US898201A - Sound-box for machines for recording and reproducing sound. - Google Patents

Description

No. 898,201. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

, J. 0. ENGLISH. SOUND BOX FOR MAGHINES FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUGING SOUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, 1906.

aftozmug UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1906. Serial No: 808,224.

. Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Impirovements in Sound-Boxes for Machines for e'cording'and Reproducing Sound, of. which the following is a full, clear, and complete disclosure.

My invention relates to the sound box for use 1n machines for recording and reproducing sound and particularly to the diaphragm of such sound boxes and to the means for positioning or adjusting, and for. securing'the same within the sound box.

The object ofmy invention is to rovide a diaphragm for a sound box in whic no specia care or skill is re uired to accurately position or ad'ust the diaphragm in its proper position wit the sound box and to secure the diaphragm in such adjusted position without the use of gaskets or elastic-rings or similar means;

A further object of my invention is to constr uct a diaphra m of such a shape that the same is not liable to become distorted and subjected to unevenly distributed strains whenplaced within-the sound box, but to stiffen the same both at the edges or periphery and also at the center thereof in order to more accurately and faithfully transmit the vibrations of sound or speech, and'to improve the uality and quantity of the sound or speec reproduced from a recording surface.

Further objects of my invention'will ap-' pear in the fol owing specification and claims.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, Fi ure 1 represent corresponding parts.

is an end view of a sound box provide with my improved diaphragmyFig. 2 is a transverse lon 'tudinal section thereof on the line 22 of ig. 1; Fi 3 is a similar sectional view of a modifie form of diaphragm and Fig. 4 is also alongitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the diaphragm and of the manner of securing the same within the sound box.

Similar numerals in the different figures 1 indicates a sound box of anysuitable type rovided on its back side with a short soun conveying tube 2 by which it may be secured in a suitable manner to the swinging sound conveying tube of a sound recording or reproducing machine.

3 represents the upper end ot a stylus bar of any suitable description and 4 the connec-- tion between the stylus bar and the diaphragm. I

The diaphragm 5 consists of a disk 6 provided with an integral cylindrical flange 7 extending from the eriphery of said disk normal to the plane 0 the diaphragm. The diaphragm may be described as being in the orm of a shallow cup shaped body having cylindrical sides. I may make this diaphragm of any suitable metal, such as steel, hosphor bronze or German silver and I may orm the same either by the use of dies, or by spinnin the edges of a planchet or disk to form t 1e cylindrical flan es. The diaphragm so formed is inserte within the inner bore of the sound box so that theedge of the flange or side of the cup shaped body rests against the back 1 of said sound box,

the outer diameter of the said cylindrical flange fitting snugly within said sound box and holding the diaphragm securely in position. In order, however, to make sure that there will be no space between the outer surface of the flange7 and. the inner surface of the sound box which might result in the production of undesirable sounds due to the vibrations of the flange and its consequent intermittent contact with the walls of the sound box, I may lace a small quantity of suitable cement wit in the sound box and adj acent the back wall 1 thereof before the diaphragm is ressed down into position within the sound ox.-

A diaphragm made, in the manner described, is not liable to become distorted or lose its shape either before or after it is placed within the sound box, the cylindrical flange operating to stiffen the edge of the same in addition to forming a suflicient surface by which the diaphragm may be retained within the sound box.

By accurately determining the depth .of flange 7, the proper distance between the disk like portion 6 of the diaphragm and the back 1' of the sound box may be made uniform and of a distance found by actual experiment to be suited for the production of the best results. No special care need be taken in assembling the sound box to adjust roper distance from the back of the sound box since the flange 7 of itself by its contact,

with the back of the sound box determines the said distance.

-The diaphragm may be provided with a stifiened center by pressing or spinning the depressed portion 8 at the center thereof. Said depressed portion preferably extends in a direction away from the end of-the stylus bar in order that the connection 4 may be made as long as possible to secure elasticity in the same. Such a diaphragm is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I may, moreover, stiffen the center of the diaphragm by pressing or spinning concentric rings 9 in the body of the diaphragm, thus rendering the diaphragm insensible to those vibrations WlllCl'l are not true harmonic curves and are caused by the inaccurate action of the stylus bar and to the frictional contact between the bottom or sides of the sound groove and the stylus.

In order to obtain a firmer and more rigid connection between the flange of the diaphragm and the sound box, I may provide the back of the sound box with a circular channel 10 and Within which the flange 7 accurately fits, as plainly shown in Fig. 4, and a suitable cement may be placed in said groove or on the adjacent surface of the sound box before the diaphragm is inserted.

I am aware that attempts have been made to use diaphragms with concentric rings adjacent to the outer periphery for stiflening the outer edge and also that metallic diaphragm's have been made having concentric rings above and below the central line or axis thereof for the purpose of giving amplitude to the center of the diaphragm and that later in order to produce the best results, it has been found necessary to stiifen the'center of the diaphragm instead of making the center highly elastic. I have found, however, that by providing the diaphragm with a stiffening flange at the peri hery thereof and by making such flange of a sufficient depth to accuratel position the disk'like portion of the diapfliragm the back of the sound box and for securing and retaining contact between the outer cylindrical surface of the said flange and the inside of said sound box, that a dia phragm so produced, transmits vibrations more accurately and faithfully than any of' the forms above referred to and moveover, enables. me to dispense entirely with the usual gaskets or retaining rings formed of rubber or other changeable or perishable material. In this way sound boxes may be roduced with substantially uniform recor ing and reproducing qualities and without parts which are liable to'deteriorate.

While I have described one way in which my invention maybe put int efiect, I do not wish to be confined to the exact form or arrangement of parts, since my invention conbore and concentric therewit 2. In a sound box having a cylindrical bore, and a circular channel 0 ening into said bore, a diaphra m provide with a cylindrical flan e at tIie eriphery thereof tightly fittin wit in said Bore and extending into said 0 annel. 1

3. In a sound box having a cylindrical bore, and a circular channel 0 enin into said h,"a iaphragm provided with a cylindrical flange at the periphery thereof tightly .fitting within said bore and filling said channel.

4. Ina sound box the combination with that part of sound box provided with a sound; conveying opening and having a circular channel concentric therewith, of a diaphragm provided with a cylindrical flange tang tightly within said channel.

' 5. n a sound box having a groove with side walls extending longitudinally of the box, a diaphragm having a flange at its peripherly fitting ti htly within said groove.

6. n a sound ox provided with a bore, a

groove in said bore, a diaphragm having a flange inclined to the lane of the diaphragm and fitting tightly wit iin said groove.

7. Ina bored sound box provided with abore, a groove in said bore, a diaphragm having a flange inclined to the lane of the diaphragm and fitting tight y within said groove, the inclined side of said flange fitting tightl within the bore of said box.

8. n a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindrical bore therein, said bore opening in' the face of said casing, of a diaplhragm rovided with a cylindrical flange at t e perip ery thereof snugly fitting within said bore.

9. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having acylindrical bore opening in the face thereof, of a diaphragm provided with an inwardly extending c lindrical flan e at the periphery thereof snug y fitting within said bore, the inner edge of said flange being in contact with the back of said casing.

10. In asound box, the combination with a casing having acylindrical bore, of a diaphragm provided with an inwardly extendin cylindrical flange at the periphery thereo snugly fitting within said bore, the inner edge of said flange beingin contact with a portion of said casing.

11. In a sound box, the combination with a casing havin a bore opening in the face thereof, of a diaphragm having a flanged edge fitting snugly withinsaid bore.

12. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a bore opening in the face thereof, of a diaphra m havin an inwardly flanged edge snu ly f itting wit in said bore, the inner edge 01 said flanged edge being in contact with a portion of said casing.

13. In a sound box, the combination with a hollow casing, of a diaphragm having a flanged edge fitting snugly within said casing, and a stylus bar phonetically connected to said diaphragm, said diaphragm being unrestrained between said flanged edge and the point of connection with said stylus bar.

14. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindrical bore, of adiaphragm havin a cylindrical flange integral therewith at t e edge thereof fittm snugly within said bore and a stylus barpionetically connected to said diaphragm, said diaphragm being unrestrained between said flanged edge and the point of connection with said stylus bar.

15. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindrical bore, of a diaphragm having a cylindrical flange at the periphery thereof fitting snugly in said bore, said diaphragm being in contact with a portion of said casing extending inwardly from the cylindrical surface of said bore to position said diaphragm.

16. In a sound box, the combination with a casing havinga bore 0 ening in the face thereof, of means carried by said diaphra m and extending laterally therefrom for ho ding said diaphragm snugly in position in said bore.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set JOHN C. ENGLISH.

Witnesses:

' ALEXANDER PARK,

ALSTON B. MOULTON.

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