Improvements in or relating to Coin-freed and other Apparatus for. Making Observations by Means of "Röntgen" or "X" Rays.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Coin-freed and other Apparatus for.
Making Observations by Means of "Röntgen" or "X" Rays.
"JACQUES WERTHEIMER, of 42, Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic
of France, 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 radioscopic apparatus working automatically on being
put into operation by means of a coin or by other mechanical means or by hand
whereby single, double or multiple observations may be made by means of
"Röntgen" or
X" rays of any body or object especially of the body or part of
the body of a person by the person using the apparatus or by another person or by
several persons at once.
16
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in elevation and in longitudinal vertical section an apparatus
according to the present invention adapted for a single person to make an observa-
tion said apparatus being arranged to act automatically on being released by a
coin.
Fig. 2 shows the same apparatus in side elevation in vertical section on line X Y
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail view supplementing Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 shows on a smaller scale the apparatus for double or multiple observations
in longitudinal elevation a part being shown broken off and the apparatus arranged
to be worked by hand.
By examining Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the apparatus according to
the present invention and shown in these figs. is mainly constituted by two vertical
casings A and B connected at the bottom by a horizontal box or casing C, the
casing B being transversely divided into two compartments A' A² by means
of a vertical partition A³
In the compartment A¹ of the casing B is arranged and works a box or frame B₁
containing the glass bulb B in which the "X" rays are produced and in such
manner that the rays emitted by said bulb are directed towards the front of the
apparatus, that is to say so that they pass through the front partition A+ of the
casing B; in the other comparment A2 of the casing A is arranged the electrical
apparatus; accumulators B³ and transformer B operating the tube or bulb B2.
At the bottom, partly in the casing B and partly in the box C there is arranged
the mechanism for releasing the parts automatically operating the apparatus and
also the operating parts themselves. Finally in the casing A there are arranged
as near as possible to the back partition C a fluorescent screen C2, and against the
wall C³ of said casing A a reflecting glass C, arranged so as to receive and reflect
the image produced on the screen by the X-rays emitted by the tube B2, said
rays having then passed through the front wall of its casing B¹, through the
wall A of the casing B, through the object or body placed on the platform C³

page_text: of the lower horizontal box C, through the wall C of the casing A, and finally
on to and through the screen C² itself. The casing A moreover contains the dis-
engaging mechanism actuated by a coin and starting the automatic working of the
apparatus said disengagement or releasing action being transmitted to the different
parts by an electric current supplied by cells C6 placed in the lower part of the
box C.
The box B with the bulb B2 is arranged so that it can move vertically behind
the wall A of the casing B so as to bring the rays emitted by the inner tube B²
to any desired height. In the same manner the screen C² of sufficient surface and
corresponding at least to the surface covered by emitted rays directed on to it by
the bulb B2 is vertically adjustable behind the wall C¹ of the casing A, its vertical
movement taking place exactly in the same manner as that of the bulb B2 so that
the screen is always opposite to and receives the rays emitted by the bulb 12 what-
ever be the vertical position of the latter.
At a suitable height there is formed in the wall C of the casing A an opening
or window D of sufficient size to enable a person standing on the platform C³ to
look through the window in order to observe on the surface of the inner mirror C
the images projected on to it from the screen C2. It will be understood that with
the arrangements hereinbefore described different portions of the body of a person
standing on the platform C³ and looking through the eye hole 1) will be successively
from bottom to top traversed by the rays emitted by the bulb B2 and observed by
the user.
As the screen (2 when on the level with the head of the person observing would
come between the eyes and the mirror C thus preventing observation by the user
the screen C is provided as may be seen in Fig. 3 with a vertical slot D₁ said slot D
being of sufficient size to enable the rays from the eye passing through the
window to pass through said slot and continue to observe on the mirror C+ the
images projected through the fluorescent screen C and this in spite of the inter-
position of said screen between the mirror and the eyes of the observer. The only
part impossible to observe will be that coinciding exactly with the slot D¹ of the
screen C¹. But as this slot is in practice made as narrow as possible it will not
seriously interfere with the observation.
This apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated by way of example in the
accompanying drawings in Figs. 1 & 2 allows only an observation to be made by
one person that is to say the projections cannot be conveniently observed on the
mirror C except by the person looking through the eye-hole 1). In certain cases
however especially for medical purposes it will be advisable to enable not only
the person for instance a patient placed on the platform C and looking through
the eye-hole D, but also another person for instance his doctor to observe in a con-
venient manner the projected images so that the doctor can explain to the patient
and examine in a most complete manner his constitution or the cause of his illness
etc. the portion of the body under examination being visible to both.
In other cases it may be desirable to be able to rapidly and comfortably examine
certain objects the interior of which is to be checked and verified. For instance
in Custom houses it would be very convenient to be able to examine the contents
of a parcel of whatever dimensions without having to open it and to take out the
contents.
It is evident that the casings AB may be arranged at a variable distance so as
to enable the position of the box B₁ with the bulb 132 to be adjusted according to
circumstances and to the object to be examined.
The modification of the apparatus according to the present invention shown in
Fig. 4 fulfils all these conditions.
In this modification the mirror C instead of being fixed and occupying the whole
surface of the wall C³ of the casing A is movable up and down said "wall C³ and is
of sufficient size to enable the images produced on the fluorescent screen C to be
always completely reflected in the mirror. The movable mirror follows the
screen C³ and the box B¹ with the bulb 132 in their vertical ascending and descend-

page_text: ing movements so that it always receives the projected images produced by the
rays emitted by the bulb B2.
For this purpose the screen, and consequently the tube, must be raised at a speed
double that of the raising of the mirror, in such a manner that the projections are
always visible on the latter; and for this purpose it will suffice to form the wind-
ing drum of the driving-chain or cord of the screen, and tube of a diameter which
is double that of the winding drum of the driving chain or cord of the mirror.
In these conditions the person placed on the platform C5 will observe as before
the projections on the mirror C through the window D and another person will be
able, by standing facing the wall C3 of the apparatus, to observe through an eye-
hole, at E, made at a suitable height in said wall, the projections produced on the
fluorescent screen C2, this observation then taking place directly on said screen.
In order not to hinder the passage of the rays from the eyes of the observer at E
to the surface of the screen C2 when the reflecting mirror arrives at the line of
sight between the observer's eyes and the screen the mirror C+ similarly to the
screen is provided with a vertical slot enabling the observer always to see the
screen C whatever be the height of said screen and of the mirror which follows
all the movements of the screen.
It is evident that the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 could also be utilised for a single
observation, at E, directly on the screen C³, of a person or object suitably placed
on the platform C³ of the apparatus.
The apparatus according to the present invention whether it be arranged for a
single observer as in Figs. 1 and 2, or for double or multiple observations as in
Fig. 4, can be arranged to work automatically on being disengaged by means of a
coin or any other device, or by hand, as has been herein before explained.
In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the apparatus is supposed by way of example
to be worked by hand this is effected simply by connecting the box B' carrying
the bulb B2 the screen C2 and the movable mirror C together by means of
cords F F F guided over guide rollers G G¹ G2 G3 G the cords F F¹ respectively
supporting the mirror C and the screen C and being wound together in the same
direction on drums H or on a drum with two diameters whereby the cord F2 sup-
ports the box B¹ and is wound on its drum so as to travel at double the peripheral
speed of the cords F FI so that said mirror C+ the screen C3 and box B¹ never alter
their relative correct positions. A crank or handle H¹ serves for operating the
drum H from the outside; a ratchet wheel H2 with a pawl H³ enables the drum H
to be stopped so as to retain the parts at any desired height. The lighting and
extinguishing of the bulb B2 can be effected by means of any suitable switch device
arranged within reach of the operator.
The apparatus shown in Figs. and 2 is arranged with the necessary devices for
automatically working on being disengaged by a coin.
This mechanism which may of course be varied comprises chiefly a lever I adapted
to turn under the weight of a coin and engaging with a ratchet wheel I¹ con-
trolled by an anchor movement in order to retard its return motion to which
corresponds the period of observations so that the time allowed for the observation
may be sufficiently long.
When turning the lever I closes by means of rods 12 13 an electric circuit at I'
whereby the bulb B2 is lighted and is kept lighted during the time that the appa-
ratus is operative; the lever I also closes, during both its forward and return move-
ments, electric contacts I5 I6 which by means of corresponding electro magnets I' I*
disengage or engage through a pivotted lever 19 operated by said electro magnets
an anchor escapement J which by means of ratchet wheels toothed wheels and
segments comprised in the apparatus L releases a lever J¹ pivotted at J2 which
lever is operated by the weight of a person or object placed on a platform J3 out-
side the box C and above the floor C5 of said box the platform being connected to
the lever J¹ by a rod J4.
According to these arrangements which may be replaced by others operating in

page_text: a similar manner a person or an object having been placed on the platform J³
and a coin being placed in K the apparatus will be caused to act owing to the
lever I turning; whereupon the bulb B3 is lighted and the disengaging of the
anchor escapement enables the lever J¹ to descend under the influence of the weiglit
of the person or object placed at J³ and consequently permits the rotating of the
series of wheels L causing the rotation of drums L' L2 (Fig. 2) on which are wound
the supporting and operating cord J5 of the box B and the support-
ing and operating cord Je of the screen C2 this winding up taking place
simultaneously and in an equal manner so that a perfect alignment of the screen
and the bulb B is preserved during their movement.
On the return of the lever I into its original position which return takes place at
a desired speed regulated by the anchor escapement I¹ in such manner that it is
not completed until sufficient time has elapsed for a complete ascent of the screen C2
and the box B carrying the bulb B2 and for a perfect observation on the mirror C¹
during said ascent said lever I interrupts the before-mentioned electric contacts
and thus extinguishes the light in the bulb B2 and effects the engagement of the
anchor escapement J controlling the action of the wheels at L corresponding to
the working of the apparatus; these wheels then enable the drums L' I² to rotate
in the opposite direction under the influence of a balance weight P (Fig. 2) on the
box B and consequently the cords J J are unwound that is to say the box B¹
descends together with the screen C3 and the mirror C-if the latter be movable-
to the position of rest. The platform J3 being freed from the weight of the person
or object which it supported returns under the action of a spring surrounding its
rod J into its original position and the lever J¹ connected to the platform by the
rod J and the wheels in L controlled by the lever J¹ also return to their original
position.
In order to secure the conducting wires supplying current to the bulb B³ being
constantly stretched the current for this tube is passed through the spindles M M¹
of two pulleys M2 M3 over which pass wires M4 M5 supplying current to the tube B²
the free ends of these wires being provided with balance weights M M which
ensure their constant tension whatever be the position of the tube B².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
"
1. Apparatus for making observations by means of "Röntgen rays compris-
ing two vertical casings between which the object to be examined is placed, one of
said casings containing a vertically movable vacuum bulb and the other casing
containing a correspondingly movable fluorescent screen, and a mirror and an
observation window or eye-hole, in combination with mechanism for moving said
bulb and screen substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for making observations by means of "Röntgen" rays comprising
two vertical casings between which the object to be examined is placed, one of
said casings containing a vertically movable vacuum bulb and the other casing
containing a correspondingly movable fluorescent screen and a correspondingly
movable mirror, and observation windows cr eye holes in combination with
mechanism for moving said bulb screen and mirror substantially as described.
3. Apparatus of the character described in which the mechanism for lighting
and extinguishing the bulb and the vertical movement of the bulb and screen is
effected automatically by the insertion of a coin.
4. Apparatus of the character described in which the time during which the
apparatus remains in operation is regulated by means of escapement mechanism
substantially as described.
5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a casing A provided with a
vertically movable fluorescent screen C² and mirror C, a casing B provided with a
vertically movable vacuum bulb 13ª, a central platform J³ provided with a spring
controlled raised part J hinged to a pivotted lever J' connected to a series of wheels

page_text: for operating the drums carrying the cords for effecting the vertical movement of
the bulb and screen substantially as described.
6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a casing A provided with a
vertically movable fluorescent screen C2 and mirror C, a casing B provided with a
vertically movable vacuum bulb Be a central platform J3 provided with a spring
controlled raised part J hinged to a pivotted lever. J connected to a series of
wheels for operating the drums carrying the cords for effecting the vertical move-
ment of the bulb and screen, in combination with electrical means for controlling
the duration of movement of the parts substantially as described.
33
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete appa-
ratus for making observations by means of " Röntgen rays, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.