US1350590A - Sound-box for sound recording and reproducing machines - Google Patents

Description

I. F. BURTON.

SOUND BOX FOR SOUND RECORDIN NAND REPRODUCING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED maze, 191s. RENEWED JAN. 17,1920.

1,350,590, Patented Aug- 24,1920.

HHHIIHII U/HTII I d2 Egg 4 9 j 11 56 j; 5/ 36 3g 14 14E] 3. 3 10 7' 36 ,r zfi-z 681625 4 C f J M4 I J 737 l 27 AOJ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC F. BURTON, OF PIIILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV ANIM, ASSIGNOB TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE OOIVIPANYYA CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

. SOUND-BOX FOR) SOUND RECORDING AND REPBODUCING- MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A11g.'2-:l, 1920.

Application filed April 28. 1916, Serial No. 94,118. Renewed January 17., 1920. Serial No. 352,230.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, IsAAo F. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Boxes for Sound Recording and Reproducing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to the providing of means for positively varying and fixing when varied, the pitch or note of a diaphragm when mounted in, a sound box for sound reproducing apparatus and particularly in such sound boxes where the inherent resiliency of the diaphragm is relied upon to control the action of the stylus bar of the sound box as modified and assist ed by the coiiperative control and adjust ment of a coacting spring member.

In such sound boxes it is an object of my invention to provide a ready adjustm t of the spring member which may be positively fixed in position after the necessary or desired relation and'adjustments of the spring control to the diaphragmhave been asceritained and imparted to the spring memaer.

While it is old to extend the action of a spring controlled to the diaphragm even to the extent of producing a very material depression of the surface of the diaphragm when not in use, my invention differs from such old construction inasmuch as it is a purpose of my invention to provide means adapted not only to depress the surface of the diaphragm a definite amount if the same is desirable or necessary, but, on the other hand, to make the outer surface of the diaphragm'convex rather than concave when that condition is requisite to produce the best results. Not only do I contemplate and v provide for the distortion of thesurface of the diaphragm to render its outer surface convex or concave, but I provide for an exact, definite adjustment of the diaphragm either way from convexity to concavity and therebetween and when so adjusted in a definite position, I place the diaphragm and stylus bar under a tension suited to the particular characteristic of the diaphragm. For the most part, commercial diaphragms for the use specified are out out of mice with the minimum tendency to fracture and split into numerous layers. The diaphragms as applied to a sound box are those of a certain diameter. and thickness and each one when mounted in a sound box has a characteristic response or note upon being suddenly struck, so that to the ear of one skilled in adjusting sound boxes the sort of adjustment required by the'particular diaphragm becomes at once apparent. If the note given. off is flat a rise in pitch is necessary and the amount, approximately, is apparent to the inspector, while in case the note of the diaphragm is sharp a lowering in pitch is required, and by means of my invention, an inspector may vary the spring influence upon the diaphragm to raise or lower the note of the diaphragm to such an extent as shall make the note correct.

To meet the conditions above described, I have devised means the object of which is to positivelyvary and fix the pitch or note or a diaphragm depending upon the characteristic of eachdiaphragm as installed in a sound box and thereafter to fixedly lock the adjustment means. Such an operation is not the same, manifestly, as that formerly used when the diaphragm is arbitrarily depressed and held there merely to tension the diaphragm without regard to the par ticular kind of'positioning best adapted to each diaphragm.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and relating thereto, Figure 1. shows a side view, partly broken away, of a sound box to which I have applied my improvements; Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the sound box; Fig. 3 shows an enlarged bottom plan view of the sound box; Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear elevation of the sound box showing the mounting and adjacent parts; Fig. 5 shows in detail the mounting by itself; Fig. 6 shows a side view of mounting shown in Fig. 5. i

The sound box casing 1 of well known construction has at its back the connecting member 2 and within its body proper thediaphragm 3 to which is attached the upper end of the stylus bar 4:. At its lower end the stylus bar is provided with the usual socket to receive the needle 5, which is fastened therein by the thumb screw 20.

Above the lower end of the stylus bar are formed two shoulders 18, between which the resilient ring stylus bar mounting 9 is tightly fitted, a set screw 19 in aperture 12 serves to securely fasten the ring 9 to the stylus bar. The resilient ring member 9 is clearly shown by itself in Figs. 5 and :6. The aperture 12 is positioned on the diameter of the ring member, circular for the most part, at right angles to that diameter extending through the center of the apertures ll, 11, which with an antii'riction member therein form the axis upon which the stylus bar oscillates under the influence of a needle in contact with a sound record of commercial form, which action is Well known.

Somewhat more than half of the ring member 9'is of circular shape on the exterior, and interiorly the circle is complete. The remainder ;of the member 9 is much reduced in cross section with an incident flattening out of the material, and as flattened, the material is formed into two wings 1.0, 10 extending outwardly radially from the center or body of the ring which are provided with apertures 23 therein, Referring to Fig. (3, it will be noted that in addition to being flattened a portion of the ring member 9 is formed. with two bends, one, 24, torming a shoulder and the other, 25, bringing the wings 10 into a plane parallel with the Hat sides of the member 9. The member 9 when formed is hardened and tempered as a spring; thus the reduced portion becomes a flat spring member and the entiremember 9 becomes substantially a r.e silient spring ring. A. portion of the lower part of the sound box casing l, is removed and on the that portion thus formed is tastened a plate 7, by means of screws 8 or other well known means in such manner as to con ipletely avoid any loosening, The plate 7 has two lugs 6, (S, which partly .encircle the ring member 9. Near the outer ends of the lugs 3, twogdrilled and tapped holes are positioned exactly in line to receive the machine screws 15 which are provided with lock nuts 1-6. At the inner end of the screws 15 a tapered portion is formed which at the very end bears a cupped portion suitably formed to contact with small J hardened steel balls 22, on each side of ,9

and seated in the recesses 11. As the re.- cesses 11 and the screws 15 are carefully located in alinement, the arrangement of parts is such that a true axis upon which the stylus bar may move is there assembled and formed.

lVhen the resilient spring member 9 is positioned upon the axis of the screws 15 with the balls 22 in place, the screws 15 are .each moved to exert a slight but definite amount of compression upon 9 and its parts, and the lock nuts 16 are firmly screwed against member '6. The compression of the spring member 9 by the screws 15 is such that under no circumstances can independent vibration be induced in the connected parts of the bearing between the ring 9 and the screws 15. At the same time, the bearing upon'the balls permits ready vibratory movement ot' the ring 9 upon its axis.

As pressure is applied to the ring 9 in order to tension the same and to hold the stylus bar at connected thereto on its axis without rattling or loosencss of parts, the ring 9 is slightly compressed and tends to assume a slightly elliptical shape. As the pressure is increased, the thinned portion of the ring-like. member may slightly bend transversely between the extensions .or wings 10, particularly as the wings or extensions 10 are flexed in opposite directions in applying tension to the stylus bar as will be referred to below.

After having been so mounted upon the studs or screws 15, thethin resilient wings or extensions 10 are firmly clamped between the nuts 14 and 26 on the two studs 21. The studs 21 are also provided with lock nuts 27 by means of which they are held in place when finally adjusted.

After the ring 9 has been mounted in the manner above referred to upon the studs 15-l5, and with the thinned wings or spring extensions 10 firmly secured to the studs 21 and the diaphragm being connected to the stylus bar, the tension under which the diaphragm is placed may be ascertained by giving a light blow to the end of the stylus bar, and, it the characteristic tone of the diaphragm is not correct, the tension on the diaphragm may be adjusted by loosening the nuts 14 and 26 of one wing and applying more or less vertical pressure thereto by adjusting the nuts upon the stud 21. Tile adjustment of one wing or resilient extension may be sutlicient to bring the diaphragm to the right pitch, but further adjustment is required, the other wing or extension 10 may be similarly adjusted in the opposite direction. In the above manner the diaphragm may be properly tensioned as desired, and, after it has been so adjusted or tensioned, the parts may be securely held insuch adjusted position without any loose ness between the parts It will also be seen that in adjusting the thin spring extensions or wings 10 in .op posite directions, there may be ,a slight tend- .ency to buckle or bend the thinned portion of the resilient spring ring member 9 be tween the said extensions 10, but such bending or buckling is at most very slight, if perceptible at all.

In this ,manner the stylus h r is securely mounted on the sound box casing and the ring-like member 9 provides a unitary structure whereby the stylus bar is yieldingly held tightly on its pivotal mounti 1g to oscillate in accordance with sound vibrations and whereby the necessary or desired tension may be applied to the diaphragm to bring it to its proper or desired pitch.

The foregoing adjustments clearly serve to position the diaphragm and as the web 13 is of reduced form, it possesses considerable spring action which cooperates with the resiliency of the diaphragm to influence the motion of the stylus bar.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Pat ent of the United States:

1, In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a sound box casing, a diaphragm mounted therein, a stylus bar, a resilient ring forming a mounting for and surrounding said stylus bar, said ring being provided with a thin resilient extension projecting therefrom and integral therewith, means to pivotally mount said ring on said casing and to subject said ring to transverse compression, and a means engaging said extension at spaced points respectively to flex said extension in opposite directions.

2. In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a sound box casing, a diaphragm mounted therein, a stylus bar, a resilient ring forming a mounting for and surrounding said stylus bar, said ring being provided with a pair of thin resilient extensions projecting outwardly from one side thereof and integral therewith, means to pivotally mount said ring on said casing and to subject said ring to transverse compression and means to apply pressure to said extensions to flex the same in opposite directions.

3. In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a sound box casing, a diaphragm, a stylus bar, an annular mounting for said stylus bar through the opening of which said stylus bar extends, means mounted on said casing to support and diametrically compress said annular mounting, said annular mounting being provided with an integral resilient portion extending outwardly from said mounting between said means mounted on said casing and in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said annular mounting, and means for flexing said resilient portion in opposite directions and substantially parallel to the axis of said member to tension said stylus bar and said diaphragm.

4. In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a sound box casing, a diaphragm mounted therein, a stylus bar, a resilient ring providing a mounting for and surrounding said stylus bar and provided with a thin resilient portion extending outwardly from the body of said ring, means to pivotally mount said ring on said casing, and a pair of adjusting screws engaging said resilient portion and opera tive to flex said portion in opposite directions to apply tension to said stylus bar and said diaphragm.

5. In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, the combination of a sound box casing, a stylus bar, a substantially annular mounting for said stylus bar, means mounted on said casing to pivotally support and diametrically compress said mounting, said mounting being provided with a pair of thin resilient extensions projecting radially from the body portion of said mounting, and on one side of a line passing through the pivotal axis of said ring, and adjustable means to flex said extensions in opposite directions at substantially right angles to the normal surfaces of said extensions.

6. A mounting for a stylus bar of a sound reproducin machine, comprising a resilient ring adapted to be attached'to and surround a stylus bar and provided with a pair of diametrically oppositely positioned recesses, and with a plurality of thin resilient projections extending substantially radially from the same side of said ring between said recesses and adapted to be flexed in opposite directions.

7. In a sound box for sound reproducing machines, a sound box casing, a diaphragm mounted therein, a stylus bar, a substantially annular mounting for said stylus bar, means mounted on said casing to pivotally support and diametrically comoress said mountin

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