US1654768A - Electrotherapeutic machine - Google Patents

Description

'Jan. 3, 1928.

J. B. WANTZ ET AL ELECTRCTHERAPEUTIC MACHINE Filed March 13, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 nwufloks m. WRNTZ & m. enema Jan. 3, 1928.

J. wAN'Tz ET AL ELECTRO'IHERAPEUTIC MACHINE Filed March 15, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m. Nd;

\NVENTORE H I, N 11 & 1H -L am T// M! Y as Jan. 3, 11928.

s Sheefs-Sheet 4 INVENTOKa J.8. wmm. & RA. GROTHE AT onnm J B WANTZ ET AL ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC MACHINE Filed March 3, 925

J. B. WANTZ ET AL ELECTROTHBRAPEUTIC MACHINE Filed March 13, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \NvENTdKs 4.5.wam'1. & pm. Home RTTOHEY BY l,

Patented Jan. 3,1928.

UNITED STATES JULIUS B. wan'rz, or OAK PARK, AND ARTHUR A; enorrrn, F' C ICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS r VICTOR X-RAY CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

,ELEC'IBOTHERAPEUTIC MACHINE.

Application filed March 13, 1925. Serial No. 15,240.

A simplified housing for such a device,

rendering accessibility thereto a relatively simple matter, the parts requiring adjustment or change being readily exposed;

A more accurate and sensitive control of the currents intended for the patient, such control including the sine wave, sine wave frequency, periodicity of interruptions, voltage, and amperage; p e

A combination of movable brushes with a generator, such combination being unique in its arrangement, and permitting'of the production of a truly sinusoidal current;

Novel means for controlling and operating said movable brushes, such means including the use of cams or other shaping agencies for producing waves of any desired length or shape An improved and simplified wiring systein, reducing the number of connections and number of'conduits; Y

An unique gear changerfor the purpose of augmenting the sphere of application for the device, making it possible to produce short or. long waves and, incidentally, increasing or decreasing the frequency of the sinusoidal and surging galvanic currents generated by the device; a a V Means for smoothing out undesirablecub rent ripples which are so prevalent in devices of this kind wherein a small direct current generator is employed;

A-n attachment to the device hereinabove described of an interrupter which maybe optionally placed in the circuit, the actuation ofthe interrupter being an incidentto the operation of thecurrent generating means; a A reduction 111 the number of movmg parts including the establishment of electrical connection with the generator whereby no wire is flexed during the rotation of the movable brushes, or other parts, but on the contrary, all wires are maintained during operation of the generator in fixed relation to the connections therefor;

, The avoidance of shunt connections and of faradic currents, and the combination of means whereby the voltage values may drop to an actual zero; a

A novel and useful switching and wiring arrangementwhereby the operator has .before him at his instant command every means for supplying any desired current; and a The production of a device where accessibility amounts to substantially instant visibility with respect to all essential parts, such accessibility, however, not interfering with a condensedarrangementof the various elements which are combined to form the apparatus.

These, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are attained by the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the several units hereinafter to be described, comprising one embodiment of the invention which embodiment is fully illustrated in the accompanying several sheets of drawing, hereby made a part of this specification.

In said drawings Figure l is a top 718W. of the apparatus,

part of the case being broken away to show the movable brush actuating mechanism.

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus, one corner of the case-bemgbroken away to show the governor mechanism for an eddy current motor used therein.

I Figure 3 is a transverse section of the entire apparatus on the line 33 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detail, in elevation, showing the gear shifting mechanism of the device.

Figure 5 is a diagram of the wiring systern employed.

. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the pole changing switch in a position differentv from that shown in Figure 5. Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic representations of the selector switch inlpositions different from that shown therefor in Figure, 5. i y 7 Figures 9 and 10 disclose a standard cam and the wave shape produced by said cam.

Figures 1-1 to 18 disclose, alternately, differently shaped cams and the shapes of waves produced thereby. I

Figure 19 shows the switch controll ng the interrupter circuit in a position different from that disclosed in Figure 5.

Figure 20 is an end view, in detail, representative of the interrupter commutator and brushes- Figure 21 is a diagranm'iatic representation of the sine wave shown in Figure when the interrupter is in circuit.

For convenience, the discussion of the device following will be separated, as far as possible, into descriptive sections relating to the several units necessarily combined to produce the apparatus. Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the description hereinafter made. The first unit to be described will be the case.

Reference should be had first to Figures 1,

2 and 3. The entire apparatus, except thepatients electrodes and the source of energy, neither of which is shown, is contained within a case 10 having a hinged top.

The main body of said case 10, comprises a generally rectangular member with slightly sloping sides preferably formed from a single casting. At the front of said body 10 is an elongated aperture 11, generally rectangular in configuration, and extending substantially the entire length and width of the front of said body 10.. Aperture 11 is closed by a removable panel, later to be described, such panel being attached to the case 10 by any suitable fastening members.

At the center of the case 10, and across its entire width is an elevated and upwardly sloping section 12. Said portion of the case is apertured at its middle to provide an opening 13 for access to a gear changing apparatus and a brush changing mechanism later to be described. On the right and left sides of said aperture 13, are two additional apertures 1.2 and 12", for a voltmeter and an ammeter, respectively.

The rear top section of the body 10, that is, that portion of the'case 10 immediately to the rear of raised section 12, comprises what may be called for convenience, a shelf, designated 1%, to receive thereon the base of the motor generator unit which provides the patientscurrent. The shelf 1 1 comprises a rim or horizontal flange about an elongated aperture.

A hinged T-shaped cover of substantially a half rounded configuration, indicated by the numeral 15, covers said motor generator, an extension portion 16 thereon enclosing the gear changing and brush actuating mechanisms to be described, said extension 16 being so shaped at its margins that it may be seated flush upon the raised section 12 of case 10. A lock 17 engages said. cover 15 at its extension portion 16 and holds it upon of said said body 10, such. lock 17 being readily released in order that the cover 15 may be tilted upwardly and backwardly to expose the entire motor generator apparatus, and the gear changing and movable brush actuating mechanisms. V

Suitable additional apertures are provided in case 10 for the reception of the hand operated levers controlling the gear shifter and the governor for an eddy current motor com 'n'ising another unit of the device.

A removable bottom 10 for case 10, is provided. No part of the apparatus is appended thereto, but by the removal of said bottom 10*, complete accessibility to said eddy current motor and to other parts of the apparatus is obtained.

{eference will now be had to the motor generator unit which is disposed upon a base seated on shelf 14-, and which is adapted to be exposed or covered by movement of cover 15. This unit of the apparatus coniprises a motor 18, a direct current generator 1.9, and a shaft between motor 18 and generator 19 and having a flexible connection 21 therein. The armature of the generator 19 is not shown, but the commutator 22 generator is plainly visible in Figure 1. Two fixed and opposed brushes 23 and 24- are provided for contact with said comn'iutator 22. These are the usual fixed brushes used in connection. with small generators and may be of any cmiventiomil type.

Two movable brushes, 25 and 26, are also provided for generator 19. These are also oppositely disoosed and are carried upon opposed arms 27 on a cross shaped bracket Said brushes 25 and 26 are insulated from and do not have electrical connection with said bracket 28 at any point or part. Bracket 28 is adapted to be rotated more than 90 but less than 180 about an axis coinciding with the axis of shaft 20. Upon its face opposite to the side upon which the movable generator brushes and 26 are mounted, an insulating dis; 29 is secured. Arcuate plates 30 and 30", disconnected one from another, and extending about said insulating plate 29 slightly less than 180" each, are rigidly affixed to said insulating plate 2.9, one of said plates 30 being electrically connected to brush 25, and the other of'said plates 30 being electrically connected to the other of said movable brushes 26.

The connections intermediate brushes 25 and 26 and the connectors 30 and 30' comprise Wires or conduits extending along ,he arms 27 of bracket 28 and through the iusu lating plate 29, hence when said brushes 255 and 26 are moved, the connections intermediate said brushes 25 and 26 and the connector plates 30 and 30, are concurrently moved with bracket 27, and without flexing or other distortion.

Upon two connected standards 81, carried by thebase' of the motor generator, are two brushes 32 and 32 adapted to engage connectors and 30 whereby the current collooted by said movable brushes 25 and 26 is conducted away from the generator 19. Upon the bracket 28 is apinion 33 which pinion engages a rack 34 upon one end of sli'dable rod 35 having a roller bearing 35 at its other end. Said rod'35 ismounted for reciprocating movement in a sleeve 36 carried by an arm 37 depending from one of the standards 31.

Rod 35 is actuated in one direction by the rotation of an eddy current motor heretofore referred to and hereinafter to be described, and in the opposite direction by a s'pring35 anchored to arm 37 and aiiined to therear portion of said sliding rod 35. The roller end or bearing 35 is constantly engaged by a cam actuated by said eddy current motor whereby in controlled movement, to shift said movable brushes 25 and26 to various positions about commutator The commutator at the other end of the shaft of generator 19 will be later described. The means. for shifting the movable brushes 25 and 26, including such cam, will now be described. Upon 21 depending frame or platform 38 secured to the back side of the case 10 is an eddy current motor comprising a revolving disc 39 and coils 40 and 41, respectively above and below said disc 39. Disc 39 revolves with a vertical shaft 42 pivoted at its lower end 43 in fram'e'38, said shaft 42 extendingupwardly through a bearing 44 in' a spider 45 comprising the top portion of frame 38. Said shaft 42 maintained against longitudinal displacement by said bearing 44. i Above spider 45, the shaft 42 carries two separated or spaced gears 46 and 47, the upper gear 46 being of a larger diameter than the lower gear 47.

The speed of disc 39 in the eddy current motor is controlled externally to case 10. Journalled at one end in a bracket 48 upon the frame 38 adjacent shaft '42 and at its other end in'an upwardly turned more forward section of said frame 38is a governor shaft 49, said shaft 49 being actuated by a worm gear 49 intermediate said shaft 49 and shaft 42. A three ball governor 561:0- tated. by shaft 49 is discl sed but'any other form of governor could be substituted for this particular type.

' Insaid governor 50 is a friction disc 51 which is at the rear thereof. At. all times said disc 51 is engaged by a felt button 52 upon the short arm 52 of a lever 53 pivoted at 53 in frame 38. Normally said lever 53 is moved toward theframe 33 and arm 52 against friction disc 51 by a spring 55 secured at one end of said lever 53 near its topmost extremity and at its other to spider 45. i

tion 58 also in said right arm of spider 54' is disposed a screw member 59, the lower end ofwhichengages upon the upper and cam surface of saidshort lever 56 whereby, when said threaded member 59 is rotated inwardly, it forces lever 56 to move downwardlyaboutpivot 57. The point of en gagement of screw 59 upon lever 56 is nearer to pivot 57 than the point of abutment of lever 56 with lever 53, so that any movement of lever 56-actuated by threaded screw 5.9 is multiplied several times before imparted to lever 53. As a partial rotation of shaft 59 produces but a slight linear move ment in lever 56, which lever 56 in turn actuates lever 53, a sensitive control may be obtained for regulating the speed of the eddy current'motor by the use of a series of levers as shown. An operating handle 60 visible upon the top of the case 10 is affixed to threaded screw 59, said screw 59 passing through the case 10 in an aperture in its top provided therefor. Handle 60 will be found upon the right hand side of Figure 1;

Upon a vertical pin 61,'in the middle arm of spider 54 andbest shown in Figure 4 is a. sleeve 62. Said pin 61 is parallel to shaft and adjacent thereto. The upper end 63 of said sleeve is keyed, slotted, or shaped to seat thereon for rotation one at a time a number of interchangeable cams 64.

Each of said cams 64 engages at its periphery the roller bearing 35 upon brush actuating rod 35. The pin 61 maintains sleeve 62 against axial and vertical displacement through the engagement ofa pin in said sleeve 62 with'a groove in pin 61 as is com mon in the art. Sleeve 62 is feathered or splinedto a surrounding barrel 65. 011 said barrel 65 are two gears 66 and 67, a separating middle section 68, and a lower section 69. Two operating positions are provided for barrel 65. In its lower position, the gear 66 engages gear 46 upon the shaft 42 driven by the eddy current motor, while in its upper position, gear 67 meshes with, gear 47 also on the eddy current motor shaft 42. The first position described is employed when rapid shifting of the brush 25 and/or brush 26 is desired, while the second position described is employed when a slower movement for said brushes is indicated.

A shifting mechanism for changing gears is provided. This is carried upon the left arm of spider 54. Reference should again be had to Figure 4 for the purpose of understanding the operation of such mechanism. At the lowermost end of splined barrel is section 69. A bifurcated end. of a gear shifting lever 71 partially surrounds said section. Ordinarily each prong of end 70 is provided with a roller bearing. At the other end 72 of said gear shifting lever 71 (which is pivoted in spider 54) is an ad justing screw 72 which engages cam face 73 of an inclined arm 73. Arm 7 3 is affixed to and for rotation with a rocker shaft 7 1 also journalled in spider (r1. An operat ing handle 75 shown at the left hand side of case 10, as illustrated in Figure 1, is secured to rocker shaft 74 for actuating gear shift lever 71 through movement of rocker shaft 74 and cam 73. A turn from one extreme position to the other extreme position of said operating handle 7 5 raises the feathered barrel 65, releasing one set of gears, 16 and 66, and causes the other set of gears, 47 and 67 to mesh. A turn of handle 7 5 to its opposite extreme position allows barrel 65 to drop by force of its weight, meshing the gears 16 and 66. Adjusting screw 7:2 compensates for wear and provides for fine adjustments in operating the device.

It has already been stated that case 10 is apertured at its front 11 for the purpose of seating a detachable front panel. A front panel 76 is suitably attached to case 10 by screw members or other fastening members (not shown), and carries at its center a line switch 77, at its left hand side a polarity switch 78, at its right hand side a selector switch 79, and to the left of said polarity switch 78, two patients terminals and 81. The switches 77, 78 and 79 and said terminals 80 and 81 will be more completely dcseribed when the wiring system of the device is explained.

Also secured to said panel 76 is a rheostat 82 controlled by a slidable member 83 actuated by a handle 84 projecting through a slot 85 in said panel 76. Movement horizontally to the right or left of handle 84 along the slot 85 increases or decreases the line voltage as will hereinafter be explained.

Upon the top of case 10 is an ammeter 86 and a voltmeter 87, seated respectively in apertures 12 and 12, while within the case 10 is disposed a choke coil 88, and a terminal board 89, all of which will be more fully explained in conjunction with the description of the wiring system of the apparatus, for an understanding of which reference should be had to Figure 5.

Line switch 77 has four terminals. Two of these, unmarked by numerals, are supplied with suitable electrical energy by the mains marked Line. The source of such energy may be any power plant supplying current. The other two terminals of said line switch 77 are designated K and L.

One conduit from contact K is connected to the movable terminal of rheostat 82 and another conduit from said contact K leads to a fixed contact, also marked K, in selector switch 79. Terminal or contact L in line switch 77 is connected by one of two mains to one terminal of the eddy current motor, and by the other main to a terminal, marked L on terminal board 89.

From terminal L on said board 89, a main runs to motor 18, and the other terminal of said motor 18 is electrically connected to a terminal R also on said board. A conduit runs from said terminal ii to the fixed terminal of rheostat 82. Intermediate the eddy current motor and selector switch 79 is a conduit terminating in a fixed contact M in said switch.

From the current generated by generator 1.), three types of therapeutic currents are taken from the device at terminals 80 and 81. This accounts for the employment of fixed brushes 23 and 2 1, and of movable brushes 25 and 26. The first pair of brushes 23 and 24:, are connected, respectively, to terminals G and H on said terminal board 89, and the second pair, 25 and 26, are connected to terminals S and T on said terminal. board through plates 30 and 30 and brushes 3:2 and 3%. Each of said four terminals G, H, S and T on said board 89 is connected by a main to a fixed contact in. selector switch 79, each of said fixed contacts bearing the same identifying letter.

In addition to the fixed contacts K, M, G, H, S and T, in switch 79, there are two other fixed contacts, P and C. The first of these is connected through a switch member later to be described (and for providing an inter rupted current when desired) to a terminal P in polarity switch 7 8 and the second leads to one terminal of choke coil 88. From the other terminal of said choke coil 88 separate conduits lead to voltmeter 87 and to ammeter 86. From voltmeter 87 a conduit leads to said fixed contact P in said polarity switch 78, while a conduit from ammeter 86 leads to a fixed contact point Q, also in said polarity switch 78. There are two other fixed terminals, W and V, in said switch 78, each being connected to one of the patients terminals 80 and 81.

Said polarity switch comprises said four fixed contact points and two movable segments. For changing the polarity of the patients current, the position of said. movable segments in said switch 78 is changed from the position disclosed in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6.

For generating a truly sinusoidal current, eddy current motor actuates movable brushes 25 and 26, and the current is taken from said brushes. Selector switch 79 is in the position shown in Figure 5 under such a condition. Said switch 79 in addition to comprising eight fixed contact points, includes four, movablese 'ments adapted to be actuated in uni-1 son. he eddycurrlent motor will be in operation when the selector switch 7 9 is in the position noted and contacts (Jr and II will be open. The wave form will be controlled wholly by cams 64 which are removable and interchangeable. s I

The sinusoidal current passesv throu h choke coil 88, as do the other currents to e described hereinafter, and insaid coilv the ripples incident to a direct current generator having a small number of commutator bars are smoothed out.

For a galvanic current, the position of switch 7 9 disclosed in Figure 7 is proper.

The eddy. current motor then will not operate, contacts K and M being open, and the Datients current will be taken from fixed brushes 23 and 2st. Contacts S and Twill also be open. The galvanic current passes through choke coil 88 as above indicated.

In the position shown in Figure 8, surging galvanic current taken from the generator19 by one moving brush and by one fixed brush will be transmitted to the patient. Contacts S and II will be open, the eddy current motor will operate, andthe surging galvanic current, from one fixed brush to one movable brush, will be carried through choke coil 88 to the patients terminals 80 and 81. I The shape ofthe half wave will be governed as in the truly sinusoidal current by the configuration of removable cam 64.

In the alternating current waves, shapes 7 for which are disclosed in the drawings, any

desired combination of harmonics may beobtained by the employment of a properly shaped cam 64. Several camstit are illustrated in conjunction with the wave form produced by them.

It will instantly be perceived that in Figure 5 the'relative position of parts is fairly well maintained and that the dotted lines about the several switches indicate panel 7 6. The position of the coils upon the eddy current motor are reversed, however, for convenience. i

. In Figures 9 to 18, inclusive, various cams to produce it. In each of Figures 11, 13,15

and 17, the standard cam 64; which is shown in Figure 9 and which produces'a sine wave, one half of which comprises the wave shape disclosed in Figure 10, is reproduced in dotted lines. In Figures 12, 14, 16 and 18, the wave shape shown in Figure 10.is disclosed in dotted lines for purposes of comparison.

A truly sinusoidal current isjone in which the voltage value] changes according to the law or sines. In the apparatus hereinabove described',a truly sinusoidal 'currentis prod'uced by means of the movablebrushes. In

every generator there is a neutral or no voltage point approximately midway between the dried generator brushes. The'oscillation of the movable brushes over the commutator causes said movable brushes to pass this neutral point which is the zero point of the wave. Thus the manner in which the movable brushes are oscillated over the commutator will determine the wave shape of the current and this may be changed at will to almost any shape by the substitution of proper. cams. The'cams and wave shapes which have been illustrated in Figures 9 to 18 inclusive are but a few specimens of the many cams, each with its own characteristic wave shape, wh ch might be illustrated.

I "The oscillatory movement of the movable brushes over the commutator to produce sinusoidal current eliminates at least four "contacts over that of any other method heretofore used in the revolving drum type of sine wave generator. The commutator always revolves ata high s eed, and because of its contact with the stationarybrushes, al-

ways presents a clean surface'to the movable brushes. Asall contacts'in the circuit are of a positive nature, it is almost impossible for this type of sine generator to produce taradic current. The generator is operated by a small motor, the speed of which is governed by a line resistance. Due to the absence of shunt resistances as used in earlier types of sine wave generators, the whole output of thegenerator is available. Consequently, this type of sine wave generator will deliver a maximum output using a minimum size of direct current generator. In electro-thera eutic apparatus, it is sometimes, desirab e to interrupt, the patients current, but any interrupter employed should be so disposed that it may be removed from the patients circuit. In the present device, an interrupter of this character is provided, the interruptions in the patients circuit being an incident to and cont-rolled by the motor generatorunit creating such current. I

Q Upon theleift hand end of the shaft of generator 19 is an auxiliary commutator (see Fig. 20) comprising a plurality of con- .tact's 101- separated by insulators 102. Attached to the frame orhousing for generator 19 are brushes 103, preferably opposed, which alternately engage contacts 101 and insulators 102. Brushes 103, when concurrently in contact with contacts 101 provide for a circuit through said brushes 103 and said contacts 101, for said contacts 101 are electrically connected. When one or both brushes 103 engage upon an insulator 102,

no current may pass through the commutator 100 and brushes 103.

A switch 105 (see F ig. 5) having four fixed contacts a, b, y and a and two movable segments is arranged most conveniently upon the panel. 76 adjacent the selector switch. hen the switch 105 is in the position shown in Figure 5, current does not flow through the interrupter circuit but passes through contacts a and I) to the pa tient. lVhen in the position shown in Figure 19, current from one conduit of the patients circuit is made to pass from contact a to e of switch 105 to one Of brushes 103, through commutator 100 into the other brush 103, and from the second brush 103 to the patients conduit through contacts 2 and b in switch 105.

As the generator 19 revolves, make and break in the patients circuit is provided. The length of contacts 101 and of insulators 102 may be of different dimensions. The periodicity of such makes and breaks is governed by the speed of the generator 19, and by the number of contacts upon commutator 100. It is within the scope of the invention to provide interchangeable commutators 100, so that the periodicity of the interruptions may be further controlled.

It would perhaps be too violent a shock to a patient it the patients current, when interrupted, fell to zero. For that reason a resistance 106 is placed across the brushes 103shown here in the interrupter circuitsuch resistance to be rather high. The efiiect of the make across the brushes 103 and the commutator 100 amounts to short circuiting the resistance 106. At all times when the interrupter is in circuit and there is a flow 01' current in the device, there is a flow of a portion of such current through the interrupter circuit even though brushes 103 and commutator 100 are not at make. The effect of the interrupter circuit upon a sine wave is illustrated in Figure 21.

Galvanic current, as herein described, is not direct current taken from a voltaic or galvanic cell. Such a source for current obviously is impracticable. In the apparatus described in this application for patent, there is utilized the ordinary power or lighting current, which is made to operate a motor generator set, the motor of which is energized by the commercial lighting or power current to which reference has just been made. The shaft of the motor in this set is directly connected to the generator.

It is Well known that in any direct current generator and particularly in the smaller types suitable for electro-therapeutic uses, the number of commutator bars is necessarrily limited, and the current generated, although unidirectional, is pulsating in character due to the voltage difference between the commutator bars. Because the current generated in the motor generator set here described is pulsating, a special choke coil 88 is employed.

This coil (88) smooths out the ripples or pulsations in the current by an inductance effect. The resulting current is smooth and so nearly resembles a truly galvanic current that it may be employed therefor, and no term other than galvanic aptly describes this current. The term galvanic also serves to distinguish this particular character of current from the other types of current adapted to be generated in the apparatus for which a patent is sought.

1. Means for generating an alternating current comprising a direct current generator, brushes adapted to pass the neutral point upon the commutator on said generator, a prime mover, and connecting means inter mediate said prime mover and said brushes tor converting unidirectional movement of said prime mover into a reciprocating movement of said brushes.

Means for generating an alternating current coin n-ising a. direct current generator having a commutator, brushes adapted to be moved relatively to the neutral point upon said commutator in said generator, a prime mover, and a cam driven by said prime mover for reciprocally moving said brushes about said neutral point in said commutator.

3. Means tor generating an alternating current comprising a direct current generator having a commutator, brushes adapted to be moved about the neutral point of said commutator, a prime mover, and a plurality of interchangeable cams adapted to be inserted intermediate said prime mover and said brushes for oscillating said brushes rela- 'tively to said neutral point in said commutater.

4t. Means for generating an alternating current comprising a direct current generator having a commutator, brushes movable about the neutral point in said commutator, a prime mover, and means for determining the shape of each alternating current wave comprising an instrumentality intermediate said prime mover and said brushes actuated by a unidirectional movement of said prime mover and imparting to said brushes a nonuniform reciprocal movement about said neutral point.

5. The combination with a generator having a commutator and movable brushes of an instrumentality tor reciprocally moving said brushes across the neutral point in said coinmutator, said instriunentality comprising means for determining the rapidity ot the reciprocal movement of said brushes and the displacement thereof relatively to said nou tral point upon said commutator.

6.111 direct current generator having a loo oscillating brushes movements of different angular magnitudes.

7 A generator having a commutator,

brushes adapted to be moved across the neutral point in said commutator, a prime mover adapted to be operated at regulated and varying speeds, and a cam driven by said prime mover and determining the acceleration or" the movement of said brushes upon each side of said neutral point on said commutator.

8.An electro-therapeutic apparatus hav ing patients terminal posts and comprising a motor generator, fixed and movable brushes upon said generator, means for actuating said movable brushes comprising an instrumentality for imparting oscillatory movement thereto, speed changing apparatus upon said brush actuating means, mechanical speed changing means intermediate said apparatus and said brushes, and electrical connections and switching members whereby a sinusoidal, a surging galvanic, and galvanic cur rent may be taken from said generator and deliveredat said terminal posts; I

9. An apparatus as describedin claim 8 having in association with said connections a choke coil disposed intermediate said generator andsaid binding posts.

' 10. In an electro-therapeutic apparatus, a direct buri'ent generator having movable brushes adapted to be oscillated about the neutral point upon the commutator of said generator, and au auxiliary'motor for actuating said brushes, said auxiliary motor hav ing associated therewith a changeable gear and speed regulating means for deteri'nining the frequency 01. the oscillations of said brushes, a member for determining the acceleration of said brushes relatively to said neutral point, and an interruptor for current-generated insaid apparatus.

11. The combination with an elect-ro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a motor-generator, an auxiliary motor, and a plurality of switches, of a case for said auxiliary motor having an open side and a shelved section to seat said motor generator, a cover 'li'or said case hingedly connected thereto and adapted to enclose said shelved section, and a detachable panel for said switches and adapted to close said open side of said case.

12. A case in which said auxiliary motor is mounted as described in claim 11, and having a removable bottom, the removal of said bottom providing access to said motor.

13. In an. electro-therapeutic apparatus and ease therefor as described in claim 11, a bracket in said case for mounting said auxiliary motor, changeable. gears in association with said motor, and means for changing the speed of said motor and for changing said gears, said bracket having arms for supporting said. gears and said gear and speed changing means.

lat.- The combination with a case for an electro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a motor-generator for generating electric current,-an auxiliary motor, changeable gears intermediate said auxiliary motor and said motor-generator, a speed changing mecha nism for saidauxiliary motor, and a gear I shifting mechanism, of a bracket having one arm for supporting said auxiliary motor and journalling said gears, a second arm for means supporting said'speed changing apparatus, and a third arm for mounting said gear shifting mechanism.

15. In an electro-therapeutic apparatus, a direct current: generator having movable brushes adapted to be oscillated about the ing a'generator, brushes for taking sinusoidal and galvanic currents therefrom, an aux iliary commutator and brushes therefor, a circuit from said brushes, and a resistance across the brushes engaging said auxiliary commutator, said auxiliary commutator providing means for interrupting the current in said circuit from said brushes and said resistance reducing the voltage drop therein.

18. Means for generating therapeutic currents comprising a generator, brushes upon the commutator on said generator, a prime mover, terminal. posts, a. plurality of circuits intermediate said brushes and terminal posts, and selective switching means in said circuitslfor determining the wave form of the electromotive force to be delivered at said terminal posts.

19. Means for generating therapeutic currents comprising a direct current generator having a commutator, brushes adapted to be moved about the neutral point upon said commutator in said generator, at prime mover,

and means actuated by said prime mover for controlling the'movementof said brushes relatively to the neutral point in said commutator.

20. Means for generating electric currents comprising a generator having a commutator, brushes adapted to be moved abouta neutral ISO ltll) point on said commutator, terminal posts, a plurality of circuits intermediate said generator and said terminal posts, selective switching means in said circuits for determining the wave form of the electromotive iorce delivered at said terminal posts, and. a prime mover for said brushes, said selective switching means being arranged in said circuits to provide for the operation oi said prime mover when the current to be delivered at said terminal posts requires actuation of said brushes.

21. Means for generating electriccurrents comprising a direct current generator having a commutator, brushes movable about the neutral point in said commutator, a prime mover tor actuating said brushes, terminal posts to deliver said current, a plurality of circuits intermediate said generator and said posts, and selective switching means in association with said circuits whereby said prime mover will be energized only when said apparatus is producing currents of a predetermined wave form.

22. The combination with a generator having a comn'iutator and movable and fixed brushes, of an instrumentality tor reciprocally moving said movable brushes across the neutral point. in said commutator, terminal posts for the delivery of current, circuits intermediate said brushes and said terminal posts, and a prime mover adapted to actuate said instrumentality when certain of said circuits are closed.

23. A direct current generator in combination with a prime mover having means for determining the speed of said generator, said generator having a commutator and oscillating and fixed brushes, and means for actuating said oscillating brushes, said latter means being adapted to impart to said oscillating brushes oscillating movements about the neutral point in said con'mtiut-ator.

24. A generator having a commutator, brushes adapted to be moved across the neutral point in said con'imutator, a prime mover for said generator adapted to be operated at regulated and varying speeds, a second prime mover for actuating said movable brushes and means for determining the acceleration of the movement of said brushes upon each side ot said neutral. point on said generator.

25. An electrotherapeutic apparatus having terminal posts and comprising a motorgenerator, fixed and movable brusl'ies upon said generator, a prime mover for actuating said movable brushes con'ip'rising an instrumentality for imparting auxiliary movement thereto, a source of electromotive force, a plurality 0t Cllt its intermediate said brushes and said tern'iinal posts, and electrical connections and switching members whereby electromotive force of different wave forms may be delivered to said terminal posts, said electrical connections and switching members being adapted to make and break connections intermediate said terminal posts and said brushes, and said prime mover and said source of electr0motive lorce, whereby to render inoperative such parts of the apparatus as are not required for the production of: current or the selected wave form.

In an eiectro-therapeutic apparatus, terminal posts adapted to deliver currents of different wave terms, a generator having fixed brushes upon the commutator thereof and provided with movable brushes adapted to be oscillated about the neutral point upon said commutator, a prime mover for actuating said movable brushes, a motor for driv' ing said generator, control means in association with said motor for regulating its speed,

plurality of circuits intern'iediate said genstator and said terminal posts, and switching means in association with said circuits whereby circuits are closed between the proper brushes and said terminal posts and /or said prime mover to provide currents oi a selected predetermined wave form.

27. In a therapeutic current device, a gen e ator, a plurality of brushes upon said gencrater, terminal posts, circuits intermediate said ln'ushcs and said terminal posts, a motor for moving selected brushes, a source of electromot-ive force for said motor, a circuit to said. motor, and a selector switch for said circuits, said switch being adapted to open and close the circuit to said motor as an in cident to the selection of the current of a tie sired wave term.

28. In a therapeutic current device, a generator, a plurality of brushes upon said generator, terminal posts, circuits intermediate said brushes and said terminal posts, a motor for moving selected brushes, a source of electroi'n-otive force, a circuit to said motor, and a selector switch for said circuits, said switch being adapted to be moved to one of seve 'al positions to provide galvanic, surging galvanic, and sinusoidal currents.

29. In a therapeutic current device, a generator, a plurality o't brushes upon said generator, terminal posts, circuits intermediate said brushes and said tern'iinal posts, a motor for moving selected brushes, a source of electron'iotivc force for said motor, a circuit to said motor, and a selector switch for said circuits, said switch being adapted to be moved into a plurality of positions, one position providing for the delivery at said terminal posts of galvanic current, a second position thereof for the delivery of surging galvanic current, and a third position thereof for the delivery ot sinusoidal current.

30. In a therapeutic current device, a generator, a plurality of brushes upon said generator, a number of said brushes being movable, terminal posts, a prime mover for actuating said movable brushes, a motor for driving'said generator, a rheostat in asso ciation with said motor, a plurality of circuits intermediate said generator and said terminal posts, and switching means in association with said circuits whereby circuits are established between the proper brushes

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