US647147A - Graphophone. - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet I'.

(No Model.)

No. 647,!47. Patented Apr. l0, |900.

F MYERS GRAPHDPHONE.

Appl e nmdn 15 1899) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

NITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I FREDERICK MYERS, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y.

GRAPHOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,147, dated April 10, 1900. v

Application filed December l5, 1899. Serial No. 740,481. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MYERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound Transmitters orDisseminators; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to sound transmitters or disseminators for phonographs, megaphones, and similar devices; and the objects of the same'are to produce a device designed to be attached to any ordinary sound-producing instrument and which will project or disseminate the sound in all directions radially from the instrument.

The defects heretofore existing in soundreproducing instruments of the class referred to are to a great extent due to the fact that the sound is usually projected in one direction only, and while the horn or tube through which the sound is transmitted may be adj usted to project the sound in any one direction persons sitting outside the range of the horn or tube do not get the full volume or force of the music or other reproduction.

By my invention the defects referred to are entirely remedied, as =by its use an audience seated in a circle around the instrument can hear equally Well, the reproduction being of the same volume and scope at all points from the instrument outward. I am also enabled to produce a peculiar and pleasing effect in certain classes of music to be reproduced, said efect consisting in giving a vibratory swell or variable sound-Wave character to. the music, owing to the revolution given to the transmitter horns or tubes. The

usual metallic or grating sounds in phonographic reproductions are to a great extent absorbed and obviated by my invention, and certain classes of music are rendered in a greatly-modulated tone and in well-measured and uniform time, owing to the fact that the revolving horns act as a speed-regulator for the instrument and at the same time distribute the sound equally at all points around the machine. j

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a graphophone having my attachment connected thereto and showing four horns or transmitter-tubes. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, three horns or tubes being shown. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for one of the horns or tubes which I may use. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a horn or tube made from said blank. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of a modification in the means employed for actuating or revolving the horns or tubes.

Like numerals designate like parts wherever they occur in the different views.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, the numeral 1 designates a graphophone of the wellknown type. Beyond placing a small pulley 2 upon the end of the record-shaft 3 no alterations or changes are made in the structure of instruments of this character. A small upright bracket it, having feet 5 attached by screws 6 to a permanent part of the instrument, serves as a support for two idlers 7, journaled in hangers 8, pivoted at the opposite ends of a cross-bar 9 upon the ends of the screws or bolts 10. 'To the usual short section of tubing projecting out from the lower portion of the reproducer 11 is a tubular elbow 12, having a flange 13 surrounding its vertical portion. This flange serves as a support for a ball-bearing 14 of suitable construction, said ball-bearing being attached to a tubular section 15, having a pulley 16 rigidly connected thereto. The upper end of the tubular section 15 has three or more radially-projecting tubular nipples 17, to which the horns or tubes 18 are connected. An elastic or india-rubber band 19 passes under the pulley 2, up and over the idlers 7, and around the pulley 16.

The operation of my invention as thus far described is as follows: The reproducer 11 having been set or placed in position to start at the beginning of the recordtube the starting-lever is moved to actuate the record-shaft 3. Motion is thus imparted to the pulley 2, around which the elastic band 19 passes,and from thence the revolution is communicated to the idlers 7 and to the pulley 16,with which IOO the horns or tubes 18 revolve. As the reproducer 11 moves from one end of the record-tube to the other to reproduce the piece of music or other record the elastic band 19 is elongated to the extent required, and the horns 0r tubes 1S are thus revolved during the entire time the shaft 2 revolves. The band 19v being small and quite elastic does not absorb but little power, and as the idlers 7 are journaled in swiveled hangers they turn to direct the elastic band in a straight line to the pulley 16 and create but little friction.

As shown in Fig. 5, a rack and pinion may be used for giving revolution to the horns. The rack 2O maybe attached in any suitable manner to the easing of the instrument and supported at the required height to be engaged by a pinion 21 on the tube 15. As thus arranged when the reprodncer moves from end to end of the record-tube the pinion 2l engages the rack 2O and the horns 18 are revolved.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that my attachment is quite simple and inexpensive, can be quickly applied to any soundproducing instrument of the class referred to, and will project the sound outward in all directions from the instrument. The horns or tubes being connected directly to the reproducer and extending radially outward have a tendency to give the entire force or volume to the production, even though the horns were permitted to remain stationary, and for some classes of music it is deemed equally as effective to permit the horns to remain stationary by throwing the elastic band 19 off the pulley 1G. Again, for certain productions I have found that a single horn if revolved will give a peculiar combined modulated and swelling effect. "When stationary, I have found that at least three hoi-usare necessary to give goed results and to project the sound equallyfrom the instrument outward.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the horn or tube which I may use is made of cardboard or similar light and durable material, and such tubes may be made to occupy but little space in shipping and at the same time be inexpensive and very efficient in use. When thus made, I take a piece of cardboard and score or crease it at intervals, or a sufficient num ber of strips 22 of cardboard or similar material and lay them edge to edge and attach to one or both faces thereof a piece of textile fabric 23, permitting one edge 24E of the fabric to project beyond the outer strip of the series. This edge may be ready gum1ned,so that the tube can be readily linished by moistening the gummed edge and attaching it to the opposite edgeV to complete the tube, or I may use other means for securing` the edges. These tubes may thus be shipped flat or folded and can be easily made up by the pur chaser. To make the tubes easily attachable to the reprodneer-nipples any suitable number of spring-fingers 25 may be connected to the small end of the tube, and a wire ring 26 may be inserted into the large end of the tube to give the necessary strength to the device, or I may use a flat or flanged ring for the end of the tube. Tubes made in this way may have a coating of aluminium paint or bronze to give them a metallic luster.

I have found that tubes or horns made of a noirinetallic material have a tendency to obviate the screeching sound so common in phonographs, and, besides, their lightness in Weight makes them particularly desirable for my purpose.

Certain changes in the details of construe tion may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to be understood as being restricted to the details shown and described.

I claim- 1. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a soundproducer, a horn or tube connected to said producer, and means for revolving said horn or tube during the operation of the instrument.

2. In a sound-reprodueing instrument, a sound-reproducer, a plurality of horns attached thereto, and means for revolving said horns du ring the operation of the instrument.

An attachment for sound-reproducing instruments, comprising a plurality of horns connected to a tubular section, and means for revolving said tubular section.

4. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a tubular section,- a pulley secured thereto, a plurality of horns attached to said tubular section, a belt or band passing around the pulley and around a pulley revolved from the record-shaft.

5. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a plurality of horns secured to a hollour tubular section and projecting outward and up ward from the upper end thereof, hollow connections from said tubular section to the reproducer, and means for revolving said tubular section.

G. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a tubular section having a plurality of horns projecting radially from its upper end, a pul-` ley on said tubular section, a rubber band passing around said pulley and around idlers revolved from the record-shaft, and means for revolving the pulley, substantially as described.

7. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a reproducer, a tubular elbow attached to the nipple of said reprodueer, a tubular section connected to said elbow, and a plurality ot' horns extending radially outward from said tubular section, and means for revolving the tubular section during the operation of the instrument.

8. In a sound-reproducing instrument, a reproducer, a tubular elbow connected to IOO IIC

In testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK MYERS.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS C. NYE, J os. H. S. THOMAS..

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