US258891A

US258891A - Telephone

Info

Publication number: US258891A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1899-06-06

Description

(No Model.) 2, Shees--Sheet 2.

J. W. GLARK.

TELEPHONE. No. 258,891. Panted June 6, 1882.

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N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES V. ULARK, OF ETNA, OHlO.

TELEPHONE.

SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,891, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed February 13, 1882. (No model.)

To all tchem it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs WILLsoN CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Etna, in the county ofLicking and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Im provements in Teleph ones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in telephones in which the vocal line is connected at each end with the diaphragm of a receiving and transmitting instrument, and in which a call is operated mechanically by means of the vocal line.

The objects of my invention are to provide for relieving the diaphragms, when the telephone is not being used, of the strain due to the tantness of the Vocal line; to cut off the sound communication of the diaphragms or to snspend their functions to receive and transmit sound whenever the telephone is not being` used, and at the same time maintain the connections of the vocal line with the instrnments for the purpose of making a call from either instrument by the vibration of the line independent of the diaphragms.

In acoustic telephones, so far as I know and can find, the tension of the vocal-line wire has always been upon the diaphragms, giving them a permanent concave set, rendering them less sensitive to sound. Moreover, as hitherto used, the vocal line is subject to moreI or less contraction and expansion, and therefore requires frequent adjnstment to maintain a proper taut connection With the diaphragms. Vith such tantconnection the diaphragms prodnce a hissing' or a Singing noise under the action of the wind. These objections are overcome by my invention, which embraces means for producing a slack in the connection of the vocal line with the diaphragm or diaphragms, and thereby suspending the functions of the diaphragms at one or both ends of the vocal line while practically maintaining their connection with said line. The direct 'connections of the line are with pivoted levers or other means adapted for eifectin g the call from either end of the vocal line without afi'ecting the connection of the line with the diaphragms, whereby the diaphragm of one or both instrnments can be adjusted in slack connection with the line, so that no communication can take place and no conversation be heard until the signal has been given and the diaphragms of both instrnments put in taut connection with the vocal line.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fignre l represents a front elevation of the transmitting and receiving instrument of a telephone embracing my improvements; Fig. 2, a Vertical sectional view of the same, showing the diaphragm in slack or non-communicating connection With the vocal line; Fig. 3, a similar view, showing the diaphragm in taut or communicating connection With the vocal line; Fig. 4, a Vertical section taken on the line w x of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a side elevation, showing` the signal device in connection with its operating-lever; Fig. 6, a similar view, showing the signal device disconnected from its operating-lever. Fig. 7 shows the call-hell side, and Fig. S a horizonial section taken on the line y y of Fig. 3, showing the device for holding the speaking and hearing part in taut relation to the vocal line.

The instrument is coinposed of a fixed case, a, within which a month and ear part, Z), is fitted to slide, having the diaphragm c, to which the vocal-line wirc d is connected by a tlexible section. The fixed part is a box of any suitable form secnred to the wall or other place, and carries the signal device. The month and ear part bis adapted to have a limited horizontal slidingmovement within the fixed part, and the latter for this pnrpose is open at its front side, while the coverofthe movable part forms also the cover b' of the fixed part. The movable part is preferably formed of a block of wood With a central opening forming the speaking and hearing orifice c, the inner end of which is closed by the diaphragln. I prefer to inakethe central opening,e, cylindrical, and to attach the diaphragm to the back of the block b, so .as to leave a narrow space, c', commnnicating with the central opening, the diaphragm ocovering the full area of theblock, bnt attached to it only around its edges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to give freedom for vibration. The narrow space c' between the solid end of the block and the diaphragm serves to receive the sound-Waves with their full effect upon the diaphra gm. The movable month and ear part Z), when set fully within the fixed case, leaves a chamber therein back of the dia-phragm to allow of the arrangementin IOO said case of a signal-Operating lever. This lever -f is preferably arranged in vertical position, is pivoted at its upper end to the fixed case, and, passing through the chamherin the back part ofsaid case, is connected atitslower end to the signal-Operating device. The lever and the back ofthe fixed case are provided with openings for the line d, coincident with the center of the speaking and hearing orilice.

The vocal line is connected at each end by means of an eyed button, g, to the lever f of each instrument, the tension of said linebeing borne directly by said levers and the buttons resting thereon. The line-Wire is connected by these buttons (1 to buttons g' of the diaphragms o by means ofa short section of silk, cotton, or other flexible cord, h, so as to allow of the movementsof the speaking and hearing parts to make their connection with the linewire slack or taut. The button g has no fixed connection with the lever f, and the fiexible cord-section h is attached to said button, so that when drawn taut it practically forms a part of the line-wire, and the strain of the latter may be borne entirely by the dia1 hragms when the speaking and hearing` part is drawn outward from the fixed case by the person desiring to communicate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. This adjustment, however, is not made until the call has been made through the line and while the flexible section is in a slack condition, as shown in Fig. 2, and the tension of the line is upon the button-connection with the lever.

The lower end of the leverfprojects sufficiently below the fixed case to form a handle, with which the call device is connected, and which is constructed in such manner as toimpart the vibratory movements of the lever to a bell-hammer or other sounder. As shown, this device consists of a rod, i, seeured in vertical position to the fixed case, having its lower end, bent or eranked and connected to a plate,j, on the handle end of the lever, and having its upper end, '272, similarly bent, and earrying the bell-hammer is by a spring-atut, it, in position to strike the bell k, the extentof the vibration of which arm is adjusted by a set-screw, Z, secured in a bracket on the case, so that the hammer will always strike the bell when the line is vibrated.

'A spring, m, is arranged in the case to support the leverfunder the tension of the line. To vibrate the line to make the call it is only necessary to place the thumb or finger upon the lower end of the lever and press it back in the direction of the line, and, compressing the spring m, let the thumb orfinger slip off, when the force of the spring will cause the leverf to fly back, and thus give a sudden pull upon the line-Wire, vibrate the lever at the other instrument, and give a distinct ring of the hell to call the person with whom conversation is desired. The person thus making the call can detach the hammer-rod t' from the leverfof his instrument, if he desires to make a call,

can take place; the operator at the other end of the line having also put his instrument in taut connection with the line.

The cover of the speaking and hearing part is provided with handles a a, by which it is drawn outward to adj ust the telephone for commuuication, and set back to relieve the diaphragm of the tension of the vocal line. As it is necessary to hold the speaking and hearing part when drawn outward to maintain the taut relation of its. flexible cord-section lt with the line, I utilize the handle a n as holds for this purpose, although any suitable holding device may be provided. When the handles are thus used they pass through the cover of the hearing and speaking part, and maybe pivoted thereto, and they extend within the case, preferably at the corncrs thereo'l', a suflicient distance to form ratchet-pawls 'r 1", adapted to take into ratchet-racks 8 8, fixcd to the inside walls of the fixed case. The relation of these ratchet-handles to the fixed racksis such that in drawing out the speaking and hearing part the inner ends of the ratchet-arms will move over the ratchet-teeth of the fixed racks and take into them by pressing the handlcs toward each other, and thus hold the movable part so as to put and maintain its diaphragm in taut relation with the line-wire. When the conversation is over the holding-arms are released from the racks by pressing the handles from each other, there being sufficient play of the handles in the cover to allowof such holding and releasingfunct-ion oftheirinnerends, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The handles are connected to the speaking and hearing part b, so as to be fixtures with it, drawing it 'out and setting is back, and yet be under the control of the operator as to their holding and releasing functions. The extent of the movement of the hearing and speaking part is from two to four inches, to give the required slack in its connection with the line-wire. When the speaking and hcaring part is set back, as in Fig. 2, the strain of the vocal-line wire is entirely upon the leverj'of the signal device; but when the movable part b is drawn out the strain of the vocal-line wire is upon the diaphragln, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

I claim-- 1. In an acoustic telephone, the diaphragm of the speaking and hearing part, connected with the vocal line by a short section of cord of some suitable flexible material, in combination with the signal-operating` lever, a sustain- IOS IIO

IIS

ing-spring therefor, and a fixed part or case within which the said .speaking and hearing part is adapted for adjustment to render the said diaphragm connection slack or tant in relation to the vocal lne, substantially as described, for the pnrpose speeified.

2. Thecombination,in an acoustic telephone, of a fixed part or case and the vocal line with an adjustable speaking and hearing` part, a short cord or flexible section connecting,` it with the Vocal line, a pivoted device connected with the said fixed part or case and the vocal line, and a snstaining-spring for said pivoted part, substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.

3. In an acoustic telephone, tlie traiismitting and receiving` instrument, composed of a fixed part or case and an adjnstable speaking' and hearing part having the diaphragm, the latter being` connected to the vocal line by a short flexible (lord-section and adapted to be set toward and from the end of the vocal line to render the said fiexible section slack or taut iii relation to said vocal line, snbstantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, in an acoustic telephone, of the fixed part or case, the vocal line, and means for connecting it With said fixed pait or case with the adjnstable speaking and hearing; part, the fiexible eord-connectionv of the diaphragm with said vocal line, and nieans for Operating' said speaking and hearing' part and holding the same when set in tant connection with the vocal line, substantially as desci'ibed, for the purpose specified.

5. In combination, in an acoustic telephone, the fixed part or case a, the adjustable speaking and hearing; part b, having the diaphragm o, the vocal line d, the signal-Operating lever f, its snpporting-spring m, the fiexible cordsection h of the line, the signal device, and means for Operating` and holding the adjustable part in relation to the fixed part, substantially as described, for the pnrpose specified.

G. Theeombination, in an acoustictelephone, of the fixed part or case a, the adjustable speaking` and hearing part Z), having the diaphragm c, the flexible cord-section h, the lever f, its supporting-spring m, the line d, and the signal device, with the handles n a, forining` the ratehet-pawls r r, and carried by said adjustable part, and the racks 8 8, carried by said fixed part, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, in an acoustic telephone, of the line d, the lever f, and the line-button g, having' a non-fixed relation to said lever, with an adjustable speaking and hearing part, a supporting-spring, m, for said lever, and a signal device operated by said lever.

8. In an acoustic telephone, the coinbination of the line and means for supporting it independent of the diaphragni with an adjustable carrying part for the diaphragin and a short cord-section connecting said diaphragin with the line, substantially as described, for the pnrpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have herennto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses.

JAMES W. OLARK.

Witnesses:

NA'JJHAN J. KINNEY, SAMUEL E. HAGY.