US1389058A - Phonograph - Google Patents

Description

J. T, LEITCH.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I2, I920.

1 89,058. P e A g. 30, 192.1.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

FIG.1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES '1. LEITCH, OF ALLENTCW'N, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-FIFTHS TO -TILGHMA.N A. FEE-ED, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

rnonoemn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

Application filed August 12, 1920. Serial No. 403,115.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. Lnrron, a citizen of the United States of America, residin at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to phonographs and waves will be obtained and the absorption and consequent waste of sound producing v1- brations be eliminated.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of needle arm and its bracket or support there? for in order to prevent damping of vibrations by absorption in the body of the sound box as well as to eliminate the production of metallic. efi'ects.

A fourth important object of the invention is the provision of a novel amplifier so connected with the resonator that the produced vibrations will be collected and amplified.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in eneral of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a front or face view of the improved reproducer.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a back view thereof.

Fig. 4' is an end view taken from the right hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line VV of Fig. 2.

.Fig. 6 is a section on the-line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the perforated diaphragm removed from the box.

Fi 8 is a detail section on the line VII -VIII of Fig.2.

Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a face view of a portion of a modification wherein the amplifier is omitted and .the resonator connected to a novel anchorage. t

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated there is provided a cylindrical casing 10 having on its front or face end an inturned flange 11. Within the casing and resting against this flange 11 is an elastic ring 12, which, in common with the other elastic rlngs hereinafter mentioned, is preferably made of rubber. Resting beneath this ring 12 is a ring 13 which has on one side a spaced pair of arms 14. terminating in hook shaped portions 15 and forming the fulcrum brackets as will be hereinafter explained. Below the fulcrum bracket ring 13 is a second elastic ring 16 and against the under side of this ring bears the periphery of a sound diaphragm 17.

It is to be noted that this diaphragm 17 is of peculiar character, being formed from a thin sheet of mica having its surface covered bya multitude of fine particles of metal, the

latter being held on the mica bysome suitable adhesive so that the surface of the diaphragm appears as though powdered with metal. The effect of this metallized mica diaphragm is to render the reproducer responsive to weak and sensitive sounds while at the same time the overtone waves are properly blended.

Thus the reproduction has all of the characteristics of the original sound without any harshness or blasting being caused by improper or defective vibrations in the diaphragm.

Beneath this diaphragm is an elastic ring 18 against the under side of which bears the periphery of a partition (best shown in 'Fig. 7) having its periphery in the form of a ring 18'. From the peripheral ring 18' lanceolate fingers 19 extend radially inward, being connected to the peripheral ring by narrow necks 20 and termmatmg in points adjacent the center of the ring. This partition is made of thin resiliently vibratory flexible metal and its efiect is to properly blend the tones and overtones, eliminate discordant sounds and assist in increasing the volume of sound.

Beneath this ring 18 is a resilient ring 21 and held between the ring 21 and a similar ring '22 is the periphery of a back piece 23 from the center of which projects a tubular nipple 24 whereby the reproducer may be connected to a phonograph horn or the like. The ring 23 is held in position by a locking ring 25 screwed into the rear end of the cas ing 10. a

From the foregoing it will be seen that the parts 13, 17 and 18 float resiliently in the casing by reason of their being supported on the rubber rings and that the back is also floatingly connected to the casing.

Considering now the peculiar needle arm arrangement it is seen that this needle arm includes a central spindle shaped portion 26 and from the ends of this portion 26 project journal ends 27 which are held in sleeves 28 carried in the bracket portions 15, these sleeves being of resilient material, preferably rubber. Projecting in one direction from the portion 28 is a tubular needle holder 29 provided with the usual thumbscrew 30 by means of which a needle, such as is shown at 31 in Fig. 2, may be held in position. Projecting opposite to the part 29 is a bent finger 32 the tip of which is attached to the mica diaphragm in any preferred manner. Thus the vibrations of the needle caused by the record are transmitted to the dia-- p ragm without passing to the casing as the needle arm fulcrum, being carried in the rubber sleeves 28, is thoroughly cushioned. Consequently none of the vibrations are absorbed or dlstorted nor are metallic effects produced as is the case wherein the fulcrum is borne directly on metallic supports carried by or formed on the casing.

Supported on the casing 10 and ring 25 is a bracket 33 carrying an amplifier which includes a casing 34 having a beaded edge wherein are rubber rings 35 against which rests the periphery of a mica amplifier diaphragm 36. On the other side of this diaphragm is a rubber sleeve 37 against which rests a second mica amplifier diaphragm 38, the latter being held in position by a retaining ring 39. Thus the amplifier forms a closed box the ends of which are constituted by mica diaphragms.

This amplifier is connected to the other part of the device by an elastic connector constructed as follows: From the center of the diaphragm 36 to the central part of the needle arm extends a gut strand 40 which carries, adjacent the amplifier, a spreader 41. From each end of the spreader extends a gut strand 42 which is connected to a respective bracket 14 all of these strands being under slight tension and firmly secured at their ends to the respective parts. The

elastic connector is thus anchored to the amplifier and to the needle arm and brackets.

In some instances (see Fig. 10) the amplifier is dispensed with and the bracket carries, in lieu thereof, an anchorage 43 to which the strands 40 and 42 are attached. In such a case the spreader is omitted as, the strands all being connected to the anchorage there is no need for such a device.

This construction gives a heavy leverage in transmitting the vibrations of the needle arm 29 through the strand 40 whenever the needle moves to pull upon said strand and consequently transmits such vibrations to the diaphragm 36. Furthermore, the lateral strands 42 limit the movement of the diaphragm 36 whenever the needle arm moves to relax tension on the strand 40 excessively.

There has thus been provided a highly efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor chan es may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the principles thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but' it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the kind described, a sound box having a dia hragm, needle arm brackets at one side of the dia hragm, a needle arm connected to the diapl iragm and having a fulcrum arranged transversely thereof and supported in the brackets, a second sound box diametrically opposite the needle arm brackets and likewise provided with a diaphragm, and an elastic connector extending transversely across the first sound box and connected to the needle arm at one end and to the diaphragm of the second sound'box at the other.

2. In a device of the kind described, a sound box having a diaphragm, needle arm brackets at one side of the sound box, a needle arm fulcrumed in said brackets and connected to the diaphragm, a second sound box at the opposite side of the first sound box and likewise provided with a diaphragm, an elastic connector having connection at one end to the second diaphragm and at its other end to the needle arm and other elastic strands connected respectively to the .needle arm brackets and t0 the first connectr at a point adjacent to said second diaphragm."

an anchorage for the remaining ends of said strands, said anchorage comprising an amplifier sound box having a diaphragm to which the remaining end of the first strand is connected and a spreader carried by said first strand to which the remaining ends of the other strands are connected.

4. In a device of the kind described, a sound box having a diaphragm, needle arm brackets at one side of the sound box, a needle arm extending radially across the sound box and having its inner end connected to the diaphragm, said needle arm having a fulcrunr arranged transversely thereof and supported in said brackets,

the fulcrum being disposed between the inner and outer ends of the needle arm, a bracket extending outwardly from the sound box diametrically opposite the needle arm, a second sound box supported on said bracket at right angles to the first sound box and provided with a diaphragm, an elastic connector having one end con-. nected to the outer end of the needle arm and the other end connected to the second diaphragm, a cross bar carried by said elastic connector adjacent the second diaphragm, and elastic strands each connected at one end to an end of the cross bar and on its other end to a respective needle arm bracket.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

J AMES T. LEITCH.

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