US1008340A

US1008340A - Sound-transmitter.

Info

Publication number: US1008340A
Application number: US48248209A
Authority: US
Inventors: Forrest E Howes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-03-10
Filing date: 1909-03-10
Publication date: 1911-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1928-11-14

Description

P. E. HUWEQ.

sown TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1909.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

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RVV6SZE.H0ll/S FORREST E. HOWES, OF MATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOUND-TRANSMITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

Application filed March 10, 1909. Serial No. 482,482.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, Fonnns'r E. Howns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattapan, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sound-Transmitters; of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to mechanism for transmitting sound vibrations transferred from a sound signal station through water, as for example from one ship to another. It is apparent, however, that my invention in certain-aspects thereof may be used in other relations,

In order'that the principles of the invention may readily be understood, I have disclosed an illustrative embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through a portion of a ship and a trans mitter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1 looking toward the left in said figure and the skin of the ship being removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the adaptation of my invention to boats wherein water is carried as ballast; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Instruments have heretofore been devised to receive sound vibrations transferred from a sound signaling stat-ion through water. So far as I am aware, it has been customary in utilizing such instruments upon ship board to suspend the instrument in a tank within the ship containing water through which and the water surrounding the ship the sound is received from some signaling station. The sound as received in transferred by a suitable -microphone or other instrument to the pilot house or other suitable part of the vessel, thus conveying information by which the position of the ship may be ascertained. The employment of.

tanks or receptacles for receiving such transmitting instruments renders their use expensive and much space is required upon ship board. .In accordance with my invention I secure the transmitter against the wall or skin of the ship and preferably the inner face thereof in any suitable manner. I have ascertained that by interposing a suitable transmitting medium between the ship wall mitter, sounds can readily be received by the transmitter and conveyed to the receiving station upon the ship.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the side or skin of the ship is represented at l in Fig. 1. Two of the usual ribs are represented at 22, they being here shown as provided with angle irons 33 secured by rivets 4-4. Against the wall 1 of the ship, I secure the sound transmitter in any suitable manner. While the transmitter may be of any suitable construction, it is provided with a vibrating diaphragm 5 tuned to approximate the pitch of the sound to be received. Between the diaphragm and the ships side or skin I interpose a suitable sound transmitting medium preferably secured to the diaphragm or other part of the transmitter in such manner that the instrument is complete in itself and can be readily secured in position. While the medium may be a liquid or a semi-liquid received within a suitable jacket or cap secured to the transmitter, I have herein represented the medium as composed of a layer or sheet 5 of pure, soft gum rubber vulcanized onto the vibrating diaphragm 5. I have ascertained by experiments that rubber will transmit high period vibrations and that it will mufiie low period vibrations and that therefore the internal noise of the ship will be muflied to a very considerable extent. The rubber may be of any suitable thickness. Within the scope of my invention other suitable media of a. solid nature may be employed. The layer or sheet 5 is thus a sound damping substance.

The diaphragm f; is provided with a suitable telephonic or microphonic button 7 acted upon by the sound vibrations and serving to convey the resulting electrical impulses by the conductor 8 to the pilot house or other part of the vessel.

The instrument may be secured in position, and preferably removably in any suitable manner. For example, it may be provided with a cap 9 shouldered circumferentially represented at 10 to of the diaphragm 5, the cap eing threaded and receiving thereon an internally threaded ring 11 overlying the opposite edge of the diaphragm and securing the cap in position. If desired, a rubber or other gasket 12 may be placedfbetween the ring 11 and cap 9. The cap 9 serves to a substantial extent to and the vibrator diaphragm of the trans-- gage the edge cut out or exclude from the diaphragm 5 the ships noises, and as the button 7 is between the cap and the diaphragm, the sounds transmitted by said button are substantially exclusive of the ships noises, etc.

The instrument may be positioned or secured against the ships side in any suitable manner. Herein for the purpose I have shown a casting 13 having lugs 14-14 to engage the angle irons 33 and a bolt 15 to secure it in position. A bolt 16 is threaded through the cast-ing 18 at a suitable point and engages the cap 9, as for example in the socket 17 A check nut 18 is provided to hold the bolt in clamping position.

It is apparent that the instrument shown may be placed in any part of the ship below the water line so as to receive the sound vibrations in the manner described, it being unnecessary that it be surrounded with water as heretofore. customary.

The plate 5 is secured at its edge to vibrate as a diaphragm. It will be observed that the plate 5 is clamped orsecured at its nodal line. The plate is tuned to approximate the pitch of the sound to be received by forming said plate of the proper thickness. By fastening the plate at its nodal line, the pitch to which the plate is tuned is not impaired. In this manner, the plate is therefore a sound selective diaphragm. If, for example, the note of the bell which it is desired the plate shall vibrate to is caused by 1200 vibrations per second, an untuned plate would vibrate to sounds ranging from perhaps 1050 to 1350. By forming the plate of the proper thickness and mounting it at the edge, it is caused to vibrate as a diaphragm and substantially all sounds excepting that of the bell with which it is tuned are excluded. In other words, the diaphragm is very responsive to the bell with which it is tuned, this being indicated by the piercing musicalnote emitted by the telephonic or microphonic receiver when placed -to the ear, other tones above or below such note being dull-and without ring. In this manner, noises in the ship, the sound of the I washing'of the waves and other sounds not of the number of vibrations of the bell referred to, are excluded.

In certain types of vessels, as for example those used upon the Great Lakes, water is employed as ballast. In such cases the instrument may be placed in the water so utilized, and such use of my invention is indicated in Figs. 3 and ,4, wherein the instruments are represented as positioned against the skin of the ship at'opposite sides at 19, 20. In order to prevent transmission of sound vibrations from one of the instruments to the other, I interpose a suitable screen or screens constructed of a suitable number of layers of material having difierent sound refracting power. By employing alternate layers of wood and cement, I have ascertained that a total refraction of the sound received by an instrument is secured so that one instrument 'does not interfere with another. In said Figs. 3 and 4, I have represent-ed layers 21 of wood with alternate layers 22 of cement. Preferably one or both cent partitions provided in such type of vessel and extending for example from the cross brace 23 to the ships bottom. Preferably such a screen is provided adjacent each instrument.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that my invention presents an instrument complete in itself and adapted to be readily secured in position and that it will occupy but little space. The employment of a transmitting medium that may be secured to the face of the vibrator diaphragm and thus position between it and the side of the ship renders the instrument compact and simple.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that. although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a vibrator diaphragm, a rubber layer secured. against a face thereof, and electric signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm.

2. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a sound selective tuned diaphragm, a rubber layer secured against the face thereof, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm.

3. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a vibrator diaphragm, a rubber layer secured against a face thereof, electric signaling means operatively related to the other face of said diaphragm, and means to secure said instrument in position againstthe skin of a ship.

4. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising 9. vibrator diaphragm, a rubber layer applied flatwise to one face thereof, signaling means operatively related to said vibrator to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm,

and means to secure said diaphragm flatwise against the skin of a ship with the rubber layer interposed between said diaphragm and the ships skin. I

5. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a vibrator diaphragm, a rubber layer positioned flatwise against a face thereof, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

6. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a sound receiving element including a relatively thin, plate like vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, means to secure said element fixedly flatwise in contact with the usual and unaltered skin of a ship, and an electric signaling means applied directly to and contacting with said element to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm, whereby sound reaching the skin of a ship may be transmitted to the user of the instrument directly through said element and electric signaling means.

7 An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a sound receiving element including a relatively thin, metallic plate constituting a v1- brator diaphragm, said plate being adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, means to fix said element flatwise in direct contact with the usual and unaltered skin of a ship, and an electric transmitter applied directly to and contacting with said element to convey vibrations received by said element, whereby sounds reaching the skin of a ship may be transmitted to the user of the instrument directly through said element and electric signaling means.

8. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound slgnals transmitted thereto through water, a sound transmitting,flatfacing applied flatwise to one face of said vibrator diaphragm, means to secure said diaphragm fixedly flatwise against the usual and unaltered skin of a ship with said facing between the ships skin and the diaphragm, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

9. An instrument for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to signals transmitted thereto through water, a flexible, sound transmitting layer of stable form applied flatwiseoto one face of said vibrator diaphragm, means to secure. said diaphragm fixedly flatwise against the usual and unaltered skin of a ship with said layer interposed between the ships skin and said diaphragm, and electric signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

10. Means for receiving and transmitting submarine signals comprising a sound receiving element including a relatively thin, plate like vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, means to fix said element in direct contact with the usual and unaltered skin of a ship, electric signaling means applied directly to and contacting with said element to convey vibrations received by said element and a sound screen distinct from said element but interposed between the same and the ships interior for the purpose stated.

-11. Means for receiving and transmitting subsmarine signals comprising a sound receiving element including a relatively thin, plate like vibrator diaphragm adaptd to respond vibratively to sound signals 1315:115- mitted thereto through water, means 5c fix said element flatwise against the usual and unaltered skin of a ship, electric signaling means applied directly to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm, and a sound screen distinct from said element and composed of alternate layers of wood and cement, said screen being interposed between the said element and the ships interior for the purpose stated.

12. A sound selective instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine sig nals comprising at least three layers of solid material adjoining flatWise and constituting a single sound selective body, one of said layers being theskin of the ship, and signaling means directly attached to one of said layers.

13. A sound selective instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising at least three face-contacting layers of solid material, one at least of said layers being sound selective, and one of said layers being the skin of the ship, and electric signaling means directly attached to one of said layers.

I 14. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, a layer of sound damping material applied to a face of said vibrator diaphragm, means to secure said instrument fiatwise against the skin of a ship, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

15. Aninstrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine si als comprising a relatively thin, plate-1i e vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, said diaphragm being adapted to be applied flatwise against the skin of a ship, signaling means operatively applied to the other face of the diaphragm to convey vibrations received thereby, and a cap or inclosure for said other face of the diaphragm.

16. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, vibrator dia phragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, a layer of sound-damping material applied to a face of said vibrator diaphragm, said diaphragm and layer being adapted to be applied flatwise against the skin of a ship, signaling means operatively applied to-the other face of the diaphragm to convey vibrations received thereby, and a cap or inclosure for said other face of the diaphragm.

17. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, substantially circular vibrator diaphragm adapted to re spond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, said diaphragm being adapted to be applied flatwise to the skin of'a ship, a diaphragm inclosing cap engaging the opposite face of said diaphragm along substantially its nodal line only, and signaling means between'said cap and diaphragm and operatively connected to the latter.

18. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like substantially circular, vibrator diaphragm adapted to re spond vibratively to sound signals trans- "mitted thereto through water, said diaphragm being adapted to be applied fiatwise to the skin of aship, a diaphragm inclosing cap engaging the opposite face of said diaphragm along substantially its nodal line only, means engaging said cap to fix said diaphragm flatwise against the skin of a ship, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received thereby.

19. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, plate-like, vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, a non-metallic, sound transmitting. flat facing applied flatwise to one face of' said vibrator diaphragm, means to secure said diaphragm fixedly flatwise against the diaphragm,'means to secure said diaphragm fixedly flatwise against the usual and unaltered skin of a ship with said facing between the ships skin and the diaphragm, said securing means permitting vibrative response of said diaphragm, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

21. An instrument for receiving and transmitting sub-marine signals comprising a relatively thin, substantially circular, plate-like, vibrator diaphragm adapted to respond vibratively to sound signals transmitted thereto through water, a sound transmitting, fiat facing applied flatwise to one face of said vibrator diaphragm and of a substance permitting said vibrations of said diaphragm, means engaging said diaphragm along substantially its nodal line only and securing it fixedly flatwise against the usual and unaltered "skin of a ship with said facing between the ships skin and diaphragm, and signaling means operatively related to said diaphragm to convey vibrations received by said diaphragm.

22. In a submarine sound detection and transmission apparatus the combination with a microphonic detector and a sound conductor consisting of a plate-like vibrator diaphragm, of a sound conductive path interposed between the conductor and the body to be tested, said path including a solid plate-like body contacting flatwise with said diaphragm and suitably proportioned to exclude extraneous noises greater proportion than the sound vibrations from the submarine sound source.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FORREST E. HOWES. Witnesses MAY H. LOWRY, IRVING U. TOWNSEND.