Improvements in Speaking Tubes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar.,. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Speaking Tubes.
A communication from HAHNEMANN ADOLPHUS CUTMORE, of South Yarra, Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, Electrical Engineer.
I GEORGE KING of 92 Cheapside in the City of London, Actuary, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object. Firstly Improved means whereby com-
munication between two persons at remote distances from each other may be set up by
the arrangement of a compressible bulb provided with a whistle near both ends of,
and to communicate with the speaking tube without resorting to the present practice
or method. The latter consists in displacing the air within a speaking tube by blowing
into the mouthpiece in order to sound the whistle or the like which is placed in the
corresponding mouthpiece at the other or distant end of the tube. Secondly, The
improved means of arranging a two-way stop cock or hollow plug at right angles to
the passage of, and in the speaking tube and connecting the same with a flexible tube
carrying a receiver or ear trumpet, whereby communication may be opened up
through the speaking tube by raising the flexible tube with receiver, which when
dropped after use closes communication and regains its original position by its own
weight.
An important feature in connection with my invention lies in the dispensing with
the use of a whistle or plug fitting in the mouthpiece and of a plug in the receiver,
which mouthpiece with receiver is usually connected to each end of the speaking
tube.
Many disadvantages attend tho manipulation of the whistle and plug, as it
frequently happens that the whistle is omitted to be replaced after use, at one end
of the tube, in which case the tube is practically useless for speaking purposes from
the other end as well as allowing a conversation to be overheard, causing much
annoyance and inconvenience.
The following is a brief description of the manner in which I attain my object
and also entirely obviate the disadvantages before stated. An apparatus of my new
construction is connected to each. end of a speaking tube. A mouth piece is rigidly
attached by its screw threaded end to the end portion of a short tube forming the
body of apparatus which is connected with the speaking tube in any well known
manner.
A compressible bulb made of India rubber or other like elastic material is set in a
metallic cup or concave seat arranged above the short tube.
The bottom of said bulb is punctured to admit the upper portion of a small tube
projected vertically from a seat formed upon the upper side of said short tube.
This small tube is screw threaded, the bottom portion screws into said seat, and the
top portion into the bulb; which is held in a rigid position by an inner nut upon said
small tube. The latter opens up communication with the interior of the rubber bulb
and the speaking tube. A whistle is secured in the said bulb by preference in the
face or side nearest to the operator or mouth piece, and said whistle is provided with
an indicator consisting simply of a thin India rubber or metal tongue shaped flap or
piece which is replaced after the operator has finished-thus being ready for indicating
upon the next call; this indicator is only necessary when more than one apparatus
or tube exists.
.
These indicators may be binged in any suitable manner to lift from (when under
pressure) or close upon the opening. of said whistle, when not.under pressure. Each
indicator is employed for the same purpose as those used in connection' with the
of anoaking tubae

page_text: In combination with my signalling apparatus I employ a receiver carried by a
flexible or other tube connected with the end of the bent portion of a branch tube
which is mounted with a 'two way cock or hollow plug.
This two way cock is made preferably parallel, and inserted into a socket formed
at right angles to, and in, the passage of the short tube aforesaid. A passago way is
formed in said hollow plug to open into or close against the passage way of said
tube.
A flange is formed upon the hollow plug to bear against an outer shoulder of the
socket in the short tube. A metallic peg is projected from said shoulder to engage
with a curved slot in the flange. By this means when the flexible tube with receiver
is raised to a horizontal position or thereabouts, the peg in slot causes the passage
way in the two way cock to correspond exactly with the passage way of the speaking
tube, and when the former tube is dropped, to effectually close against the passage of
the latter. Said two way cock when fitted into its socket, is provided at its reduced
end with two washers, and a nut which moves with the adjacent washer when the
two way cock is operated, in which case the inner washer hearing against the plain
portion of the reduced end of the two way cock, remains stationary. This prevents
any wearing of the shoulder of socket in short tube.
By this method of connecting the flexible tube to the short tube, the two way cock
may be removed from the position shewn, and inserted into its socket from the opposite
side of transmitter. In either case its operation is precisily similar. The distant
mouth piece with signalling and receiving apparatus is connected in the same manner
to a short tube similar to that beforementioned, and operated as before described
The following is a brief description of the operation of my apparatus. Should a
person in a room wish to communicate with another person distant through the
medium of a speaking tube, the operator places his finger upon the opening of
whistle or upon the indicator in the whistle secured in the rubber bulb, thus pre-
venting the escape of air from the same, and by compressing said bulb the air is
driven out of the latier, causing the displacement of the air in the speaking tube
consequently the distant rubber bulb immediately emits a whistling sound.
The other person communicating operates the distant bulb in the same manner,
consequently sounding the first operators whistle. Both speakers now lift the receiver
with flexible tube to a horizontal position or thereabouts, thus opening up communica-
tion through the speaking tube. When the receiver is dropped the hollow plug closes,
the passage way in speaking tube, which is now practically closed for speaking and
ready for signalling.
By the adoption of my invention as herein described a mouthpiece of a much larger
size than those hitherto used may be employed. This will enable a person whilst
holding the receiver to stand at a considerable distance from the mouth piece, in lieu
of having to speak into the latter. I do not limit myself to the exact form of bulb as
it may be a flat square or an oblong medium.
In any one of these cases the same result would be obtained to that previously
described.
Dated this Eleventh day of January 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Speaking Tubes.
A communication from HAHNEMANN ADOLPHUS CUTMORE, of South Yarra, Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, Electrical Engineer.
I, GEORGE KING of 92 Cheapside in the City of London, Actuary, 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.:
>..
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with speaking tubes and "will

page_text: be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2
are respectively a front and a side elevation of one form of apparatus constructed
according to this invention; Fig. 3 is a section on the line a-b of figure 1 showing
the apparatus in its shut off position and fig. 4 is a similar section of a portion of
figure 3 in its open position; Fig. 5 is a section on the line c-d of a portion of figs. 2
and 3 when in its closed position and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an alternative
arrangement of the apparatus.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring more particularly to figs. 1 to 5 A is the body of the fitting which may
be secured to the desired part of a wall or other support by the flange A¹ or in any
other convenient manner. The body A is formed with a barrel A' for receiving the
plug B which may be turned therein and is constructed after the manner of the plug
of an ordinary cock, but is parallel instead of taper so as to be readily inserted from
either side of the apparatus as circumstances may render convenient. The body A
is also formed with a boss or branch preferably screwed inside and at its forward
end is provided with a mouth-piece A*. The parts A when hereinafter referred
to will be termed transmitters. The branch A³ receives the nipple C which passes
through the metal cup C² between which and the flange (" on the nipple is held
the lower part of the compressible bulb C3 which is composed of india-rubber or other
suitable material and may be provided with a whistle or call C.
The plug B at one end B¹ fig. 5 is closed and is there provided with a screw B³
and nut 13 for retaining it in proper position in the barrel A². The other or open
end of the plug B is provided with a bent and hollow branch B in which is
secured one end of a piece of flexible tubing D the other end of which is secured
in a preferably curved socket E formed on the ear piece E¹. The parts hereinafter
referred to by the letter E are termed receivers. 3 are the ports of the plug B
through which is established communication between the two ends of the speaking
tube. B and B are stops formed on the plug and A³ is a pin or projection on the
barrel A2 for preventing the plug B being moved beyond its open and closed positions.
The combined weight of the tube D and receiver E when left unsupported is suffi-
cient to automatically turn off the plug B and so close the speaking tube.
As represented in the drawings the plug B is also provided with a stop B³ which if
the body A be inverted with the bulb C underneath allows of the receiver E¹ being
used at the left hand side of the transmitter A* the stops B and B then serving to
restrict the movement of the plug B to its open and closed positions. By reversing
the plug B this result may be attained without inverting the body A.
When in its normal position the receiver E¹ hangs downwards as shown in
figures 1 and 2 and the plug B is in its shut off position as shown in figs. 3 and 5.
When a person desires to speak through the tube he with his thumb or other-
wise closes the opening through the whistle C and compresses the bulb Cand
*thus drives air through and sounds the whistle at the other end of the tube. The
person answering this call can' if desired cover over the opening through the whistle C*
and compress the bulb C3 at his end of the tube and thus sound the caller's whistle
and signify his attention. Both then raise the receivers E' to their ears and thus turn
the plugs-B into their open position leaving the speaking tube unobstructed. As soon
as they have finished conversing they lower the receivers E' and thus cut off com-
munication between the two ends of the tube. The person using this apparatus
speaks into the transmitter and places the receiver to his ear.
As shown in fig. 6 the transmitter may be mounted on the flexible tubing D and
the front end of the body closed by a plug F or in other convenient manner. Under
this construction the transmitter A is formed with a socket G into which is secured
the flexible tubing D and from which branches the tube G' on whose end is provided
the receiver E'. When a person applies his mouth to the transmitter of this last
described arrangement the tube G' will extend past his cheek and the receiver E¹ will
be against his ear.
The operation of the apparatus shown in fig. 6 is the same as that of the before
described example.

page_text: When a number of the before described fittings are used in the same room they
may be provided with indicators to show which of the whistles have been sounded.
These indicators may be in the form of flaps each normally closing the opening
through the whistle to which it is applied and which will be blown away from the said
opening and remain in a conspicuous position when the whistle is sounded: or they
may be of other construction.
Instead of the bulb Ca the ordinary means may be provided for enabling the
whistle at the distant end of the tube to be sounded by blowing with the mouth
and under this construction an ordinary whistle fixed in the body A at the back of
the plug B would suffice.
If desired the plug B may be arranged for turning directly by hand instead of
through the tube D but besides these there are various other ways in which the
apparatus may be modified without departure from the spirit of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a speaking tube the combination with a cock plug of a hollow branch or arm
communicating with the interior of the plug and carrying an ear piece or mouth-
piece or both an ear-piece and a mouth-piece substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a speaking tube the combination with a stop-cock or equivalent device adapted
to close or unclose the tube of a signalling device substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a speaking tube the combination with a stop-cock adapted to close or unclose
the tube of an ear or mouth piece connected with the interior and movable with the
plug of said cock and a mouth or ear piece upon said tube substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a speaking tube a cock with a parallel plug and stops adapted to allow of the
plug being inserted into the barrel from either side substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a speaking tube of a cock or equivalent for closing or
unclosing the tube and operated by an arm or tube which carries the mouth or ear
piece substantially as described.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the complete speaking tube
end substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a speaking tube the combination with means for stopping the tube of a call
whistle or equivalent substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 18th day of December 1009.
Dated this for day of Decentner LOOD.
GEORGE KING.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.
GEORGE KING.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.