US1321336A - Sound-producer - Google Patents

Description

C. l. ROHLAND.

SOUND PRODUCER.

APPLICATION map JAN- 11. 1916- RENEWED JULY 16, 1919.

1,321,336. Patented N 0v. 11, 1919.

2 SHEET;SH.EET I.

y 2 4 5 Z 5 11311111" ii 1 C. l. ROHLAND.

SOUND PRODUCER. APPLlCATlON FILED lAN.l7.1916. RENEWED JULY 16. 1919.

1 3 2 1 3 3 6 v Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CUBE J. ROHLAND, 0F WORCESTER,

DELAWARE- MASSACHUSETT'S, ASSIGN'OB, MENTS, T0 KLAXON COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,

BY MESNE ASSIGN- .A CORPORATION OF SOUND-PRODUCER.

Application filed. January 17, 1916,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Cum J. ROHLAND, a citizen of the German Empire, and a resident of \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Producers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sound producers, and especially to electromagnetic horns, and the main object of the invention is to provide an improved and simple article of this kind in which a very much louder sound can be produced with a given current consumption than in devices of this kind heretofore used.

One of the principal features of the invention is the provision ofa horn having a pair of diaphragms both of which are adapted to be set in vibration at the same time, so that the sound emitted by the horn will be that produced by the vibration of a plurality of diaphragms substantially in unison.

Another important feature of the invention is to provide a horn having a diaphragm operated by an electromagnetic or other suitable tapper or floating vibrator, in which the diaphragm is driven in one direction positively by the tapper and on its return movement imparts a return stroke to said tapper, the diaphragm being sufiiciently resilient, and being associated with the tapper, to permit it to be used in this manner, instead of employing a separate spring for the purpose as has been the custom heretofore. 4 1

A horn having a plurality of separate diaphragms adapted to be set in vibration substantially simultaneously may be readily converted into a duplex or multiplex horn having a plurality of bell-mouths facing in various directions and hence capable of projecting the sound produced in corresponding directions; and an important feature of my invention is the provision of such a horn, particularly one in which a common actuating means is employed for setting the different diaphragms in vibration and in which all the movablev parts are completely inclosed and out of the way.

other features of my present invention not hereinbefore referred to will be hereinafter described and claimed and are illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 72/201. Renewed July 16, 1919. Serial No. 311,382.

trated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a substantially central longitudinal section and elevation of a single horn particularly adapted for use with alternating current.

' Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with parts removed, looking from the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating in elevation and section the electromagnetic operating means for setting the diaphragms inv vibration.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, similar to Fig. 1, of a duplex horn of the alternating current type.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on a smaller scale of a direct current horn.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the circuit of the direct current horn.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 13 inclusive, in which I have illustrated my present invention as embodied specifically in an alternating current horn,'2 designates the usual flaring bell-mouth of such a horn, near the small end of which will be placed a diaphragm or diaphragms adapted tobe set in vibration by suitable means. In Fig. 1 two diaphragms are shown, at 3 and 4, and these are separated a suflicient distance to permit the operating means associated with each diaphragm to be placed between them. The operating means illustrated is common to both diaphragms, that is to say, it is adapted to set both diaphragms in vibration practically simultaneously and thus ob shell 5, said diaphragms tainthe additional effect due to the vibration of the ends of this shell and form with it. a

completely inclosed chamber within which .the operating mechanism will'be contained.

This operating means may be of any suitable type, but I prefer to employ electromagnetic means phragm preferably removable as a whole from the casing, and is shown as embodying abracket, 6, for, supporting the electromagnet and other parts. An electro=magnet, 7. of the for vibrating each dia-" This electromagnetic means is.

duplex type is mounted on said bracket. The armature of this magnet is shown as a circular disk, 8, free to turn about its axis in a rod, 9, which constitutes the main ele ment of the means for setting each diaphragm in vibration. This rod is free to move back and forth with the armature, 8 in a path substantially perpendicular to the diaphragms 3 and l at the centers thereof. The length of the rod may be adjusted slightly as may be desired by a pair of screws, 9, at opposite ends thereof. The diaphragm 3 is shown asheld in place between two clamping rings one of which is fixed and is formed by a flanged portion, 5, of the cylindrical shell 5 and the other of which is formed by the peripheral portion of a removable end plate, 10. The diaphragm is intended to be held at its periphery only between these rings, it being shown as resting upon a narrow pin of the flange 5' and as secured in place by fastening devices such as rivets 11, passing through the parts. The inner face of one or both of the surfaces engaging the opposite sides of the diaphragm will preferably be so formed as to permit the'diaphragm to vibrate with as large a free area as possible. At the opposite end of the casing the diaphragm 4 is similarly held in lace between a narrow rim of a flange, d of the shell 5 and a separate annulus, 12, having feet, 12', or any other suitable supporting means, fastening devices, such as rivets 11, being shown for holding the parts together.

Suitable means will also be provided for varying the tension on one or both diaphragms for the purpose of varying the sound produced by the vibration thereof. Similar devices are preferably applied to both diaphragms. In the construction shown thumb-screws, 14, with milled heads cooperate with locking springs, 14, by means of which any desired adjustment is maintained. One or more of these thumbscrews may be pressed against each diaphragm for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the tension on the same by bending said diaphragm toward the operating means or permitting it to withdraw therefrom. A circle of these adjusting thumb-screws is shown in the drawings. The adjustment of each diaphragm may be within the limits of movement thereof and the sound produced will be correspondingly varied.

In the operation of the horn shown in Figs. 1-3 when the magnet is energized and its armature attracted the vibrator will be forced toward one of the diaphragms (in the construction shown the diaphragm 4) and will displace this resilient diaphragm outwardly. IVhen the magnet is deiincrgized the return movement of this resilient vibratory diaphragm will return the rod 9 varied as desiredmenace and the armature of the magnet to the opposite end of their range of movement, said diaphragm serving as a spring to impart this return stroke to these parts. The return stroke of the tapper of course displaces the other diaphragm outwardly, and thus starts it also in vibration. The next impulse of the alternating current will start another sequence of operations. As the alternating current impulses follow one another in quick succession the two diaphragms will be put in rapid vibration practically instantaneously and will continue to vibrate until the current is interrupted.

'In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which the device has a plurality of bell-mouths and is so constructed as to be adapted for suspension from a ceiling or other suitable point of support and to project sounds in various di rections. In most respects this horn is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, it having a similar bell-mouth, 2*, and diaphragms, 3 and 4 between which is located operating means, here shown as mounted on a bracket, 6, and embodying an electro-magnet, 7 an armature, 8 and a tapper, 9 similar to the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 1. These parts are mounted in a casing 0r shell, 5, and the diaphragms close the ends of the casing at points adjacent to the small end of the bell-mouth Wand of another bell-mouth, 2 which is placed opposite the bell-mouth 2 and takes the place of the support shown in Fig. 1. The means for holding and fastening the diaphragms are or may be substantially similar to the means previously described in connection with Fig. 1, two end plates 10 and 10 having suitable fastening means being illustrated. The adjusting 105 means for the diaphragms is also shown as similar to that in Fig. 1. It will be obvious, of course, that the adjustment at one side of the duplex horn illustrated may be different from that at the other, which per- 110 mits different sounds to be projected from the different mouths of the horn. The shell 5 differs from that shown at 5 in having a boss, 5 with a threaded opening to receive the end of a threaded tube or pipe, 15, by 115 means of which the device as a whole may be suspended from a ceiling or other point. The tube 15 also serves to inclose the wires leading to the eleotro-magnet 7"; and hence all of the main parts are completely 120 inclosed and protected. By means of a construction such as just described a multiple horn is formed having a plurality of bellmouths one. for each diaphragm adapted to project sound in various directions as de- 125 sired.

In Figs. 5 and 61 have illustrated another modification of the invention in which the elcctro-magnetic operating means is somewhat different, from that shown inFig. 1 in 130 order to adapt it to be used with direct ourrent. Here the electromagnet 7 serves to operate an interrupter, 16, of any suitable type one element of which is shown as connected with the tapping means operated by the armature and as movable therewith. The interrupter illustrated comprises as its main parts two contact-arms connected respectively by conductors, 17 and 18, with the main conductors, 19 and 20 of the circuit in which the electromagnet 7 is connected, a suitable resistance coil being shown in shunt, at 21, for reducing sparking at the terminals of the interrupter. One of the contact arms extends past the other so as to engage the plunger 9 and be actuated by it. The device 16 operates in substantially the same manner as the corresponding devices employed in connection with electric. bells and for analogous uses. Normally the two contactarms of the interrupter 16 are ihengagement. -When the magnet is energized these contacts are separated by the motion of the plunger and hence the circuit of the magnet 7 is interrupted. This action is, of course,

rapidly repeated with the result that there is the usual rapid make and break of the circuit of the magnet and a corresponding movement of its armature. The efiect of the energization and deenergization of the mag net on the vibrating means is substantially the same as previously described in connection with the other views.

My improved horn may of course be used for any purpose for which such a device is adapted, as in signal systems, on motor cars, etc. The electromagnet employed in any particular type of horn may also, of course, be of any well known or suitable type. With a structure such as described, having few parts and having an additional diaphragm for increasing the volume of the sound, I have found that I can operate the horn with current of much lower amperage than is used in other horns and produce louder sounds with much less current.

Although I have illustrated and described certain forms of the invention, I am aware of the fact that the same can be carried out in other forms without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described. but

What I claim is:

1. In a horn, the combination of a resiliout diaphragm. an clectromagnet arranged with its axis perpendicular thereto, a floating vibrator fixed to the armature of said magnet and perpendicular to said diaphragm, the electromagnet being arranged to draw the end of said vibrator in one direction and then release it, the diaphragm constituting means for forcing the vibrator away, and a second diaphragm in position phragm.

to be vibrated by the other end of the vibrator.

2. In a sound producer, the combination of a resilient diaphragm, an electromagnet arranged with its armature adjacent thereto, a floating vibrator movable with the armature of said magnet toward and. from the diaphragm, the electromagnetbeing located in a position to draw the end of said vibrator in one direction and then release it, and the diaphragm constitutingthe sole means for forcing the vibrator away, and a second diaphragm in position to be vibrated by the other end of the vibrator.

3. A horn, comprising a pair of separated" diaphragms, and electromagnetic means located between said diaphragms and including a vibrator and an electromagnetic coil, both substantially perpendicular to the diaphragms for setting said diaphragms in vibration, said vibrator being mounted entirely free from all fixed elements of the horn.

A. A horn, comprising a tapper for starting the vibration of a dlaphragm, a resilient diaphragm movable in one direction under the influence of the working stroke of said tapper and constituting the sole means for imparting a return stroke to said tapper, and means for operating said tapper comprising an electromagnet having a freely movable armature on the side opposite said diaphragm and fixed with respect to said tapper so as to move therewith.

5. A horn, comprising a diaphragm, means for supporting said diaphragm at its periphery, means for varying the tension .on said diaphragm said means including an Y with said milled head, and means for vibrating said diaphragm.

6. A sound producer, comprising a diaphragm, means for supporting said diaphragm at its periphery, means for varying the tension on said diaphragm said means including a circle of adjusting screws each cooperative with said diaphragm at a ferent point in the periphery thereof, and means forvibrating said diaphragm.

7. A horn comprising a pair of separated substantially parallel diaphragms, a rod disposed therebetween and substantially at right angles to each and unattached thereto, and an alternating current electromagnct for effecting longitudinal movement of said rod in one direction to vibrate one of said diaphragms, said diaphragm acting to eiIec-t longitudinal movement of said rod in the opposite direction toyibrate the other dia- 8. A horn comprising a pair of separated substantially parallel dlaphragms, a rod disposed therebetween and substantially at difright angles to each andunattached thereto, and an alternating current electromagnet having its armature secured to said rod and having coils upon opposite sides of said rod with their aXes substantially parallel to the latter, said rod acting upon one of said diaphragms by the attraction of said armature, and said diaphragm serving to return said rod and armature to act on the other diaphragm during the alternation of the current.

9. A horn comprising a pair of separated substantially parallel d-iaphragms, a rod therebetween and substantially at right angles to each and unattached thereto, an alternating current electromagnet for effecting longitudinal movement of said rod in the direction of one diaphragm, said diaphragm serving to return the rod in the direction of the other, and means for varying the effective length of said rod in respect to the distance between said diaphragms.

Signed at Worcester i the county of Worcester and State of lhassachusetts this 5th day of January A. D., 1916.

"' CURT J. ROHLAND.

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