US709984A - Resonator or amplifier for phonographs. - Google Patents

Description

No. 709,984. Patented Sept. 30, I902.

W. 8. HOW; RESONATOR 0B AMPLIFIER FDR PHONOGRAPHS.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1901.)

(No ModeL) Ami Inventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SAMUEL IIOI'V, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE LINDSA'T JOHNSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

RESONATOR OR AMPLIFIER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,984, dated September 30, 1902.

Application filed March 1, 1901. Serial No. 49,476. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

3e it known that LWILLIAM SAMUEL How, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 35 Albany street, Regents Park, London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Resonators orAmplifiers for Phonographs and other Instruments for Becording and Reproducing Sounds, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to enable phonographs and such like instruments to reproduce the human voice in a more natural manner than heretofore and to eliminate the squeaky, metallic, and nasal element therefrom.

My improved resonators, amplifiers, and reflectors are shown by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a section of a resonator or amplifier constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan ofsame. Fig. 3 is a section of one form of perforated modulator. Fig. 4 is a section of another form ofperforated modulator. Fig. 5 is a plan of same. Fig. 6

23 is a section of a conical piece which may be used in conjunction with the resonatorshown by Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is asection of a refiec tor which may be used in conjunction with the apparatus shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 6.

Fig. 8 isa front viewof same. Fig. 9 isaplan of same. Fig. 10 shows the resonators and reflectors used together. Fig.11 isa front view of another form of reflector. Fig. 12 is a side view of same.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

a is a cylinder, of vulcanite, papier-mach, or of any other suitable material, open at the top and provided with a flat bottom I), to

which is attached or formed integral therewith a short cylindrical neck 0, which fits onto the phonograph or other similar apparatus in place of the usual trumpet. The cylinder at and neck 1) form the resonator or amplifier.

d e are perforated diaphragms or stops which are fitted into the bottom of the cylinder a, as shown by Fig. 1, when it is desired to reproduce the human voice. The diaphragms or stops (1 are made with apertures f o of various diameters, and the r ma r either be 5 used alone or in combination with the stops 6, which may also be made with apertures g of various sizes. As will be seen by referring to the drawings, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the diaphragm or stop 6 is cup-shaped above the aperture g, while the diaphragm or stop (Z is cup-shaped below the aperture f.

When it is necessary or desirable to amplify or intensify the sounds produced by the instrument stillmore than the cylinder at is be capable of effecting, I provide a cone h, (shown in section at Fig. 6 and in elevation at Fig. 10,) of vulcanite, papier-mach, or of any other suitable material, which is provided at the bottom with an internal flangez'or lugs j, which flange or lugs rest on the top of the cylinder at, when the cone his used in conjunction therewith, or, if preferred, the cone 7L may be made to fit inside the cylinder a, as shown by Fig. 10. If the sound requires still further am plification-as, for-instance, if the instrument is being used in large halls-I may use a second similar (but larger) cone to that shown by Figs. 6 and 10 and which fits in or on the mouth of the cone h. In some cases-as, forinstance, when the instrument is placed atone end of a large hall and it is desired to enable the entire audience to hear the reproduced sounds-I make use of the reflector 7t (shown by Figs. 7, 8, and 9) to effect this result. This reflector consists of an approximate semicylinder of any suitable material attached to a ring Z, the semicylinder 7t being provided with a covered top m and side wings it it. 8

0 o are lugs secured to the inside of the ring Z to support the reflector 75 on the top of the cone h, or the reflector 70 may be made to fit inside the mouth of the cone h, as shown by Fig. 10. The reflectors may also be spher- 9o ical, elliptical, or parabolic, and are produced by pressing or otherwise forming a circular piece of suitable material into the required curvature. Such a reflector is shown by Figs.

11 and 12, the reflectorp being secured to a 5 ring q to enable it to be fitted to the cylinder to or to the cone h.

This invention is applicable to instruments in which the record is inscribed. on a disk instead of a cylinder by using a suitable 0011- necting-piece between the sound-box and the resonator or amplifier.

Although I prefer to use a cylinder at, I may use a cone, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1. The most suitable materials for my improved resonators or amplifiers are vulcanite, celluloid, papier-mach, wood, and other non -metallic substances, those substances Which are homogeneous giving the best results.

By using resonators or amplifiers constructed as hereinbefore specified the harsh, metallic, and nasal quality of the sounds produced by phonographs and other sound-recording instruments is avoided and the reproduction of the record of the human voice is rendered almost perfect.

What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like the combination of a tube ahavinga fiat bottom Z) and a cylindrical neck (3 with one or more cup-shaped modulators d e having aperturesfg in the bottom thereof all substantially as specifiedfor the purpose stated.

2. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like the combination of a tube ahaving a fiat bottom I) and a cylindrical neck a with one or more cup-shaped modula tors d e and a cone hadapted to fitthe mouth of the tube a all substantially as specified for the purpose stated.

3. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like the combination with the tube a attached to the sound-box of the instrument, of a reflector consisting of a semicylinder is having" a curved top on and side wings 'n n; the semicylinder 76 being secured to a ring 1 adapted to fit the mouth of the tube a, all substantially as specified for the purpose stated.

4:. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like the combination of a tube at having a flat bottom b and a cylindrical neck a with one or more cup-shaped modulators (Z c a cone h adapted to fitthe tube co and a reflector 70 having a curved top 'm and side wings n n and a ring Zsecured to the reflector It; all substantially as specified and for the purpose stated.

\VILLIAM SAMUEL HOW.

WVitnesses:

ERNEST SALAMAN, R. A. KENNEDY.

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