US219320A - Improvement in dental engines - Google Patents

Description

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Patented Sept. 2, 1879.

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E.' T. STARR. Dental-Engine.

Patexted Sept. 2, 1879.

No. 219,320.v

WI YN'LUSSJfS N.PETERS. PHcTo-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

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E. T. STARR. Dental-Engine.

Patented sept. 2.1879.

WITNESSS UNITED STATESPATENI' OFFICE.

ELI T. STARR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL S. WHITE, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DENTAL ENGINES.

g Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 219,320: dated September 2, 1379; LPPICILOD filed June 17, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELI T. STARR, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Engines, of. which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to improvements upon the Well -known S. S. White dental engine. That engine embodies in its structure a supporting-base or tripod7 upon which is pivoted an upright arm carrying a flexible driving-shaft, which communicates motion to an operating-tool, power being imparted to the flexible shaft from a foot-treadle, also mounted on the base. The flexible shaft is enveloped and protected by a exible sheathor cover secured to or projecting from the head of the engine-arm, which arm has the capacity of rocking upon the fixed standard of the base, so as to `give the operating-tool an increased range of movement over that afforded by the mere flexure of the shaft and sheath, the said engine-arm being maintained in a normallyupright position by a counter-balance or spring.

The object of the first part of my present invention is to tilt or incline the base4 and engine-arm so that said'arm will be thrown out of the perpendicular, which endI attain by means of a toe pivoted to the base, and capable of being adjustedto tilt said base and engine-arm carried thereby, or permit the base to rest with the engine-arm in a perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, or upright position. i

I The object of the `next part of my invention is to tilt or incline the base and engine-arm in different directions, or to eithervside of the perpendicular, which ends I attain byduplicate tilting-toes pivoted to the base upon different sides. n

The object of the next part of my invention isto enable the normal position of theenginearm to be changed from the perpendicular to different angles relatively to the base, while still permitting it to rock thereon, which ends I attain by means of a plate connected with a counterbalancing or returning spring acting onwthe rocking arm, the adjustment of said plate varying the normal position of the eugine-arm relatively to the base without destroying its rocking capacity.

The accompanying drawings show a dental engine embodying all my present improvements in the best way now known to me. Obviously, however, some of my improvements may be usedA without the others, and in engines differing somewhat in their details of construction from that therein shown.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved engine, the top portion thereof being broken off and brought down to one side to show the Whole apparatus; Fig. 2, a view thereof from the back of the engine 5 Fig. 3, a view in section on the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2 5 Fig. 4, a bottom view of one of the arms of the tripod or base; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section through the same on the line 5 5 of FigAE; Fig. 6, a view of a portion of the standard which rises from the base, the rocking arm, and the mechanism for varying the normal po sition of said arm, partly in section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7 5 and Fig. 7, a vertical section through a portion of the apparatus on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The base, tripod, or stand A is provided with a ixed upright or standard, a, forming part of the base, the upper end of which is forked or divided for the reception of the drivin g-pulley B, the journal or trunnions of which turn in suitable bearings or boxes in said standard, in the usual manner. A driving-crank, b, is attached to one end of the pulley journal or axle, and `is connected by a plate-spring pitman, O, withlthe treadle, pedal, or footboard D, pivoted upon one arm of the tripod, or upon the base, as usual. The forked or divided end of the standard is also provided outside the pulley with trunnions or pivots al al, for the reception of the forked end of the engine-arm E, which is also of well-known construction, and carries upon its upperend a driven pulley and its spindle, to which latter the flexible drivin g-shaft is connected, as usual. Y v

The flexible shaft or power-conveyer and its enveloping protecting-sheath, when the latter is used, are of well-known constructions, being similar to those employed in the S. S. White dental engine hereinbefore referred to, and substantially similar to those shown in Nelson Stows reissued Letters Patent No. 8,607, of March 4, 1879.

In order to give the tripod or base the vcapacity of being tilted or inclined at pleasure in different directions, so as to throw or bring` the head or upper end of the engine-arm in front of or toward the patient, or out of the perpendicular, irrespective and independently of its rocking movement upon the base, and without at the same time necessitating bringing the base or treadle inconveniently close to the patient or operating -chair, and also in order to incline the pedal, treadle, or footboard D so that it may be operated when the foot is thrown out with ease and comfort, I provide the base or the two arms of the tripod opposite 11e portion or arm thereof upon which the treadle is mounted with toes or pivot-pieces A'A, which are acted upon by retaining platesprings a2 a2, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, said springs acting to maintain the toes in their adjusted position, whether that be in a position to tilt the base or otherwise.

The toes are pivoted, when the tripod form of base is employed, in the ends of the arms or feet of the tripod, so that when thrown out or adjusted in line with said arms the base is permitted to rest squarely and evenly upon the iioor or supporting-surface, but when moved, rocked, or adjusted inwardly at right angles, or nearly so, to said arms, raise that portion of the tripod or base to which they are pivoted, consequently tilting or inclining the base, its standard, and the engine-arm with its appurtenances, together with the treadle. The npper end or head of said arm is therefore brought, if the engine is in proper position, toward or in front of the patient, affording great freedom to the enveloping sleeve or sheath and to the inclosed drivin g-shaft, which is a desideratum of much importance in the perfect working of dental engines.

It will be obvious that when both the inclining-toes are adjusted to tilt the base said base will be tilted in 4the direction of the length of the treadle, while by using one only of the toes at a time the base will be tilted sidewise, whereby I am enabled to incline or tilt the base and its appurtenaces in different directions, or to either side of the perpendicular, as may be desirable or necessary.

To control the rocking movement of the engine-arm upon its pivots or jointing to the base, or to return it automatically to and maintain it in a normal position, various connter-balances have'been employed, the best form of which I consider to be a spring the tension of which, as soon as the force exerted to deflect or rock the arm is removed, returns said arm to its normal position. These returning or counterbalancin g springs (both spiral and plate) have been applied in various Ways.

In order to enable the normal position of the engine-arm to be varied relatively to the base or tripod without destroying its rocking capacity, I employ, in this instance, a plate, F, pivoted at f concentrically with the rocking arm, and secure to said plate one end of a spring, G--a plate-spring by preference-the other end of which is provided with a yoke or loop, g, through which the rocking arm passes, said yoke being the means in this organization by which the spring acts upon the arm. j

The plate Fis provided with a curved slot, f concentric with its pivot, through which a setscrew or locking-bolt, H, passes into a threaded socket formed in the standard of the base or tripod. By tightening this set-screw the plate may be locked at any position desired in its range of movement around its pivot "permitted by the slot, and consequently the angle of the arm varied at pleasure, which angle will be the normal position ofthe rocking arm, inasmuch as it will be so maintained by the spring, and automatically returned, when deflected, to that position by the force or tension of said spring.

By the construction and organization above described I am enabled to secure the platespring, which retains the rocking arm in its normal position, to thc base, while allowing it to act upon said' arm above the base, thereby avoiding the necessity of extending the enginearm, or a portion thereof, below its pivots, to be acted upon by the spring, and furthermore obtain a compact arrangement of parts.

rIhe branch of the forked rockingarm E neXt the adj Listing-plate F, it will be observed, is provided below its pivot with depending ears or lugs c e, which overlap or pass down upon both sides of the upper contracted portion of said plate, which construction is for the purpose of limiting the range of movement of the rocking arm, no matter in what normal -position it may be, owing to the adjustmentof the plate, inasmuch as said lugs come in contact, when the arm is' rocked upon its pivots, with the sides of the plate, which plate is firmly fastened to the standard of the base by its securing device.

I wish it to be understood that I do not herein claim, broadly, the combination of an. engine-base, an engine-arm, and a device for inclining or tilting said base, as that subjectmatter forms part of my application for Letters Patent of the United States filed February 1, 1879, of which application this present one is a division. Nor do I wish to be under- 4stood as claiming, broadly, the combination of the dental-engine base, its rocking arm, and mechanism for varying the normal position of the rocking arm, as thatl subject-matter also forms part of my application of February 1, 1879, above referred to. Nor do I claim herein, broadly, the combination cfa tilting base with an engine-arm capable of being set at different angles relatively to the base; nor the combination, broadly, of a dental-engine base, an engine-arm, and mechanism for changing the normal position of said arm While still permitting it to `rock or vibrate, the two lastrecited combinations also constituting` part of the subject-matter of `my said application filed February l, 1879. I claim herein, as far as the subject-matter above disclaimed is concerned, only the particular instrumentalities and organizations of devices hereinbet'ore described, and shown in the accompanying drawings. A

What I claim herein as of my own invention isi 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, oi' the base, the en gine-arm, and the duplicate inclining or tilting toes, which permit the base and engine-arm to be tilted or inclined in different directions.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the base or tripod with the pivoted toe, to incline it and the enginearm carried thereby.

3. rIhe combination, substantiallyT as hereinbefore set forth, of the base or tripod, its inclining-toe, and the spring to maintain said toe in its adjusted position.

4. The combination, substantially as `hereinbefore set forth, of the base or tripod, the engine-arm, the treadle mounted upon the base, and the inclining-toes to tilt said base, arm, and treadle.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the base, its rocking arm,

the plate and its locking` device for varying the normal position of the rocking arln While still permitting it to rock, and the counterbalancing-spring, connected at one end with said plate and at the otherwith the enginearm.

6. The combination, substantially as here- `inbefore set forth, of the base, therocking arm, the flexible shaft connected with the rocking arm, the, adjustable plate for varying the normal position of said arm, and the spring connected Wit-l1 the adjustable plate at one rocking arm, the pivot of which is coincident With the pivots of the engine-arm, and the locking device to secure said plate to the i base.

8. The plate-spring secured atone end to the engine-base, and provided at the other with a loop or yoke, through which the rocking arm passes.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the base, the forked e11- gine-arm pivoted thereon, and the ears or lugs upon said arm to limitits range of movement.

10. 'Ihe combination,'substantially as hereinbefore set forth, `of the base, the engine-arm rocking thereon, mechanism for varying the normal position of said arm, lugs or devices for limiting the range of rocking movement of the arm, and the spring acting upon the arm.

11. The combination, substantiallyas hereinbefore set forth, of the base, its inelining devices, the'treadle, the rocking` engine-arm, and thesprin g to keep `said arm in its normal position.

12. The combination of the base, the engine-arm, the inclining device of the base and arm, the device for varying the normal position of said arm, and the returning-spring, which permits the arm to rock, Whatever' may be its normal position as determined by the adj usting mechanism. g

l-n testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribedmy name.

ELI T. STARR.V

Witnesses:

GEORGE P. MORGAN, ALBERT I. Itoo'r.

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