havlng means for adjusting its tone qualities, of a control for said means operated by said record. 1

- 23. In. combination with a phonograph record having a sound record and a control configuration, a phonograph having sound producing means operated by said sound record and sound adjusting means controlled by said configuration.

record body havinga sound record track and a control track, a phonograph having sound producing means operated by 'said sound record track and self-adjusting means.

controlled by said control track. I 25. In combination with a phonograph record body having a sound record groove and a variable control track therein, a phonograph havingmeans ,for reproducing sounds from said record groove and means.

controlled by variations in said track for.

producing a series of adjustments in the operation of said phonograph.

26. In combination, av sound record, a control record, and a phonograph having ducing sounds from said sound record and v 24. In combination with a phonograph means for moving said records and repro-- means controlled by said control record for producing a series of adjustments in said phonograph.

27. In combination with a sound producing device, a sound amplifying device, a record and means acting automatically under the control of said record for adjusting the resonance qualities of said amplifying device in unison with variations in the sounds produced by said sound producing. device. 1

28. In a machine of the character described having means for moving a record surface to be reproduced, a sound amplifying device, and means governed by the movement of said record to automatically vary the resonance properties of said device.

29. In a' machine of the character dc scribed adapted to reproduce a record, a sound amplifying device or horn, and means associated with the record for varying the resonance properties of the device.

30. In combination, a sound amplifying device, and means governed and controlled by the movement of a sound record to vary the tone producing qualities of the device.

31. In combination, a sound amplifying device, a sound record having thereon governing. means, and means actuated and con-.

trolled by said governing means to automatically vary the resonance qualities of the resonance properties thereof,

'means for ad usting said parts, and assoonance properties thereof, air pressure means for actuating said first mentioned, means, and

means governed by the movement of the recdevice. j

32. In combination, a sound amplifying device having movable parts, and automatically controlled pneumatic means for adjusting said movable parts to vary the resonance properties of the device.

33. In combination, a sound amplifying device, having movable parts to vary the automatic means for adjusting said walls, associated manualmeans'for adjusting said walls, and means for render-mg the pneumatic means inoperative without interfering with the operation of the manual means.

86. In combination, sound reproducing means, adjustable tone modulating means therefor, and means for adjusting said modulating means controlled by the movement/of an elementof said adjusting me'ansin synchronism with said reproducing means.

37. In combinationwith a resonance cham ber having adjustable surfaces disposed oppositely on each side of the normal path of sounds through said chamber, means for adjusting said surfaces to change the resonan'ce propertiesof said chamber, and air pressure means' for actuatlng sa d first mentioned means. a v 38. In a device having a resonance chamber, adjustable means for changing-the resord for regulating said pressure. p

' 89. In a machine having a resonance cham- .ber, adjustable members in the chamber for changing theresonance properties thereof, a vacuum'chamber cas1ng,-means for creating a vacuum, a power pneumatic operatively connected with said adjustable members, and a connection between the power pneumatic and vacuum chamber.

40. In a machine having a resonance chamber, adjustable members in the chamber for changing the resonance properties thereof, a vacuum chamber casing, means for creating a vacuum, a power pneumatic'operatively connected with said adjustable members, a connection between the power pneumatic and Vacuum chamber, an alrinlet duct commun eating with the vacuum chamber, a valve for said duct, and means for actuating said valve.

41. In a machine having a resonance chamber, adjustable members inthe chamber for changing the resonance porperties thereof, a vacuum chamber casing, means for creating. a vacuum, a power pneumatic operatively connected with said adjustable members, a

connection between the power pneumatic and vacuum chamber, an air inlet duct communicating with the vacuum chamber, and a valve for said duct, said valve having a projection adapted to engage a record disk or the like, whereby to automatically operate in the operation of the latter.

42. In combination, a sound amplifying device having a plurality of movable members, each member having surfaces having different reflecting qualities, and means for correspondingly varying simultaneously the exposure of the surfaces of the respective members to sounds caused to pass through said device.

43. In combination, a sound producing device, a conduit conveying the sounds pro- "duced by said device, and adjustable wall forming panels for said conduit, said panels being constructed and arranged whereby in the adjustment thereof the refiecting qualities of the Walls formed by said panels may be varied.

44. In combination, means'operated by a motor for modifying tone qualities, a disk I having guiding means thereon, means for rotating said disk, and controlling means for said motor adapted to engage and be actuated by said guiding means.

45. In combination, a sound'producing device including a record member, and means controlled by the configuration of the rec- 'ord member for modifying tone producing qualities of said device.

46. In a .sound controlling device, an amplifier having an extended sound reflecting surface composed of a plurality of reversible panels, each panel having one hard side and a softer side, and means reversing all of said panels simultaneously or maintaining in any position taken in-rever'sing, to produce simultaneously a variation of the amountyof soft reflecting surface exposed to the interiorof the amplifier and variations in the openings through said extended surface made between said panels in positions taken in reversing.

' 47. In a sound producing machine, sound modifying means, motor mechanism for operating the same, and a record having thereonmeans for governing the operation of said operating means.

. means.

48. In combination, a sound producing device having a chamber through which sounds pass, a partition within said chamber having means forming variable openings therethrough, pneumatic means for operating said means, and a motor drive for said pneumatic 49. In combination, a device, pneumatic means for operating said device, a motor drive for saidpneum-atic means, a record having a guide surface, and controlling means for the pneumatic means adapted to engage said guide'surface.

50. In combination, a resonance chamber or the like, adjusting means for the resonance chamber, said means including a pneumatic system, a rotatable disk, having a guide surface, and controlling means for'said .adjusting means adapted to engage said guide surface.

51.111 a machine adapted to reproduce sounds from a record, sound modifying means mcluding a pneumatic control, a record surf-ace having guiding means thereon, and means for regulating the pressure in the pneumatic control adapted to be.actuated by said guiding means. v

" 52. In a machine adapted to reproduce sounds from a record, soundmodifying means including a pneumatic control, a reoord surface having a groove, and means operatively connected -with said control and adapted to engage the groove whereby the varlations of'the groove will produce variasounds from a record, soundmodifying means including a pneumatic control, a valve tions in the movement of said control.

53. In -,a machine adapted to reproduce sounds from arecord, sound modifying means including 'a'pneum-atic control, a valve for the control, a record having a groove, and. said valve having a needle to engage said groove.

54. In a machine adapted to reproduce for the control, a record having a groove, said valve having a,needle-to engage said groove, and spring retaining means for the valve, said needle operating in passing along the groove to change the tension of the spring on said valve. A j

55. In a sound producing machine, a reoord having a guiding surface, and a tone modifying means operated by a source of power, said source being controlled by the guiding surface of the record.

56. In a resonance chamber, a plurality of elongated strips. adapted for rotatable sound modifying movement about axes placed in a row extending lengthwise within the chamber, said strips. being constructed and arranged whereby in one position of rotation to form a substantially imperforate wall.

57. In a resonance chamber a plurality of elongated strips adapted for rotatable movement about axes placed in a row, one

side of each strip being of poorer sound reflecting material than the other side of said strip, and means for simultaneously producing the same inclination of all of the sides of the strips having poorer reflecting qualities, said inclination being with respect to the direction of the passage of sounds material than the other side of said strip,

said strips being constructed and arranged whereby to form in one position of rotation a substa tially imperforate wall.

60. In com ination, a sound amplifying device having therein an adjustable side Wall, and a motor for adjusting said Wall. 61'. In combination, a sound amplifying d'evice, oppositely disposed means within .said device for varying the travel of sound withinsaid device, and a motor for actuating said means.

' 62. In combination, a sound amplifying device having end openings, and means within said device at points spaced from said openings to vary the resonance properties of said device, and an automatic control for said means.

63. In a machine of the character described, a resonance chamber, one of the walls of said chamber having a lengthwiseadjustablefelted surface.

64. In a machine of the character de-' scribed',j'a resonance-" lchamber, one of the walls of said cha iiber having se arated strips of .felt, and a lengthwise ad ustable series of felted strips cooperating with the first mentioned strips.

65. In a device of the able sound absorbing surfaces, and means for adjusting said surfaces to vary the 'exposure thereof to sounds passing through the device, and pneumatic means for operating said means.

66. In a device of the character described,

character described, a sound modifying device including adjusta sound modifying device including adjustable sound absorbing surfaces, and means a for adjusting said surfaces to vary the exposure thereof to sounds passing through the,,device, pneumatic means for operating said means, and a motor drive for said pneumatic means.

67. In a sound controlling device, including a record element, an adjustable surface, and means acting under the control of the record element to adjust said surface to vary the reflections of sounds passing through said device.

68. In combination, a sound amplifying device, and adjustable means disposed on opposite sides of the axis of said device for deflecting in a direction away from said axis part of the sound waves passing through said device.

69. In combination, a resonance chamber, adjustable means therefor, a disk having a guide groove therein, means for rotating said disk, and controlling means for said adjustable means adapted to engage said guide groove. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES M. HECK.

\Vitnesses J. D. BRISBALL, JOHN D. BERRY.

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