Improvements in Telephones, Phonographs, and suchlike Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telephones, Phonographs, and suchlike Apparatus.
I, ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY, of Lyndon, Werter Road, Putney, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is the improvement of telephones phonographs and
suchlike apparatus that reproduce speech and other sounds especially in the volume
and clearness of the sounds so reproduced.
To carry out this object the diaphragm whether a tensional diaphragm or other-
wise constructed that in these instruments causes the sounds to be reproduced is
not mounted as is usual between two solid rings of india rubber or the like or
secured on one ring of the same material but is mounted between two tubular
rings of any suitable material which can in any ordinary manner be filled with air
or other fluid or liquid under pressure or is secured on one tubular ring simi-
larly made and treated. The two rings are held as is usual between suitable plates
or flat rings which are adjustable and can be approached to and withdrawn from
cach other as may be desired so that the periphery of the diaphagm may have
the exact desired amount of play or on the opposite side of the diaphragm to that
on which is the one ring is only the one plate or ring or other suitable appli-
ance wherewith the other plate or ring is similarly connected.
To the diaphragm whether or not it is so mounted as aforesaid the tail end of
the operating needle is not connected as is usual at or about the centre of the
same but on such diaphragm a low dome or pyramid or the like is secured pre-
ferably about the centre thereof and made of the same or other material and of
the desired size and height and diameter having regard to the diameter of the
diaphragm and the lower edges of this dome or the like are secured to the dia-
phragm while to the top or apex of the dome or the like the tail end of the
operating needle or other device secured or connected in any usual manner and
thus the vibrations or movements of this needle or other device are delivered to and
on the diaphragm through the lower edges of the dome or the like only near the
periphery thereof or not at its centre. The dome or the like is preferably hollow
and the space inside may be tightly enclosed or holes may be made in the dome
or the like or the. lower edges thereof may be serrated or holes or an hole may be
made in the diaphragm under the dome or the like or this part of the diaphragm
may be weakened or be otherwise treated in any ordinary manner to allow this
diaphragm with its dome to vibrate very freely.
A secondary diaphragm can be provided with and arranged under the primary
diaphragm aforesaid which secondary diaphragm could likewise if desired be fitted
with a similar dome and would be attached to and vibrated with and by the
primary diaphragm through a rigid or other rod or connection it may preferably
be centrally arranged and this secondary diaphragm can be made and fitted in
any desired manner and can be arranged to be the sole reproducer of the sounds

page_text: while the primary diaphragm might only be used to operate the secondary dia-
phragm. In the same manner other diaphragms can also be provided. When a
central connection is used between two diaphragms and that part of the upper
diaphragm that is under its dome or the like is much weakened or much per-
forated or is not a suitable framing sufficiently rigid may be arranged and fitted
to this upper diaphragm in such position wherefrom to operate the secondary
diaphragm.
Improvements in Telephones, Phonographs, and such like Apparatus.
I, ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY, of Lyndon Werter Road, Putney, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, 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
The object of this my invention is the improvement of telephones phonographs
and suchlike apparatus that receive and reproduce speech and other sounds espe-
cially in the volume and clearness of the sounds so reproduced as also in the cer-
titude of operation and simplicity of construction of the devices by and through
which such sounds are so reproduced.
In order the more clearly to explain my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have shewn
this invention as applied in one and perhaps the most convenient and efficient
manner in and to the speaker of a phonograph and Figure 1 is an elevation of
this speaker. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same according to one
arrangement Figure 3 is a plan of the top of the same with a part of the cover-
ing plate removed and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the same according
to another arrangement.
A diaphragm A is provided as is customary in these instruments by which dia-
phragm A the sounds are to be reproduced and according to this perhaps the
most convenient and efficient arrangement of my invention this diaphragm A is
mounted or placed between two tubular rings B of india rubber or any other
appropriate material which if desired can it may be through the ordinary filling
tubes C or otherwise in any ordinary manner and by and through any customary
appliances be charged with air or other fluid or liquid under the desired pressure
and any ordinary non-return valves or other appropriate devices can be provided
if desired to retain this pressure in the tubular rings B. These two tubular
rings Bare most conveniently held between adjustable plates or flat rings or as
is shewn in the drawing the lower ring B can be held by the body E of the
speaker while the upper ring B is held by the covering plate D of the speaker
which covering plate D is adjustable in respect of the body E and can be
approached to and withdrawn from the same as may be desired so that the exact
required amount of pressure may be exerted on the two rings B from the outside
as well as that exerted inside such rings B by the pressure if any of the fluid or
liquid therein and that the exact desired amount and freedom of play may
assuredly be granted to the periphery of the diaphragm A.
It is sufficiently obvious that a consequence of so mounting a diaphragm as is
herein before described is that it is by no means essentially necessary that this
diaphragm should be flexible or should be capable of the customary vibration from

page_text: its centre as are and must be the ordinary diaphragms in this kind of apparatus
for this my diaphragm so mounted as is hereinbefore described is absolutely
improved by being made as rigid as may be reasonably possible so that the
entirety of the diaphragm may so far as practicable vibrate equally and through-
out its whole surface.
To carry out and ensure this object it is perhaps in all cases preferable that
the appliance that operates this diaphragm should not be connected thereto as is
usual at or about the centre of the same. In Figure 2 I shew a claw or bracket F
fitted on the diaphragm A whereby the pressure will be distributed over a con-
siderable portion of such diaphragm A and this is desirable. In Figure 4 I shew
an even more desirable arrangement wherein a low dome or pyramid G is secured
centrally on the diaphragm A which dome G may be of any desired size and
height and diameter having regard to the diameter of the diaphragm A through
and by the top or apex of which dome G the diaphragm A is operated and again
the pressure will be distributed through the lower edges of this dome G over a
considerable portion of such diaphragm A and such dome G may be solid or may
be perforated or may be otherwise made or treated as may be desired in each case.
The dome G may be fitted on and to the diaphragm A in any ordinary manner
and the combined diaphragm A and dome G may be constructed and arranged as
may be preferred in each case but I would state that I consider a very and
perhaps even the most convenient and efficient arrangement consists in entirely
cutting away and removing that part A of the diaphragm that is underneath or
inside of the dome G as is shewn in this Figure 4 in which case as is indeed
obvious the dome G must be solid and this so domed diaphragm is very rigid.
In the same manner this my invention can obviously be applied to telephones
and all other suchlike apparatus whether to the receivers or to the transmitters
or to the speakers or to other parts of the same wheresoever is a diaphragm pro-
vided for the purpose hereinbefore described and no further explanation or descrip-
tion is or can be needed.
Although I consider that as a general rule it is most convenient and most con-
ducive to the efficient working of this invention that the diaphragm should be
held between two tubular rings as is hereinbefore described and as is shewn in
the accompanying drawing yet when for any cause it may be deemed expedient
or desirable so to do only one tubular ring may be fitted and employed in the
same manner and for the same purpose but of course care would be taken that
this one tubular ring would be on the proper side of the diaphragm to performi
its function in a due and proper manner and allow the diaphragm to vibrate
against it.
A secondary diaphragm can be provided with and arranged under the primary
diaphragm especially perhaps when both these diaphragms are domed or are
fitted with domes and are therefore extremely rigid and in Figure 5 I shew a
diagrammatic view of a duplex arrangement that I consider very appropriate and
convenient. According to this arrangement a smaller domed diaphragm 1 is
connected by a rigid rod 2 to the shorter arm of a rocking lever 3 the longer arm
whereof is connected to a larger domed diaphragm 4 and this larger domed dia-
phragm 4 is arranged to be the sole reproducer of the sounds to the manifest
great advantage in volume and clearness of the sounds so reproduced. As is
sufficiently obvious this arrangement is rendered possible and profitable by the
great rigidity of these diaphragms supplemented by the extreme certitude and
ease with which these rigid diaphragms can be vibrated by reason of their sup-
porting tubular rings. In a similar manner other supplementary diaphragms may
also be provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
In telephones phonographs and suchlike annaratus the combination with the

page_text: diaphragm that receives or reproduces the sounds of a tubular ring or tubular
rings which can support the diaphragm substantially as and for the purpose here-
in before described and declared.
HART & Co.,
Agents, 185, late 168, Fleet Street, London, E.C.