US1169721A - Mechanically-actuated diaphragm-horn. - Google Patents

Description

M. R. HUTCHiSON.

MECHANICALLY ACTUATE'D DIAPHRAGM HORN,

APPLSCATION HLED 0CT.25, 1909.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I W d/ATTORNEY M. R. HUTCHISUN.

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED DIAPHRAGM HORN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. I909.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- INVENTOR Br W flea ATTORNEY WITNESSES.-

M. R. HUTCHISON.

MEGHANICALLY ACTUATED DIAPHRAGM HORN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1909.

1,169,721 Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l, INVENTOR m .46

'W, kl rrommr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON, OF SUMMIT, NEW! JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LOVELL- McGONNELL'MANUFACTURIIQECGMIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

mEoHANroAIlLY-AcrUATnn DIAPHRAGM-HORN.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application filed October 25, 1909. Serial No. 524,558.

tain new and useful Improvements 'in Mechanically-Actuated Diaphragm-Horns, of-

which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to horns of the above type, particularly such as are contemplated by my prior Patents No. 923,048, 923,049, and 923,122, and various other patents and applications co-pending therewith (see, for instance, application Serial 'No. 494,120 filed May 5th, 1909, Patent No. 1,160,900 granted November 16th, 1915, and

Patent No. 1,160,899 granted Novemberl6th, 1915, on a division thereof). In said patents, I have disclosed how a thin flexible steel diaphragm having a fairly definite natural frequency may be caused to produce a note by continuous bodily swing on both sides of normal with a cam push for every swing at frequencies depending on the characteristics of the diaphragm; and, also how very fine results may be achieved when only the outermost portions of the cam projections engage the diaphragm when in its rest position. In said prior applications, I contemplated the use of driving means 'gi'ving any required amount of power and any speedof cam which might be necessary for such method of operation.

My present inventiondepends upon the discovery that it is'possible to embody in a compact, and. preferably symmetrical case, a simple driving mechanism of such ratio of speed multiplicationthat the desired [into even at frequencies as-high as 300 to 450 vibrations per second can be produced by a cam operated mechanism in which the cam may have a sufiicient number (if teeth, oc-

cupying sufficient peripheral space so as not tube of unduly high pitch and in which. the multiplying gear may consist of a large gear of diameter approximately that of the diaphragm, while the pinion may have a sufficient number of teeth ofsufiicient size, and yet the speed and 'frequency ratios of the above mentioned parts will permit of the desired note when the crank or handle is rotated'at speeds not exceeding those which are practicable and convenient for an ordinary unskilled operator. Moreover, the gear ratios are such that the power r oducing effect, necessarily attendant upon the speed multiplying effect, is not so serious but that the cam can be forced past the wearpiece from a state of rest without making therange of movement bf the crank or other manually operable member of inconveniently great extent. Any difficulty in this respect can be taken care of in any given case by careful adjustment of the degree of overlap of'the cam'projections with respect to the normal rest position of the diaphragm, suitableprovisions forwhich are described hereinafter.

'W'ith the above specific commercially de-= sirable possibilities in view, I have devised ti'ons' and elements which are capable of use in specifically different relations or in connection with coiiperating parts specifically different from those set forth herein.

One feature of my invention relates to organization of parts whereby a drive shaft is arranged perpendicularly to the diaphragm, and preferably centrally with re spect thereto so that the exterior case may be approximately symmetrical with respect to such shaft as an axis. such an arrangement of the shaft is that a crown gear mounted directly on the drive shaft may be used to operate a pinion mount ed directly on a cam shaft, preferably at right angles to said drive shaft and parallel with the diaphragm. Iprefer to dish the One advantage of w crown gear on the side toward the dia-- much greater diameter than the diameter of the pinion. the advantage being that-this makes possible the combinationof a pinion having great ratio of multiplication, with a camfdriven directly thereby having a large number. of teeth, and at the same time the of the case may be dished to correspond to the dishing of the large gear, thereby affording an ample clearance for ,the crank or handle.

Another feature of my invention depends upon the discovery that the necessary rela-? tive adjustment'of the degree of overlap of the cam and diaphragm wearpiece, which for the best results must be extremely fine and accurate, may be effected a simple and inexpensive way by an adjustment fof cam shaft may be arranged approximatelyparallel to the. diaphragm. 'The end wall ing relation under considerable stress. The adjustment is effected by forcing the front clamping member toward the member carry- "ing the cam shaft, thereby compressing the gaskets and forcing the diaphragm toward the cam a distance equal to the amount of compression of the gasket.

A horn of the above construction is simple, compact, easily assembled and disassembled, manually operable, has its operative parts so arranged as to permit of the ready adjustment thereof, and will produce a very loud note of desirable pitch.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of horn embodying my present im-.

provements, although it will be understood that the scope of said improvements is only limited by the claims hereinafter presented.

Referring now to thesaiddrawings in which likereference characters have been used to designate like arts in the several viewsFigure 1 is a side elevation'o'f one form of a manually operable horn, partly broken away to vertical longitudinal section, Fig, 2 is a front elevation of the said horn with the diaphragm and horn removed, Fig. 3 is arear elevation of the horn proper with the diaphragm and diaphragm-engag.

in washers in position, some of the parts being shown in dotted lines liig. 4 is a detail view of the cam shaft, partly in elevation and partly' in section, showing a portion of the shaft and cam lubricating means embodied in said shaft, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cam suitable for use in a manually operatedghorna In Fig. 1 the device is shown as mounted upofi a base 1,which is provided with screw holes 2 for securing it to a vehicle or other platform. Thisbase is intended to be mounted firmly in osition'and in order that no particular-pains should be necessarily used in positioning the same, the horn is made rotatively adjustable thereon. To this end the upper portion of the base is socketed as at 3, and provided with-'a'thumb nut or a like device 4, threaded thereinto through a boss upon the base and adapted to engage a groove 5' in the spindle 6. This construe tion permits of r'otative adjustment of the born, but further allows dffth'horn and mechanism, therefor being wholly removed from the socket if it be so desired, the-withdrawal of the thumb nut from engagement with the groove permitting the removal of the horn casing. The spindle 6 extends from and is preferably integral with :1 casing 7, said casing being substantially cylindrical with flanges 8 and 9 formed respectively on the front and rear ends thereof. In the front flange 8 are spaced threaded apertures 10 for the reception of screws 11. These screws pass through front case plate 12, a front washer 13, diaphragm 14, a rear washer 15, and; are threaded into the apertures in the casing flange.

The-Washers 13 and 15 perform several functions and are preferably ma'de of some compressible cushioning material, which should be of sufli cient thickness to cover the desired range ofadjustment of the diaphragm as hereinafter described; .Cork or composition cork, certain kinds of fibrous material having similar qualities are adapt ed ror, this purpose.

Considering the effect of compressing the cushioning washers, when they are of equal thickness, it will be seen that if the screws 11 are of, for example, thirty-two pitch, a sinle turn of said screws will draw the horn rame inward one'thirty-sccond of an inch, but the diaphragm will have'been pushed in but one-half of this amount, or one-sixtyfourth of an inch. 'This permits of a very .fine adjustment ofthe said diaphragm with respect to the cam 16, positioned a the rear thereof. By making the horn si e washer of greater thickness than the cam side washer, this fineness of adjustment is in- '-creased, and vice versa.

If the diaphragm be advanced inwardly too far, the-resilience of the cushion upon the inner side thereof will serve to permit of the adjusting screws being withdrawn to some degree without thereby impairing the grip of the washers upon the peripheryof the diaphragm. This simple arrangement affords a unique and effective means for relatively adjusting the diaphragm and cam, and is of especial importance because of the ease with which adjustment may be accomplished and because the cam operating parts may be made nonadjustable within the cas-- ing, thereby cheapening the cost of manufacture and simplifying the device. l,

The cam 1-6 is mour'ed upon cam shaft 17 which is positioned parallel to the plane-of the diaphragm and 1s journaled in bushing 18, which in turn is carried by brackets 19, the latter being preferably formed integral with the casing 7. The ends of the cam shaft-are reduced;or turned down, as at 2021, the end 20-havin [secured thereupon by suitable means a beve ed pinion 22. The upper end 21 of saidshaft carries the cam, which is keyed or otherwise secured thereto, as, for'example,- bya pin-23.-. A nut 24 is screwed down ,upon the threadedportion 25v of the upper end of the said shaft, which in turn is secured by a lock nut 26. The upper end of this lock nut is counterboredor re cessedand theend of the cam shaft is also corrgspondingly counterboregi, preferably so as to form a cone.s haped depression 27. A drilled hole 28 leads downward from the cup-shaped depression or reservoir, and am other drilled hole 52-9, extends obliquely outward from the center of'the shaft. An oil cup 30 of suitable construction is secured in the casing directly above the recesses before mentioned in such manner that drops of oil may fall downward through the casing into the said cup-shaped depression and so flow ondown through passages 2829 to lubricate the bushing or bearing 18. Some oil will find its way over the Sides of the reservoir to the operating peripheral surfaces of the cam by centri ugal force.

The pinion 22 which rotates the camjs driven by a bevel gear 30, which is dished as shown in Fig. 1 at 31. As explained above, this recessing or dishing of the bevel gear permits the use of a relatively large cam. Gear 30 is provided with a spindle or shaft 32. preferably formed integral therewith. said shaft being mounted in a hearing or bushing 33, which is carried in a hub or boss upou the center, or substantially so, of the rear plate 34. This plate is bolted or fotherwise secured to flange 9 of the casing,

and it will he noted that the removal of these bolts permits the driving mechanism of the horn to be removed without in any manner disturbing the diaphragm; and the cam shaft may be removed from, or replaced into,its' bearing without disarranging the nice adjustment of'diaphragm with respect to the bearings of-the cam shaft.

phragm.

The construction shown is compact and simple; the shaft 32 is positioned substantially in the axis of the horn and perpendicular or normal to the surface of the dia- The handle 35, carried by the crank 36, which is mounted upon the reduced and threaded end 37 of the said shaft,

is hen e adapted to be rotated in a plane arallehto that of the diaphragm. This arrangement is desirable; since the' handle movement, if in another plane, would be awkward.

Referring now to Figs. land 3, the horn 39 is flared somewhat more along the pen pendicular axis thereof than on the horizontal. and is secured to the front of face plate 12 by rivets These rivets'are spaced in a particular manner. which corresponds to the sparing of the adjusting screws 11. The respective rivets and adjusting screws are arranged in groups in em 1 fashion that the face plate with the laterally flattened horn secured thereto may be secured to the casings in but two positions. in both of which the wide'span of'the horn 'mouth will be vertical. .This locates-the horn and dia- The wear piece 40 on the diaphragm is adapted for engagement by the cam on two sides only, and the bolt holes in the edge-of the diaphragm are so related to the wear piece that-the diaphragm will be secured only in one of its two proper positions. This permits the diaphragm to be removed and replaced in reverse positionto expose either surface of. the wear iiece to the cam. A similar disposition of the rivet hole in the base of the horn proper and the flange to which it is secured, insures that the horn will be riveted to theface plate in one of its two proper positions. This obviates the possibility of error through carelessness or inadvertence of workmen when assembling these parts in the course of manufacture.

The preferred form of rivet and bolt spacwhich may be used to accomplish the desired .results hereinbefo're described, is one in which the securing devices nearest the plane of shortest diameter ofthe horn are farther from each other than they are from those nearer the plane of the major diameter.

In my present device, as shown in the drawings, I have succeeded in producing a hand operated horn having the same method of operating and producing the same standard full speed note asthe motor driven horns of my prior patents first above mentioned. As the drawings show, the rotor has twenty camteetli and the multiplying gear gives somewhat more than five revolutions of the cam shaft for one revolution of the crank, so that crank speeds somewhere between three and fiverevolutions persecond will give cam contacts at the required rate, which will be somewherebetween three hundred (300) and four hundred and fifty (450) or more per second, dependent on the characteristics of the particular diaphragm used. \Vhile, as practical tests will show,

phragm in one of two possible positions.

anyoperator can conveniently attain such hand crank speed, increase of speed beyond this involves considerable exertion. Moreover, the governing effect of the diaphragm on the cam at such speeds, explained in my I to increase his'speed to double that rate, and

hence, in practice, the cam will never be ac celerated to a speed suflicient to intercept and cut short the return swings of the diaphragm at or near the rest position thereof.

Thus, the design of the instrument with reference to the physical limitations of the average operator insures that normal full speed operation will produce only the standard till full swing note with a cam push for every swing of the diaphragm; a result attained in my prior devices by employing as the driving means, a suitable friction wheel or a small electric motor, adapted to permit. Ellie speed to vary in accordance with the W011i done upon thediaphragm.

While I have herein "fully shown and described, and have ointed out in the appen ded claims certain novel features of construction, arrangement, and operation. which characterize mv invention, it will be understood by thpse skilled in the art that various omissions, substitutfonaand charges in the forms, proportions, sizes and details of the devhe, of the materials used, and of their operation, maybe made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. A horn or signal having a diaphragm, a member rotatable about an axis normal to said diaphragm at the center of the latter and havin' teeth on the face thereof toward said diaphragm and spaced circularly with respect to said axis and means arranged between said rotatable member and said diaphragm substantially radially in respect to said a'xis for operatively engaging said teeth and said dia' phragm at the center of the latter and imparting vibrations to said diaphragm upon the rotation of said rotatable member.

2. A horn or signal having a diaphragm, a drive shaft normal thereto, a rotor having face projections and mounted concentric with said shaft and radially disposed means between said rotor and'said diaphragm and operatively engaging with said projections and said diaphragm at the center of the lat ter for imparting vibrations to said diaphragm upon the rotation of said shaft and rotor.

3. A horn or signal having a diaphragm, a rotor movable about an axisnormal to said diaphragm at the center of the latter and having an annular row of projections concentric with said axis and a movable member between said rotor and said diaphragm, said movable member receiving movement from said projections and im parting vibration to said diaphragm at the center of the latter upon the rotation of said rotor.

4. A horn or signal having a diaphragm, a. rotor movable about an axis normal to said diaphragm and having an annular row of projections concentric with said axis and means for vibrating said diaphragm upon the rotation of said rotor, said means including tween said rotor and said diaphragm and arranged radially in respect to said axis,

said movable member having operative en-- gageinent with said [)lCJQCilUJS and with 'i said diaphragm.

:1 movable member'disposed be arranged radially in respect to SflldiLXiS,

said movable member. having operative e'n gagement with said projections and with said wear piece.

6. In an alarm or signal device, a diaphragm, a rotary member'mounted to 1'0- tate about an axis substantially parallel to the diaphragm adapted to contact with the latter to vibrate the same, and means for operating the rotary member comprising a power shaft substantially perpendicular to said diaphragm and having its axis substan tially in line with the center of said diaphragm.

7. In an alarm or signal device, a diaphragm, means for vibrating the diaphragm comprising a rotary member mounted on a shaft substantially parallel to said diaphragm,,and driving nieans for. said rotary member comprisiii a pinion on the shaft of said rotary mem er, a power shaft substantially perpendicular to thediaphragm at the center of the latter, a large gear on the power shaft meshing with said pinion and meaiis for supporting said parts in compact forms. g

8. in an alarm or signal device, a diaphragm presenting a projection or Wear piece at its center, a cylindrical casing in the rear of said diaphragm and of substantially the same diameter as said diaphragm and having its axis normal to the diaphragm at the center of the latter, a shaft supported within said casing and having a head presenting a plurality of teeth for successive engagement with said wear piece to vibrate said diaphragm by forcing said Wear piece bodily away from saidshaft, a pinion on said shaft, a drive shaft normal to said diaphragm and having a lar gear meshing with said pinion and a hen 1e out- S1 parallel to said diaphragm for manually rotating said drive shaft.

9. A device of the character specified, comprising a casing having at one end an opening and having a laterally extending flange at theopening, a plate provided with a central nipple registering with the opening, an intensifying horn having'one end engaged with thiynipplc, a diaphragm arranged between the plate and the flange across the opening of the nipple, said diaphragm having a transversely rohnded Jug on its inner fare. a disk mounted to rotate in the casing, said dish havingteeth for ende of said casing and movable in a plane gaging the lug to vibrate the diaphragm when the disk 18 rotated, means for-rotatmg the disk, said means comprisinga pinion coaxial with the disk, a gear wheel journaled in the casing and engaging the pinion, and a crank connected to the gear wheel for turning the same. p 10. A device of the class-specified, com prising a casing having at one end an openmg, a plate extending across said opening and provided with a central nipple, a projectorhaving one end engaging with the nipple, a diaphragm arranged between .the

plate and the end of the casing across the opening, said diaphragm having a wearpiece on its inner face, a disk mounted to rotate inthe casing, said disk having teeth for engaging the wear-piece to vibrate the diaphragm when the disk is rotated, means for rotating thedisk, said means comprising a pinion co-axial with the disk, a gear-wheel journaled in the casing and engaging the pinion, and power means connected tothe gear wheel for turning the same.

11- A horn or signaling device having a diaphragm, a member having its axis normal to said diaphragm and having an annular row Oflgefi! teeth concentric with said axis and a member between said first mentioned 80 member.- and said diaphragm, said second mentioned member 'including a shaft parallel with the diaphragm, a pinion meshing with said first mentioned member and a cam forvibr'iting said diaphragm, and means ssfor rotating one of said members in respect to the other and about said axis,

12. A horn or signaling device having a biaphragm, a member having its axis normal losaid diaphragm at the center of the latter rod having an annular row of gear teeth concentric with said axis and of a diameter approximating that of the diaphragm, and

a member between said first mentioned member andsaid diaphragm, said second mentioned member including a shaft parallel with the diaphragm, a pinion meshing with saidfirst mentioned member and a cam for vibrating saiddiaphragm, and means for rotatin'gone of said members in respect to the other and about said axis.

13. A horn havinga diaphragm, a wearpiece secured thereto at the center, a meme r havii its axis normal to said diaphragm and having an annular row of gear teeth 56 concentric with said axis, a member disposed between said first mentioned member and said diaphragm and includinga shaft arranged radially in respect to said axis, a

cam engaging with said wear-piece and 60 means for affecting a rotation of said shaft and cam about their axis upon a rotation of one of said members about said first mentioned axis. t

14. A- horn or signaling device having a diaphragm, a gear wheel of a diameter approximating. that of the diaphragm and having its axis normal to the diaphragm and having its teeth presented toward said diaphragm,

a shaft between said gear wheel and said diaphragm and substantially parallel to the latter, a rotor carried by said shaft for vibra ting said diaphragm, and means for rotating said shaft upon the rotation of said gear wheel.

15. A horn or signaling device having a diaphragm, a diaphragm casing extending rearwardl y therefrom and including a peipheral wall clamped to the peripheral portron of said diaphragm and a rear end wall, a, shaft projecting through said rear wall and carried thereby substantially at right angles to said diaphragifiia shaft within said first mentioned shaft.

16. In an alarm or signal device, a diaphragm presenting a projection dr wearpiece at its center, a cylindrical casing in the rear of said diaphragm and having its axis normal to latter, a s

the diaphragm at the center of the bait supported within said casing parallel to said diaphragm and having a head presenting on its periphery a plurality of teeth for successive engagement with said wear-piece to vibrate said diaphragm by forcing said wear-piece bodily away from said shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a drive shaft having a large gear within said casing "and meshing with said pinion, and a manually operable member outside of said casing and mova ble in'a plane parallel to said diaphragm for rotating said drive shaft.

17. In an alarmor signaling device of the class described, a thin elastic steel diaphragm p rovided with a suitable wear-piece,

a casing including a front wall carrymg a -horn or mouth-piece and a rearward extension clamped to said front wall to secure the periphery of the diaphragm therebetween, forming with said diaphragm a closed chamber, and a rotary cam having a multiplicity of cam projections rotatably mounted within said chamber and slightly overlapping said wear-piece, in combination with a manually operated driv ng mechanism for said cam comprising a manually operable member lpcated outside :of said casing and extending into the same, and a speed-changing. powertransmitting mechanism within said casing and opera tively connected with saidmember and said cam for a ating, the latter, the number of the projections-on said cam, its overlap onthe wear-piece and the ratio of its peripheral movement to the movement of the manualljv operable' member being pre-' determine d with reference to each otherand ioa with reference to the characteristic of the and State of New York, this 22nd day of diaphragm so that the cam may be easily October, A. D., 1909. started and quickly speuded to a full normal speed giving a bodily swing of said dia- MILLER REESE HUTCHISON' 5 plii'agxn on both sides of its normal 'rest Witnesses: pnsition with a cam push for every swing. GEORGE C. DEAN,

Signed at New York city, in the county RVING M: OBR EGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

with feference to th' cliafacteristicsof the and Stat New York5 22ndwday. of diaphragm so that the cam may be easily October,- A Di, 1909.:- y

started and quickly specded to a full pormal R REESE HUTCHISON speed giving a bodily swing .of sad diav 5 phragm onj both sides of its normal [rest Wltnesses:

position with a cam push for every swing. GEORGEQ'DEAN,

Signet? at New York cit in the county IRVING M.- OBRIEGH'ILI 7 Copies 02 thig'patefit may be obtained :6: fiv'e cents each, by addrssing 'the Commissione; of m wa shington, D. c." v l is llgfeby certified thltt th s Statgl bf iI IQOIPOI 'QItiOIi' Ljlfi gml, gx llted Ja nu afj 25, 19 16,: theltglllchtiml of Miller Rese so ri, pf :New Jgrgeyg for 'ax; itnprdvmlerlt Megahanically-lAtuated Diaphg alfi-flillsfiiwas e rroneb us l y givex as ligw-Jgrsey, vtllereas saidState isho ald hat beet gi tnids De Zdware, as Show; by th'Ij CO I'dS of a ssignmlltsfin this ofiic; 5nd th's it satid 'Letterslateht read with this corrgction therein that the sam rfiaytqnform to the l col 'dlo f 'the. cgs'e in the i atent Oifigie. lsif nedanggeil thigifith tlaj of Felfruary,1.D., 1916. v V l mil r I f R. F. W ITEHEAD, i i a l I Q Q 4 P Ading C'm'missionefofPatentmj' OI.116-1. I

0mm" n Letters P m-mm, 1,1 9,721.

It is hereby certified that the State of incorporetion in Letters Patent No. 1,165,721, granted January 25, 1916, upon the application of Miller- Reese Hutchi son, of Summit, New Jersey, for an improvement in "Mechanically-Actuated Diaphragm-Horns, was erroneously given as New Jersey, whereas said State should have been given as Delaware, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Si ned and sealed this" 15th day of February, A. 1)., 1916.

um R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner f Patents. C1. 116-1. 4

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