Improvements in Surgical and Dental Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surgical and Dental Engines.
1, ARTHUR WILLIAM BROWNE, of Prince's Bay, in the County of Richmond,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to certain improvements, as hereinafter claimed, mainly
applicable to engines especially adapted for use in surgical operations of various
kinds requiring the cutting or severing of bone, but some of which improvernents
are also applicable to engines for use by dentists.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, on a smaller scale than the other views, of the
improved engine.
Fig. 2 is a view showing the base portion of the supporting frame in plan, and
the standard or upright portion in section.
Fig. 3 a view in elevation of the upright portion of the frame.
Fig. 4 shows a section through the frame base and the foot rest pivoted
thereto.
Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation, and partly in vertical central section,
showing the upper end of the supporting frame and the driving gearing and manner
of mounting. it.
Fig. 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in central vertical section at a
right angle with Fig. 6.1
Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing details of the manner of supporting one end of
the worm shaft of the driving gearing.
Fig. 9 is a view in perspective showing the upper portion of the extensible
engine standard, the rocking pulley head, and a portion of the jointed engine arm,
one of the pulleys of the pulley head being omitted.
Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 10
of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11 of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12 of Fig. 10.
Fig. 13 is a view in clevation showing a portion of the engine standard with the
pulley head detached therefrom.
Fig. 14 is a view showing the hand piece, a portion of the engine arm, the hand
piece frame or carrier, and connections between the parts.
Fig. 15 is a central section showing details of the connections between the hand
piece carrier, the hand piece and the wrist joint section of the engine arm.
Fig. 16 is a view partly in longitudinal central section, showing the hand piece
and an attached surgical instrument.
Fig. 17 shows the rotary spindle of the hand piece.
Fig. 18 is a view of the hand piece looking at the rear thereof.
Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are views of some of the surgical instruments adapted for
use with the engine.
The engine frame is composed of a base section having legs A, A', A', and an

page_text: upright section or standard B.detachably connected with the base. The base
leg A has jointed connection with the other legs A A¹ by means of a pivot a
passing through forks a' a' of the leg A2 and through a lug B made rigid with the
legs AA by being cast integral therewith. The frame base is formed with a
socket B2 at the junction of the legs, into which fits the frame upright B which
is made tubular for lightness and strength and is provided with two side
projections 61 shown as formed by fixed pins. The projection engages a
seat formed by a notch in the frame base, to prevent the turning of the frame
upright in the base, and a set screw C serves to lock the upright against accidental
withdrawal from the base. The upright projects through and slightly beneath the
base socket and the bottom fork a² of the pivoted leg is of concave form at its
extremity so as to abut against and partially embrace and snugly engage the
projecting lower end of the frame upright. The jointed leg is thus locked against
turning about its pivot when the frame sections are properly connected, and the
frame is firmly supported upon its three legs.
It will be seen that the frame sections may readily be put together to constitute
a rigid frame, and the parts be quickly disconnected leaving the jointed leg free to
be folded against one of the rigid legs. The parts may thus be compactly packed
for transportation.
Two of the base legs, A A', have rigidly connected with them a foot-rest C¹
(shown as cast with the legs) upon which is to be placed one foot of the person who
imparts motion to the engine, and to one of these legs, A, is secured another foot-
rest C² for the other foot of this person. A pivot D passing through lugs on the
leg and on the underside of the heel end of the foot-rest (see Fig. 4 and dotted
lines Fig. 2) serves to joint the foot-rest C2 in place. This pivoted foot-rest
projects in the same or approximately the same direction as the leg A' of the base,
and the downward movement of its outer or toe end is limited by contact of the
foot-rest with the leg A by way of a stop d in advance of the pivotal connection of
the rest with this leg and much nearer the pivot than the toe of the rest.
stop d, which may be either on the foot-rest or on the frame leg, serves to arrest
downward movement of the foot-rest so as to prevent contact of its toe with the
floor upon which the engine frame may be supported.
The
In this way it will be seen that the weight of the person who works the engine,
as further on to be explained fully, is utilized to steady it; that pressure of the
foot upon the pivoted foot-rest at or near its toe or in advance of its pivot transfers
part of the weight of the person working the engine to the leg A3, thus ensuring a
steady support of the engine; and that as the pivoted foot-rest cannot come in
contact with the floor upon which the frame base rests, it does not interfere
with the support by the frame legs of the entire weight of the engine and the
person working it.
is
The driving mechanism of the engine is supported at the top of the upright.
portion of the engine frame in the following way :-A sectional frame for the
driving gearing employed is shown as composed of two parts E E' detachably
connected by screws e and constituting a casing in which the gearing is enclosed.
The main section E of the gearing frame and housing is provided with an attaching
sleeve or socket E' to fit upon the upper end of the tubular upright of the engine
frame, and this attaching sleeve is notched at el to constitute a seat engaged by
the pin end or projection 6' near the. top of the frame upright. A set screw
also provided as an additional securing device, thus ensuring a firm but readily
detachable connection between the parts which may be quickly separated for
packing and transportation. The gearing shown consists of a worm gear F and a
worm Factuated thereby. This worm gearing is mounted in its frame in the
following way:-A driving shaft F to which the main gear F is fastened by
pins ff, is mounted in bearings G G provided by the two sections of the gearing
frame, and a crank handle G is secured to the driving shaft so as to be readily
detachable therefrom. At one end the shaft of the worm F is mounted in a
bearing H provided by the main section of the gearing frame,, and the shaft

page_text: projects from this bearing and has a grooved pulley I detachably fastened to it.
The other and larger end H¹ of the worm shaft is bored out to constitute a bearing h
supported upon the journal h¹ of a journal piece detachably secured in the main
section of the gearing frame by screw-threaded connection between the enlarged
portion H of the journal piece and an opening h³ in said frame section. The
journal piece has a square head to be engaged by a wrench, and has a hole
extending longitudinally of it from its inner end toward its outer end and
terminating in a larger screw-threaded hole J extending to the outer end of the
journal piece. A screw plug has a part threaded to engage the hole J, and a
head J' by which to grasp it and screw it in or out. The threaded portion of this
plug is grooved or cut away at one side as at so as to admit of the passage of oil
by way of the opening to the bearing hand journal '.
It will be seen that the screw plug may be screwed outward far enough to admit
oil to the threaded opening J without entirely detaching the plug, and that the oil is
allowed to pass to the bearing and journal by way of the groove in the threaded
portion of the plug and the hole j.
Washers in suitable number are placed in the bearing hat the end of the
journal h', and this journal may be adjusted as required by screwing the journal
piece in or out in its threaded opening in the gearing frame.
It will be seen that a person standing on the foot-rests, grasping the hand
support I at the top of the gearing frame with one hand to steady and brace
himself, and turning the crank handle with the other hand, is enabled to impart
rapid motion by the gearing to the pulley 1 on the worm shaft.
The gearing frame is provided with a socket K for a sectional extensible
standard K¹ of the engine, this engine standard being fitted at the lower end of
its main section in the socket and detachably secured by a set screw so as to
permit of ready separation of the parts for packing. The upper or pulley head
section K of the extensible engine standard terminates at top in curved forks k k
having bearings k k for the shaft L of the guide pulleys L'L' about which passes
the driving cord to which motion is imparted by the pulley I. An engine arm M
composed of jointed sections in well known way, has adjustable rocking connection
with the pulley head section K' of the engine standard in the following way :-
A carrier for the engine arm comprises a cross head or arm N adapted to rock
on the pulley head section of the engine standard by being secured by its hub n
between the forks k k of said section to the rocking shaft L. Two thin plates N¹ N¹
constituting a segment of a circle, are secured at their opposite ends by screws to
opposite sides of the two extremities of the carrier cross head. These segmental
plates are of springy metal so as to yield to lateral pressure, and as shown are
semi-circular, but they may constitute more or less than half circles according to
the extent of rocking movement which it may be desired to impart to the engine
arm in manner as in turn to be explained. Side recesses N N are provided in
the pulley head standard section between shoulders n' n' and n³ n³, and clamp
plates OO are provided for acting on the rocking carrier N¹ N¹. Each clamp
plate abuts at its upper end against one of the shoulders n³ and is provided at its
lower end with a lug o to enter its appropriate notch in one of the lower
shoulders n', both of which are similarly notched as will be understood by reference
to Figs. 9 and 10. A headed screw O passing through the pulley head standard
section and through the clamp plates, and a set uut O serve, as will readily be
understood, to cause the clamp plates to yieldingly clamp the rocking carrier so
as to afford more or less resistance to its rocking movement.
Washer-like pieces p
of leather, or other suitable material, are secured in sockets in the clamp plates
and in the recessed portions of the pulley head standard section at opposite sides
of the segmental plates of the engine arm carrier, and serve to protect the parts
against wear as well as increase frictional resistance to the movement of the
rocking carrier. The pieces p may readily be replaced by others as they wear.
From the above description it will be seen that by suitably connecting the
engine arm with its carrier it may be allowed a vertical rocking movement within

page_text: certain limits, and that the resistance to this rocking movement may be nicely
regulated.
In order that the weight of the engine arm and parts carried thereby may be
counterbalanced, or nearly so, and thus relieve operators of unnecessary labor and
fatigue, the engine arm is pivotally connected with its carrier and acted upon by
a spring in the following way :-Near its inner end the engine arın is provided.
with lugs PP through which passes a pivot pl which also passes through a lug PL
projecting upwardly from the carrier cross head midway the length thereof.
A spring Q, shown as formed of two plates or leaves, is detachably and adjustably
connected at one end with the engine arm and beneath it by way of a screw-attached
clip Q, and at its opposite or free end the spring is adapted to slide upon the
engine arm carrier, being provided with a roller q bearing on the top or cross
head portion of the carrier. The tendency of the spring is to lift the engine arm
by rocking it upward about its pivotal connection with its carrier. Upward
rocking movement of the engine arm independently of its carrier is arrested by
contact of the heel or inner end of the arm with the carrier cross head, whilst
downward movement is arrested by contact of the arm in advance of its pivot with
the roller end of the upholding spring, as will be obvious. When at either of
these extremes of its movement permitted independently of its carrier the arm
becomes as though rigid with the carrier as to movement in one direction and may
be rocked therewith upward or downward, according to the position of the arm
and the movement which it may be desired to impart to it.
To permit of desired horizontal swing of the engine arm in either direction
from its normal position independently of the movement allowed by the turning of
the engine standard K' in its support K, the pulley head section of the standard
is mounted as follows:-This standard section is tubular at its lower portion and
rests at its lower end upon an annular shoulder R of the second or end wise
adjustable section of the extensible standard K' which above this shoulder is
reduced in diameter and constitutes a post R' which is surrounded by the tubular
portion of the pulley head section of the standard. Between this tubular portion
and the post R are two collars or short sleeves R2 R3, loose or adapted to turn on
the post. The lower collar R2 rests on the shoulder R and the upper collar R³ is
prevented from moving upward by a washer r secured to the top of the standard
post by a screw. A coiled spring S encircling the standard post is secured at
its opposite ends to the collars and acts with a tendency to turn them in opposite
directions about the standard post. A slot is made in the upper edge of the
lower collar and a like slot is made in the lower edge of the upper collar.
Pins s s¹ are secured to the standard post and one of them pr.jects into the slot
and the other into the slot 8. It will be seen that the collars can be turned in
opposition to the force exerted by their spring, the one to the left and the other to
the right as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13. Movement allowed the collars in
opposite directions against the stress of their spring is limited by contact of the
stop pins with the shoulders at the ends of the respective slots, whilst the shoulders
at the opposite ends of these slots bear against the stop pins to limit movement
which may be imparted to the collars by the action of their spring. The tubular
portion of the pulley head standard section is provided with two screws S S the
inner ends of which constitute pins engaging, respectively, with an edge slot in
the lower collar Rand an edge slot in the upper collar R opposite the slots
respectively engaged by the pins ss. When the one screw pin is engaged with
the shoulder at one end-say the left-of the collar slot entered by it, the other
screw pin is engaged with the shoulder at the opposite or right extremity of the
other collar slot. The parts are shown in the drawings (see Figs. 10 to 13
inclusive) as in their normal positions. It is obvious that by slight strain exerted
on the engine arm it may be swung to the right or to the left to a slight extent by
the yield of the spring S, and that upon relieving the engine arm of such strain
it will be automatically returned to its normal position.
The driving cord / passes about suitable pulleys on the jointed engine arm as

page_text: common in dental engines, and also about a pulley having connection with the
rotary spindle of the hand piece carrying the instrument to be operated.
Connection between the wrist-joint section M¹ of the engine arm and a freely
Swivelling supporting frame or carrier for a hand piece T and spindle actuating
pulley T is made as follows:-The wrist-joint Mi is provided at its extremity.
with a round pin having the end shoulder m and reduced in diameter from this.
shoulder to the shoulder m'. The frame or carrier comprises a sectional yoke the
two parts U U of which when brought together form an externally threaded split
sleeve u. This sleeve is adapted to receive the wrist-joint pin with one end of
the sleeve in contact with the shoulder m' of the pin, and with the end shoulder m
of the pin occupying the internally enlarged opposite end of the sleeve so as to,
prevent end wise movement of the pin in the sleeve which is embraced by the long.
nut or internally threaded sleeve U which securely holds the parts of the carrier
yoke together. By unscrewing this sleeve U the sections of the yoke may be
separated. Each section of the carrier yoke is formed with a bearing u¹ for the.
hub t of the pulley T' as well as with a bearing u² for the instrument-carrying:
spindle V. The pulley hub is mounted within its bearing u¹ and is provided
internally with a spline or rib to engage the groove in the rear end of the spindle.
which projects beyond the hand piece and thus cause the spindle to rotate with the
pulley. The hand piece casing is provided at its inner or rear end with a lateral
projection constituting a short sleeve or tubular lug W to slip upon a round arm.
or pin W¹ rigidly connected with the part U of the sectional carrier.
A trigger-
like catch to is jointed by a pivot wl to the pin W and is acted upon by a spring a
the tendency of which is to hold the catch in its operative position or engaged
at its outer end with the sleeve of the hand piece casing as shown in Fig. 14. By.
pressing upon the inner or rear end of the catch it may be rocked against the
pressure of its spring to admit of the withdrawal of the hand piece from its.
carrier.
The hand piece spindle V is tubular from its front end rearwardly for a portion
of its length to receive any suitable surgical instrument X the shank of which is
provided with an inclined groove X¹ to be engaged by screws y y passing through
the enlarged or annularly shouldered portion VI of the spindle. The spindle with
attached tool is secured in the hand piece casing by the externally threaded sleeve
or nose piece Y engaging the internally threaded end of the hand piece casing and
abutting against the spindle shoulder V1.
.
It will be seen that a hand piece with its spindle carrying a tool and projecting,
rearwardly from the hand piece may very quickly be connected with the hand
piece carrier, the inclined end of the catch yielding to engage the sleeve on the
hand piece, and the spindle at the same time be engaged with its actuating pulley ;.
and that a hand piece and attached spindle and tool may instantly be detached
from the hand piece carrier without disturbing the pulley which is so mounted.
in the carrier as to be maintained in proper position independently of the hand.
piece and spindle. It will be seen that no part of the hand piece casing.
extends rearwardly beyond the front end of its supporting frame or carrier, and
that the readily separable connection between the hand piece and carrier is solely
by way of the rearwardly projecting spindle and suitable catch devices by which
the rear end of the hand piece is detachably engaged with the carrier in advance
thereof.
As in surgical operations quickness of work is frequently of the utmost,
importance it will be seen that by providing a number of hand pieces having
attached the various instruments to be used in un operation, a hand piece carrying
one instrument may be detached from its carrier and another hand piece with the
instrument next needed quickly inserted in its place, and this in turn changed for
another, and so on, with the least possible loss of time..
It is to be understood that some features of my improvements are applicable to
treadle-actuated engines and may be employed for dental as well as surgical
purposes

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The engine frame base provided with legs, one of which is jointed in place
by a vertical pivot so as to be capable of swinging horizontally, and also
provided with the vertical central socket, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination of the frame base having the fixed legs and the vertical
central socket and provided with the leg jointed in place so as to be capable of
swinging horizontally, and the frame upright detachably engaging the socket in
the base and engaged by the jointed leg which is thus held against swinging
movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of the base having the two rigid legs and the pivoted leg
having the fork concaved at its extremity, and provided with the socket at
the junction of the legs, the frame upright fitting in the socket of the base
and engaged by the concaved fork of the pivoted leg, and means for engaging
and locking together the base and upright, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. The engine frame base having three legs, two of which are rigidly connected
by a foot rest, and to one of which so-connected legs is secured another foot rest.
projecting in or about in the same direction as that in which the third leg of the
frame projects, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of the base having the two rigid legs connected by a
foot rest and provided with a third leg, and the foot rest jointed at its heel
to one of the rigid legs and projecting in or about in the same direction as that
in which said third leg projects and limited in its movement about its pivot
by contact with the leg to which it is pivoted, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. The combination of the engine frame, the gearing frame detachably supported
at the top thereof, the gearing within the gearing frame, the pulley actuated by
said gearing and having supporting connection with the gearing frame, and the
engine standard detachably connected at its lower end with the gearing frame and
carrying at its upper end the mechanism which is driven by the gearing-actuated
pulley, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination of the pulley head section of the engine standard, the
carrier for the engine arm having supporting connection with said section, the
engine arm pivotally connected near its inner end with said carrier, and the spring
secured to the engine arm at one end and bearing and sliding at its opposite end
upon the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The sectional carrier for the hand piece comprising the yoke made in two
parts and constituting the externally threaded split sleeve, each of said parts
being provided with a pulley hub bearing, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
9. The combination of the yoke sections constituting the externally threaded
split sleeve and having the pulley hub bearings, the pin of the wrist joint
section of the engine arm held in said split sleeve, the internally threaded sleeve
for embracing the split sleeve of the yoke sections, and the pulley mounted by
its hub in its bearing in the sectional yoke, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
10. The combination of the hand piece carrier, the hand piece casing terminating
at rear in advance of the carrier, the tool-carrying spindle mounted to rotate in
the hand piece casing and projecting beyond the rear end thereof, means for
rotating the spindle having direct detachable connection with the rear end thereof,
and catch devices for detachably engaging the rear end of the hand piece casing
with the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. The combination of the carrier, the hand piece casing terminating at rear

page_text: in advance of the carrier, the tool-carrying spindle mounted to rotate in the hand
piece casing, projecting heyond the rear thereof and through the carrier and
longitudinally grooved at its rear end, the pulley with its hub having bearing in
the carrier and adapted to engage the grooved end of the spindle, and catch
devices for detachably engaging the rear end of the hand piece casing with the
carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth..
12. The combination of the hand piece casing provided with the lateral tubular
lug or short sleeve, the tool-carrying spindle mounted to rotate in the hand piece
casing, projecting beyond the rear thereof and longitudinally grooved at its rear
end, the carrier, in advance of which the hand piece casing terminates, the pin and
spring-actuated catch of the carrier for engaging the tubular lug of the hand
piece casing, and the pulley provided with the hub having bearing in the carrier
and adapted to engage the grooved end of the spindle, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of March 1896.
ARTHUR WILLIAM BROWNE.