US1185988A - Talking-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. C. ENGLISH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.10,1911.

1,185,988. Patented June 6,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l 27 .1, JO 7 INVENTOR (15/71; 6: Egg/115K),

g ATTORNEY J. C. ENGLISH,

TALKING MACHENE.

APPLICATION FILED 00110, 1911.

' 1,1 85,988. Patented June 6, 1916.

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INVENTOR kn/5885s v I BY ATTORNEY THE COLUMBiA vmmummvu co., WASHINGTON, D. :4

.L G. ENGLiSH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATKON men OCT. 10, 1911.

Patented Jfine 6, 1916.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented J 11118 '6, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- &

WITNESSES I film ATTORNEY J. C. ENGLISH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001111.191.

1,185,988 Patented June 6,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- INVENTOR WlTNE S SES ATJIORNEY A I'LANOGRAPH cu.,=w As!-IINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR T0 VICTOR. TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Application filed October 10, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Talking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide in a talking machine, an improved sound box arm and mo unting therefor, and to provide improved sound amplifying means; and to provide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line 11 of Fig. 2, of a talking machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 a fragmentary rear end elevation of the same; Fig. 4 a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of a modified form of this invention, and Fig. 5 a fragmentary plan view partly in horizontal section of the same.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one embodiment of this invention comprises a cabinet or casing 1,preferably rectangular in planular outline and including a main or body portion 2, and a hollow movable cover 3 superimposed thereon and hinged thereto as at at.

The body of the cabinet 2 comprises the usual comparatively rigid exterior vertical front and rear walls 5, and side walls 6, and a horizontal bottom wall 7 rigidly connecting the lower edges of the vertical walls. A comparatively thick and rigid horizontal partition 8 extends across the upper portion of the body 1 and is rigidly secured to the vertical walls thereof. The lower por tion of the front vertical wall 5 of the cabinet is provided with the usual rectangular opening 9 closed by one or more doors 10 hinged to the front wall as at 11 to open outwardly. The body 2 is preferably mounted upon the usual short standards 12.

ithin the cabinet and over the front portion of the horizontal partition 8 is arranged a horizontal turntable 15 adapted to support a sound record 16. This turntable 15 is mounted as usual upon the upper end of a vertical rotary spindle 17, which extends downwardly through the usual upwardly removable section 18 of the horizontalpartition 8 and is driven by suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Serial No. 653,880.

actuating mechanism 19 depending within the cabinet from this section.

Within the cabinet and above the turntable 15 is arranged the usual or any suitable sound box or sound reproducer 25, including a stylus 25 adapted to coopera ewith the record 16. The sound box 25 is preferably secured to and carried by one end of a U-shaped metal tube 26, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the free smaller end of the longitudinally tapering hollow metal sound box arm or tone arm 27, the sound box communicating with the tone arm through the U-shaped tube 26. The U-shaped tube 26 is preferably substantially round in cross-section throughout its length, and the adjacent free end of the tone arm 27 is also preferably round in cross section. From its free smaller end, the tone arm 27 preferably extends for the greater part of its length in a substantially horizontal direction rearwardly and then curves downwardly longitudinally in an arc of 90 and terminates in a substantially vertical transversely oblong or oval open end 28, preferably surrounded flush therewith, by an outwardly projecting oblong or oval flat horizontal flange 29.

The tone arm is preferably circular in transverse section externally and internally only at its smaller end, and is preferably oblong or oval in transverse section externally and internally throughout the rest of its length, all transverse oblong sections of the tone arm having their major axes parallel and substantially horizontal, and the major and minor axes of the oblong transverse sections of the tone arm grad.- ually increasing in length from the smaller to the larger end of the tone arm.

For supporting the tone arm 27 and for receiving and amplifying sound waves delivered from the larger end thereof, there is provided a rigid hollow vertical support 30, preferably made of cast iron or other suitable material and oblong in transverse section exteriorly and interiorly throughout its length. This support 30 projects freely through an aperture 31 provided therefor in the horizontal partition 8 of the cabinet. The upper end of the support 30 is surrounded by an oval horizontal flange 32 preferably integral therewith, which corresponds in shape and dimensions with the flange 29 surrounding the larger end of the tone arm, and the lower surface of the latter flange, 29, is positioned preferably slightly above the upper surface of the flange 32 of the support when in operative position. For holding the support 30 rigidly in a fixed position, the lower end of the support 30 is surrounded by an oval horizontal flange 33 integral therewith, which registers with, rests upon, and is rigidly secured by means of bolts 34- to an oval horizontal flange 35 which surrounds and is integral with the upper end of a dowinvardly extending fixed hollow bracket 36.

The tone arm 27 is restrained to oscillate about a fixed vertical axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the hollow support 30 by means of a vertical pivot 40 coaxial with the support 30, the upper end of the pivot extending snugly but rotatively through a vertical cylindrical aperture 41 provided therefor through a thickened portion of the wall of the tone arm 27, and the lower end of the pivot being rigidly secured in an aperture 42 provided therefor in :1 lug 43 projecting rigidly inwardly from the all of the support 30 and preferably integral therewith. Rigidly secured in the open end of the tone arm is a spider 45 through which the pivot 40 fits snugly but rotatively. The marginal portion of the spider is preferably flush with the open end of the tone arm, and the central portion of the spider is extended downwardly slightly below the end of the tone arm and rests rotatively upon the upper end of the lug 43. Instead of the pivot 40 and cooperating parts, any other well known or suitable means may be substituted for restraining the tone arm 27 to oscillate about a fixed vertical axis.

The support 30 preferably increases externally and internally gradually in transverse sectional area throughoutat least a portion of its length and the major transverse axis of the lower end of the support is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal central vertical plane of the cabinet, giving the support. externally and internally, longitudinally. approximately a helical form.

The hollow bracket 36 is preferably made of cast iron or other similar material and has substantially rigid and non-vibratory walls. Preferably, the hollow bracket 36 is constructed and arranged so that its longitudinal axis extends from the lower end of the support 30, downwardly in a substantially vertical plane. curving gradually rearwardly from the support 30 and then gradually reversing its direction and curving downwardly and forwardly, then upwardly and forwardly forming a loop, and finally terminating in a substantially horizontal direction. The bracket 36 is preferably oval or oblong internally in transverse section throughout its length, gradually increasing in major and minor transverse sectional axes from its upper end in contact with the lower end of the support 30 to its lower or delivery end, all transverse major axes ofthe interior of the bracket being preferably horizontal and parallel.

The form and arrangement of the bracket are preferably such that the rear curved external surface of the bracket is substantially tangent to the inner surface of the rear vertical wall of the cabinet so that the lowermost exterior surface of the bracket projects freely into an aperture 50 provided therefor through the bottom wall 7 of the cabinet, the lower end of the aperture 50 being covered by a closure 51 secured to the under-surface of the bottom 7, the bracket being free from the closure.

The bracket 36 is held in fixed position by means of a vertical base plate integral with or rigidly secured to the rear wall of the bracket and engaging against and, rigidly clamped against the inner surface of the rear vertical wall of the cabinet by means of bolts 53 or other suitable fastening devices.

T he upper and lower edges of the larger or delivery end of the hollow bracket 36 are provided with outwardly projecting flanges 55, preferably integral therewith and forming a transversely rectangular oblong socket 56 which preferably flares or diverges forwardly about a longitudinal horizontal axis, the major transverse axis of the socket being preferably substantially horizontal and its minor axis being preferably substantially vertical.

F or amplifying the sound waves delivered from the larger end of the hollow bracket 36, there is provided a hollow vibratory resonator (30, which tapers longitudinally and the smaller end of which is rigidly secured in the socket 5G. The resonator 60 is preferably arranged with its lougitudinal axis extending in a horizontal direction and is preferably rectangular and oblong in transverse s ction throughout its length, having its major transverse axes extending in a horizontal plane. The top and bottom exterior walls of this resonator are formed by two flat 'forwardly diverging substantially semi-circular sounding-boards 61 and the curved edges of these boards are connected by longitudinally curved boards 62 forming the external vertical walls of the resonator. The interior of the resonator is divided into a plurality of sound passages by means of a plurality of sounding-boards G2 which are preferably arranged in planes diverging forwardly from a common horizontal axis, and the inner ends of which are preferably sharpened as at 63. The resonator 60 is entirely supported by the hollow brackets 36 and the delivery end of the resolid nator is preferably arranged in closed proximity to but spaced from the front wall of the cabinet, and is proportioned and located to register with the opening 9 in the front wall of the cabinet.

In the construction hereinbefore defined, there is preferably a gradual increase in the transverse sectional area of the sound passage from the sound box through the tone arm 27, the support 30, the hollow bracket 36 and the resonator 60, or from the smaller end of. the tone arm to the delivery end of the resonator and there is a gradual change in cross-sectional shape of the passage from the circular shape of the smaller end of the tone arm to the oblong shape of the delivery end of the resonator. By this construction, the sound waves delivered from the reproducer are gradually amplifi ed and brought into position to be acted upon with the greatest efliciency by the resonator 60 from which the sound waves are delivered through the outlet or opening 9 in the front wall of the cabinet.

It is considered at this time that the oblong transverse shape of the sound passage through the tone arm and from the tone arm to the delivery end of the resonator, increases the efficiency of the machine over what would be obtained were the sound pas sage circular in transverse section from the reproducer 25 to the resonator 60, and it is also thought that the longitudinal curvature of the outer bracket 36, in which the longitudinal axis is in the form of acurve including two reversals in its curvature and in which the intermediate part of the hollow bracket is longitudinally substantially in the form of a return-bend, results in a greater efiiciency than would be obtained were the reversals in the longitudinal curvature of the bracket and the return-bend in the bracket omitted. However, as the theory of the operation of this device and the reasons for the greater efficiency obtained by this device may not be fully understood at this time, applicant reserves the privilege of supplementing this specification, if found desirable, by further statements in regard to the theory of its operation when the operation of the device is more fully understood.

In the modified form of this invention, shown in Figs. 4t and 5, the construction and operation are broadly substantially the same as hereinbefore described, but the modified tone arm 75 is relatively longer than the one first described and is circular in transverse section throughout its length and terminates at its larger end in close proximity to the rear wall of the cabinet. This modified tone arm 75 is rotatably mounted at its larger end on a rigid hollow vertical support 7 6, also circular in transverse section throughout its length, the tone arm being connected to the support by means of a pivot bracket is circular in transverse section at its upper end and increases gradually in transverse sectional area throughout its length, gradually changing in transverse section from the circular shape of its upper end to a substantially oval shape and finally terminating at its larger end in a trans versely oblong socket 87 in which is supported the smaller end of a resonator 88,

substantially identical in construction and arrangement with the resonator 60 hereinbefore described. Longitudinally the hollow bracket 77 extends vertically downwardly from its upper or smaller end and then curves forwardly through an arc of about then reverses the direction of its curvature and curves downwardly and forwardly, then upwardly and forwardly, forming a loop or return-bend, and finally again reversing the direction of its curvature and terminating substantially horizontally as hereinbefore described in the socket 87. In this modified form, the tone arm 75, its support 76, the hollow bracket 77 and the resonator 88 are preferably entirely supported by the base plate 78 of the hollow bracket, as in the form first described.

Although only two forms in which the curvature may be embodied have been illustrated herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to any specific construction as it might be applied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a talking machine, the combination with a stationary rigid non-vibratory bracket provided with a sound conducting passage extending therethrough, of a sound conducting arm communicating with one end of said passage, and vibratory sound amplifying means communicating with the other end of said passage, said passage through said arm, bracket and amplifier being oblong in transverse section throughout their entire length.

2. In a talking machine, the combination with a stationary non-vibratory bracket provided with a sound conducting passage extending therethrough, of a swinging arm mounted on one end of said bracket and communicating with one end of said passage, and vibratory sound amplifying means, including a substantially flat sounding board, mounted on and eon'nnunicating with the other end of the passage, said passages through said swinging arm, bracket and amplifier being oblong in transverse section and having its trans erse major axis considerably greater than its transverse minor axis throughout the entire length.

3. In a talking machine, the combination with a stationary bracket provided with a sound conducting passage extending therethrough and having two t'reely projecting open ends forming an inlet and an outlet respectively for said passage, said inlet and said outlet each being oblong in outline and having a major axis considerably greater than its minor axis, a hollow sound box arm entirely supported by said inlet end of said bracket and arranged to swing with respect thereto on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the passage in said bracket at the end at which said arm is mounted thereon and having an oblong outlet arranged to substantially register with said inlet sound reproducing means carried by and communicating with said arm, and hollow vibratory sound amplifying means including a sounding board entirely supported by the outlet end of said bracket and connnunieating therewith, said amplifying means being oblong in transverse section and having its major transverse axis considerably greater than its minor transyerse axis.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day 01" September, A. D, 1911.

JOHN C. ENGLISH. l vitnesses Fnxxn B. MIDDLETON, CHARLES E. lVILLr-mn.

copies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner ct Patents Washington, D. Q.

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