US520908A - waite - Google Patents

Description

.(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.. H. I'. WAITE.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT REGULATOR.

Patented Jump 5, 1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. P. WAITE.

ELEGTRIG CIRCUIT REGULATOR.

No. 520,908. Patented June 5, 1894.

@Hom/ms (No Model.) 3 Sheets--Shee-tl 3.

H. I'. WAITE. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT REGULATOR. No. 520,908. Patented June 5, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY FULLER VATE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-C-IRCUlT REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATON forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 520,908, dated J une 5, 1894.

I Application tiled January 25, 1893. Serial No. 459.699. (No model.)

very rapidly, and so rapidly that the interi A To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY FULLER WAITE, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, county, and State, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electriccurrent regulators, and it has for its object more particularly to provide means whereby electricity may be conveniently and properly applied in the treatment of diseases, and -especially to provide means whereby currents of dierent strengths and kinds may be applied to the patient, and whereby interruptions of the current of various degrees of rapidity can be obtained and controlled.

To these ends it consists in the features of construction and arrangement of parts having the mode of operation, substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is an end view. Fig. 3, is another side view showing the opposite side of the device. Fig. 4, is a plan view; and Fig. 5, is a schematic arrangement, showing one way of arranging the circuits.

The curvature and stimulating effects of currents of electricity applied to the bodies of patients in the treatment of disease and for similar purposes are well known, and are becoming better and better appreciated every day, and it has also been found that different conditions of the patient, require the application of the current of electricity in different forms. Sometimes it is desirable to subject the patient to a constant primary current. Again it is desirable to apply an interrupted rimary current. Sometimes it is better to use the Faradic current, and. again it is desirable to apply an alternating current, and in all cases it is desirable to regulate the strength of the current so as to adapt it to the conditions of each particular case.

It is particularly desired in many instances to subject the patient to a current interrupted a great many times a minute, especially when it is desired to relieve pain, and one of the special features of my invention'among others, is to provide means whereby a current, either primary or secondary, may be interrupted ruptions are unappreciable to the patient, as it is found that in this way, if the current is properly applied to sensitive nerves, it produces practically anaesthesia effects, which relieves pain and tends to cure the afflicted part.

The mechanism which I am about to describe, provides means not only for applying the various forms of currents generally indicated above, but for producing breaks or interruptions in the current from one break a minute perhaps to one hundred thousand a minute, as may be deemed necessary.

The invention as shown in the present embodiment comprises a base A, which may be of any suitable material, preferably of some insulating material upon which are mounted the operating devices. These include primarily an electric motor B, which may be of any desired construction and arrangement, and connected directly or indirectly to the armature shaft C of said motor are devices and means whereby the different kinds of current can be regulated and controlled. The motor n,itself-maybedrivenfrom .any source of electricity, either outside of the machine or from a generator X, which is arranged to supply the current for treating the patient, the brushes B', B2, being connected with the generator in the manner indicated, but often it will be found desirable to operate the motor by an independent source of electricity.

Mounted on the shaft C of the motor is a circuit breaker D, and this while it may be'of any desired construction is shown as consisting of an insulating body having eight or more metallic plates d, arranged on its sur face, and preferably embedded in the insulating material, their ends being in electrical contact with the shaft C. Arranged in a suitable position to bear on this commutator or circuit breaker, is a brush D', and this for convenience is shown mounted upon a plate E, supported on the motor, and provided with a suitable binding post for the electrical connections hereinafter set forth. Also mounted on the sanne shaft or on any other properly driven and connected shaft is a pole changer F, and this, like the circuit breaker D, consists of a disk of insulating material having a metallic sector in electric connection with the armature shaft C, is a train of reducing gears G, which may be of any suitable or well known arrangement, and these are connected to drive the counter shaft H, having mounted thereon a circuit breaker H', which may be of the same construction as the cir cuit breaker D, and may be provided with one or more contact plates on its surface, and combined with the shaft H, is a suitable brush or spring H2, arranged to bear on the periphery of this circuit breaker and both are connected in circuit in the manner hereinaftermore particularly described. By this reducing train it is possible with the same mechanism, to produce breaks in the circuit as seldom as is desired, while with the circuit breaker D, very rapid interruptions or breaks in the` circuit can be produced.

In order that the strength of the current being used can be regulated to suit the requirements of any particular case, I provide a suitable rheostat I, which is shown in the present instance as being of an ordinary German silver Wire coil having means for including Lmore or less of the same in the circuit so that the ow of the current can be easily and quickly controlled. In order to include the faradic or secondary current in the circuit, a suitable inductorium J is also mounted on the' base A, and connected in circuit so that the current from the generator may be made to pass through the inductoriurn or not as y desired.

When the currents are rapidly interrupted, they can be applied with considerable strength without deleterious results and of sucha strength that if they were more slowly or less often interrupted, it would produce painful or perhaps other objectionable results, and in order that the device may automatically be controlled in this respect so as to prevent accidents, I provide a governing device, and I have shown it in the present instance as consisting of an ordinary ball governor K, which is mounted upon a shaft K', receiving power from the armature shaft C, by means of suitable mechanism as the beveled gears K2. Arranged in suitable relations to this governor is an adjustable arm L, in the present instance shown supported upon a standard L', mounted on the plate E, and this together with the shaft of the governor are connected in circuit in a proper way, so that if for any reason the speed of the motor should fall below a given point, the current being utilized would be broken, or the generator short circuited, thus permanently interrupting the current passing through the patient, and by this means accidents Which might otherwise happen, due to passing comparatively heavy currents with comparatively slow interruptions, can be avoided.

Connected in the circuit of the governor is some suitable signaling device, as a buzzer or bell M, which will indicate to the operator that the motor is running too slowly, and that the circuit through the patient is permanently broken. The circuits are provided with suitable switches Which may be mounted on the base, and with suitable binding posts for the convenient connection of the circuits of the apparatus as Well as with binding posts as N, P, to which the electrodes O, O' or other devices by which the current is applied to the patient may be attached.

Such being the general construction of the mechanical parts of the apparatus, l will now describe the same as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein the parts are shown displayed with the electric circuits connected in operative positions. When for instance, the motor is driven by the generator X from which the current is supplied to the patient, conductors l, 2, lead from the poles of the generator to the brushes B', B2 of the motor, the field magnet coils being understood to be connected in shunt with the motor, as I iind the ordinary shunt motor most desirable for this purpose, but when the motor is driven from an extraneous source, it is connected in the usual way with any distributing system or other common source of electricity. The conductor l is also connected in the present instance to the shaft C, and the current can be traced through the conductor l to the shaft C, rto the circuit breaker D, thence by the brush D' to the plate E, and then by theconductor 3 to the primary coil J of the inductorium J, and from there a conductor 4 leads to the adjusting member I' of the rheostat I, through the coils thereof, and by the conn lductor 5to the other pole of the battery.

In order that a direct primary current can be transmitted to the patent, I provide the shunt conductors 6, 7, which leadfrom the conductors 3, 4, directly to the binding posts N, P, by means of the conductors 8, 9. Suitable switches 3, may be placed in these shunt circuits, by which they can be closed oropened to control the current. Also leading from the generator X, is a conductor l0, which is connected in the present instance to the counter shaft II, of the large interrupter H', and thence it passes through the contact to the brush or spring H2, and by a conductor Il, it can be joined to the conductor 3, and thence pass through the primary coil J' of the inductorium or by the shunt circuit Gand 7 directly to the patient, and through the'rheostat back to battery as before. In order that an alternating current can be supplied, the circuit passes from the generator X by the conductor l to the shaft C, thence through the conducting segment of the alternator F, and through one or the other of the brushes F', F2, which are connected, the one by a conductor l2 and to the conductor 3 or ll, while IOC IIO

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tically no current.

the other brush as F2 is connected by a conductor 13 to the conductor 9, and thence in one direction or the other through the rheostat I, and to the binding posts N, P, and the patient.

In order that the circuit in which a great manyinterruptions are occurring can be maintainedand notice be given and the circuit completely interrupted when the interruptions or breaks fall below a certain amount, I connect the arm L with the battery as by a conductor 14, and also connect the shaft K, by a conductor 15 directly with the other pole of the battery or with the conductor 5, and interpose a signal M in the circuit, and when the speed of the motor falls'below a given rate,the governor arms will become depressed and contact will be made between the arm L and the sliding ring 7c, of the governor, and the generator will be short circuited, so that the patient will receive prac- From this arrangement it will be seen that with the comparatively simple device herein shown, and with the circuits arranged as set forth, or in any equivalent manner well known to those skilled in the art, I am enabled by means of suitable switches in the various circuits as indicated,

`to subject the patient to various kinds and qualities of current through the same set of electrodes, and not only can various kinds, as direct, alternating and secondary currents be produced, but in all cases the strength of the current can be regulated by the single rheostat and thus a current of any desired strength from maximum to minimum, and with any desired rate of interruptions can be applied quickly and easily by simply manip ulating the circuits in a manner Well known to those familiar with such devices.

IVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be observed that the details of construction and arrangement can be varied by those skilled in the art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the means described.

What I claim is- 1. An electric current regulator comprising a motor, a circuit breaker, the connections by which the current may be applied to the patient and a governing device controlling the circuit whereby when the interruptions fall below a certain number, the circuit through the patient will be interrupted, substantially as described.

2. An electric current regulator, comprising a rotary motor, a rotary circuit-breaker driven by the motor and included in the electric circuit, an induction coil the primary of which is also included in the electric circuit, a rheostat also included in said circuit, electrodes for the application ofthe current, and switches arranged substantially as described, whereby the current at the electrodes may be controlled and derived from the primary or secondary of the induction coil at pleasure, substantially as described.

3. An electric current regulator, comprising a rotary motor, a rotary circuit-breaker driven by the motor and included in the electric circuit, a circuit-alternator driven by the motor, a rheostat included in the. circuit, electrodes for applying the current, and circuit connecy tions between the electrodes, the circuitbreaker and the alternator, substantially as described, whereby an interrupted or alternating current may be regulated. and delivered to the electrodes, as set forth.

4. An electric current regulator, comprising a rotary motor, rotary circuit breakers driven by the motor, an inductorium the primary of which is included in the circuit, an alternator driven by the motor, a rheostat connected in the circuit, electrodes for applying the current and circuits, and switches arranged substantially as described, whereby primary, secondary or alternating currents may be delivered to the electrodes as desired, substantially as described.

5. In an electric current regulator, the combination with the motor, a circuit breaker driven by the motor, electrodes connected in circuit with the circuit breaker, a governor also driven by the motor, and contacts and connections whereby the circuit of the circuit breaker can be short circuited automatically when the motor falls below a given speed, substantially as described. 6. An electric current regulator comprising a motor, a circuit breaker mounted on the shaft of the motor, another circuit breaker connected to the shaft by reducing gears, an inductorium, a rheostat, electrodes, and circuits and connections between the circuit breakers whereby either one or the other may be included in the circuit of the rheostat and electrodes, substantially as described.

7. An electric current regulator for the administration of electricity therapeutically comprising a motor, circuit breakers driven by the motor, an alternator driven by the motor, an inductorium, a set of electrodes, a rheostat, and circuits and connections whereby either the circuit breaker or alternator can be included in the circuit of the rheostat and electrodes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY FULLER WAITE.

Witnesses:

W. H. WooDHULL, Trios. JAY MARoELLUs.

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