Improvements in and Connected with Diaphragms and Shutters for Photographic and other Lenses or Cameras.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
Improvements in and Connected with Diaphragms and Shutters
for Photographic and other Lenses or Cameras.
I, JAMES MEIN ELLIOT, of Westwater, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved construction of combined
movable spring diaphragm and shutter for giving a larger or smaller opening and
instantaneous closing and exposure at will, or give a longer exposure by regulating
the time during which the diaphragm shall remain open; and which might be made
portable for inserting into a slit in the metallic case of and between the lenses, or be
mounted in or on the camera in front of the lenses.
One portable arrangement suitable for being inserted in the slit of the tube of the
lenses, as common diaphragmns are, consists in mounting within a thin metallic case
two very thin reciprocating plates close together over each other with a square or it
might be other shaped hole in both plates, ranged when the case is inserted into the
slit in the tube of the lenses, so as to be in the centre radial line of the lenses. These
plates would be formed at their upper ends with two parallel slots crossing each
other, preferably at an angle of 45 degrees, outside the case of the lenses, where the
actuating mechanism is secured within an enclosed part of the said narrow case of
the sliding diaphragms, and which allows room for the diaphragm plates to traverse
on each other, the one down and the other up, so as to close the aperture to any
desired degree, or entirely, by the action of a square pin or stud working in the said
crossing slots and secured on a transverse reciprocating frame working in parallel
guides in the inside of the upper part of the case, the size of aperture being regulated
This reci-
by the distance traversed by the stud from right to left or vice versa.
procating frame is actuated to and fro by a segmental ratchet wheel with a crank pin
in it, this pin working in a longitudinal or curved slot in the said traversing frame,
preferably concentric to the motion of the crank pin near the centre, causing the
motion more towards the curved ends in enclosing the diaphragm or shutter plates;
a first quarter turn or less of the wheel and crank pin giving the extreme lateral
action to the pin working the diaphragm plates so as to traverse them longitudinally;

page_text: a spring pawl setting and releasing lever retaining the ratchet wheel crank pin and
frame in any position they are set to by the spindle of the ratchet wheel. The spindle
carrying the ratchet wheel on its inner end is passed out through a slot in the case
and carried in bearings on a traversing slide frame outside, which also carries the
fulcrum spindle of the spring ratchet pawl and releasing stop lever mounted on it;
and the spindle is wound up and set, as described, by a milled head on it, outside in
the centre of the traversing slide. The spring barrel is mounted loose on this spindle
with a milled head and a ratchet wheel and spring pawl on the slide frame, for
retaining the spring barrel in the position it is wound up to; a transverse slot being
formed in the frame below the slide for allowing this spindle and ratchet wheel inside
.to traverse to-and-fro with the slide. The slide is set to any position transversely to
give the extreme opening desired for the time being by a screw spindle and milled
head at one side secured to the stationary slide which regulates the throw of the crank
and the distance traversed by the lateral sliding frame and stud which moves the
diaphragms; an index being formed at the top with a pointer on the slide frame to
show the degree of opening it is set to by the screw. A small spindle and crank
handle are mounted above the spring barrel, the spindle being also passed through a
lateral slot in the fixed slide, with a cam on its inner end working in a slot in a stop
lever fulcrumed on and behind the spring pawl of the internal ratchet wheel, for
letting go the ratchet wheel for giving either instantaneous action to open and close
the diaphragms, or give a pause to retain the diaphragm open for any desired time,
by this stop lever, and a pin on the back of the. ratchet wheel, according to the
position the crank handle sets the cam to for the time being, the thumb screw and
the position of the slide giving the amount of opening. The rapidity of the action
of the internal ratchet crank wheel and motion in opening and closing the diaphragms
is effected by the strength of the spring for the time being which is coiled up more
or less by the milled head of the spring barrel outside, which also carries a, toothed
pinion gearing into a segmental wheel with pointer passing over a segmental index
and which by a divided index shows the strength of the spring wound up for the time
being, and consequently indicates- the instantaneous or regulated time. A lever is
mounted inside the fixed slide case over the releasing and retaining pawl of the
internal exposure ratchet wheel, with a small spindle passing up through a screw
socket above. This spindle might be fitted with a piston over it working into a small
pneumatic cylinder above screwed to the socket, the cylinder having a small india-
rubber tube and air ball attached to it, so that the operator might press down the
piston and rod, and release the pawl at the proper time. When the instrument is set
for a time exposure; the crank ratchet is wound up by the milled head outside, so as
to set the shutter slides for action when the pawl lever is turned to the position to
bring the time-stop into action, so that by the first pressing down of the releasing
pin and lever the slides would be stopped in their open position, and another motion
of the pin and lever would be necessary to close the slides. But the ratchet wheel
might be made without this tooth for retaining it in the open position, in which case
the mere releasing of the pin and lever would allow the diaphragms to close.
A pin
on the under side of the large milled winding head by coming in contact with another
pin in the upper bearing plate, would prevent the crank and ratchet segmental wheel
making more than one revolution.
The shutter may also be made duplex for stereoscopic work, that is one mechanism
being made to work the diaphragms of two lenses simultaneously, when the lenses
are within a few inches of each other.
Dated this 00:1 L

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Diaphragms and Shutters for
Photographic and other Lenses or Cameras.
I, JAMES MEIN ELLIOT, of Westwater, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement in writing,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of combined
movable spring diaphragm and shutter mechanism, for giving a larger or smaller
opening, and instantaneous closing and exposure at will, or give a longer exposure by
regulating the time during which the diaphragmn shall remain open; and which might
be made portable for inserting into a slit in the metallic case of and between the lenses,
or be mounted in or on the camera in front of the lenses.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 show a front end and edge view respectively of this new spring
diaphragm mechanism, as mounted on the front tubo T, T, of camera lenses. Figure
is a vertical edge section through the diaphragm mechanism, corresponding to
Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a front section corresponding to Figure 1, showing the
internal mechanism within the fixed slide case F. Figure shows a like end section
through the inner diaphragm slide case D, with central slide plate E removed.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show front, side and edge views respectively of the slide case A
and of the movable slides B, fitted within the former; and Figure 9 shows a front
view of the slides over each other, but as detached from their case D, with the aperturo
of the diaphragms B, C, dotted in in different positions to show different sized
apertures formed by these at t. Figure 10 shows a front view of the dial plate J²,
and milled screw J detached, which is mounted outside on the sliding plate F¹, as seen
in Figure 1. While Figure 11 shows the opposite end views and an edge view of the
spring barrel 1; and Figures 12 show an end and edge view of the ratchet crank pin
wheel, And Figures 13 and 14 show front and edge views of the ratchet
retaining pawl lever g and stop lever h respectively.
Referring to these Figures, one arrangement of my improvements,-suitable for
being inserted in the slot T of the tube T of the lenses as common diaphragms are,-
consists in mounting within the guide edges a' of a thin metallic plate case A, two
very thin diaphragm plates B, C, close together over each other as seen in Figure 9,
and as seen in side and edge view detached in Figures 6, 7, and 8, respectively, with a
square or equivalent angled recess or hole b, c, in both plates B, C, and a round hole a
in the plate A arranged (when the case A is inserted into the slit T in the tube T', of
the lenses) so as to be in the centre radial line or hole t of the lenses. and the ordinary
open diaphragm circle T, formed in this case by double rings T', T', within the

page_text: 33
projecting end of the lense tube 13, with the said narrow space between them for the
insertion of the case A, with the diaphragm plates B, C, down from an open slot at T³
in the top. The case A and plates B, C, are all mounted with their moving mechanism
to slide in a groove in the inner frame case D within the case D, E, F, over the slot T³
and secured by a spring band D' and pinching screw D. round the outside of the
tube T, all as seen particularly in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and which I term the "Iris
form of diaphragm. The plates B, C, are formed at their upper ends with two
parallel slots B, C, one in each plate crossing each other at any suitable angle but
preferably at an angle of 45 degrees within the working case A. and D, but outside
the tube T of the lenses, where the actuating mechanism is fitted within an enclosed
part of the case E, F, in front of the said case D, and thin guiding case A of the
sliding diaphragms B, C, and which allows room for these diaphragm plates to traverso
on each other, the one down and the other B up, in closing the opening t in line
with the centre of the lenses to any desired degree, or entirely through these
plates B, C, or vice versa to open them up as shown dotted in in.Figure 9, by the action
of a pin or stude working in the said angled crossing slots B, C, and secured
in a transverse reciprocating frame E', working in parallel guides E", with the
pine working through the transverse slot 2, in the plates E; and when the case A
is not required to move as a slide through the angled slot A' the pin passes,
through a corresponding transverse slit A" in this case A also shown dotted in
in Figure 6, and in the case D in Figure 9 A; but when this case A is desired
to move as a slide, it would have an angled slot A¹ to move it, equivalent to B¹
and C in the plates B and C, as shown at A' in Figure 6. The size of aperture t
is thus regulated by the distance traversed by the stud e from right to left, or vice
versa, to close or open the diaphragms respectively, by the stud e working through
their angled grooves A. B, C, as will hereinafter be described. This reciprocating
stud frame e, E, is actuated to and fro by a segmental ratchet wheel, with a crank
pin in it, this pin f' working in a curved slot el in the said traversing frame E',
preferably nearly tangential to the motion of the crank pin " near the centre e, in
the position it is shown in Figure 4, causing the motion more towards the outwardly
curved ends e, e, of this slot el respectively in opening and closing the diaphragm
or shutter plates B, C. The first quarter turn or so of the wheel and crank pin f
gives the extreme lateral action to the stude working the diaphragm plates B, C,
so as to traverse and open them vertically; a spring pawl setting and releasing
lever 9, retaining the ratchet wheel and crank pin and frame E in any position
they are set to by the spindle of the ratchet wheel f. The spindle f, carrying
the ratchet wheel on its inner end, is passed out through a slot F (parallel to the
slot E) in the plate and carried in bearings on the transverse slide frame Fl fitted
to traverse in guides F" in the frame plate F outside, and which also carries the
bearing of the fulcrum spindle g of the spring ratchet pawl and a releasing stop
lever mounted on it. The spindle of the ratchet wheel is wound up and set
with the diaphragms B, C, in their closed position as described in reference to
Figure 4 ready for being let go to open and close the diaphragm B, C, by the
power of the spring 1', in the barrel I, by a milled head F3 secured on it outside,
in the centre of the transverse slide F. The spring barrel I is mounted loose on
this spindle with a milled head and a ratchet wheel with spring pawl on the
slide frame 1, for retaining the spring barrel at in the position it is wound
up to the transverse slot being formed in the frame F below the slide F¹ for
allowing this spindle and ratchet wheel i outside to traverse to-and-fro with the
slide F. This slide and outer plate J are set to any position transversely to the
right, as shown in Figure 1, to give the extreme opening desired for the time being
by the screw spindle I with milled head J' secured by its bearing plate J" to the side
of the slide case F and works in a screw bush at fixed on the index plate J'
carrying the index pointer of the index J³ divided on the top of the fixed plate F, as
shown in Figure 1, and which regulates the throw of the crank pin in the groove e
of the slide frame E', and the distance traversed by this lateral sliding frame E' and
stud e, which moves the diaphragins B, C, to open them, and close them while the.

page_text: 1
with
crank pin is traversing in the upper end ell of the groove e¹ and moving the
frame E, to the left in Figure 4. The index J³, is formed at the top of the plate
a pointer on the plate J³, secured to the slide plate F1, to show the degree of opening
it is set to by the screw J, J¹. The small spindle g¹ of the ratchet pawl lever has a
crank handle mounted on it above the spring barrel I ontside the index plate Ja,.
which also carries the outer bearing of the spindle 2, the spindle g being also passed
through a lateral slot at in the fixed slide plate F, seen more particularly in Figure 1,
with a small eccentric cam on its inner end working in an eye in the stop lever h
fulcrumed by a slot on a pin at in the spring pawl g of the internal ratchet
wheel, f, for letting go the ratchet wheelf for giving either instantaneous action to
open and close the diaphragms B, C, or give a pause to retain the diaphragms open for
any desired time, by this siop lever 1, and a pin f³ on the back of the ratchet wheel f,
according to the position the crank handle g² sets the cam ¹ to, for the time being,
either out of or into action, the thumb screw J, J', and the position of the slide F, J³,
giving and showing the amount of opening on the index J³ as described. The
rapidity of the action of the internal ratchet crank pin wheel ff, and motion in
opening and closing the diaphragms B, C is effected by the strength of the
spring 1 for the time being, which is coiled up more or less by the milled head
of the spring barrel I outside, which also carries a tooth pinion shown as formed
with pin teeth at ", shown in the views of the ratchet barrel Figure 11, and gearing
into the spur wheel mounted loose on the eye or bush of the spindle g!, with
pointer passing over the segmental index on the outside of the plate J and which
by the divided index and pointer shows the strength of the spring I wound up for
the time being, "Instantaneous" being printed at the one side of the dials J, and
"Time
at the other, and consequently indicates the instantaneous or regulated
time. A slotted spring lever G, is mounted and fulcrumed at G' inside the
fixed slide case F, over a pin 92 in the actuating end of the releasing and
retaining pawg of the internal exposure ratchet wheel with a small
spindle H passing up a screw or airtight socket H' on plate and carrying a
pneumatic cylinder H2 above. This spindle H is shown as fitted with a
piston H³ over it, working into the cylinder H3 above, screwed to the socket H',
the cylinder H2 having a small india-rubber tube H* attached to it, with an air ball not
shown in the Drawings, so that the operator might by the compression of the air ball
in his hand instantaneously press down the piston H and rod H, and press down the
releasing lever G and ratchet pawl g to let go the ratchet wheel f, at the proper time
to open and close the diaphragms B and C all ás described. When the instrument is
to be used or set for a time exposure, the crank pin ratchet wheel f, f¹, is wound up
by the milled head F3 on its spindle-fontside, so as to set the shutter slides B, C,
ready for action, when the outside hand lever g² and its eccentric is then turned to
the position to bring the time-stop lever into action, as shown to the right in
Figure 1, and its lever in position in Figure 4 to stop the ratchet wheelf, by the
pin 3, so that by the first pressing down of the releasing pin H, and lever G, and
ratchet pawl g, the ratchet wheel and slides B, C, would be stopped in their open
position by the lever hand pin f³ and another motion of the lever.g, and eccentric /',
would be necessary to lift the lever h and release the pin 3 and close the slides B, C
when the proper time of exposure was given. But the ratchet wheelf might be
made without this tooth or stop f³ for retaining it in the open position, in which case
the mere releasing of the pin H and lever G and the ratchet pawl y, would allow the
ratchet to turn the diaphragms B, C, and close as well as open these. A pin F' on
the under side of the large milled winding head F3 by coming in contact with
another pin F³ in the upper bearing j of the plate J2 would, prevent the crank and
ratchet segmental wheel, f¹, making more than one revolution, and leave it all
ready for rewinding up the spindle and spring within the ratchet spring
barrel 1.
In Figure 9 A is shown a front view of a slight modification of the. sliding diaphragm
plates from that shown detached in Figures 6, 7, and 8, in which a third sliding.
diaphragm plate A2 is used with a round hole a³ in it similar to the slide plate A,

page_text: having an angled slot A³ in it; which arrangement has the advantage of requiring
less width of cover at the lower ends all, 611 in the plates A and A and B, for their
notion within the ring T, T', of the tube T of the lenses, as the plates A and A' move
up with the plate B to close the space below the diaphragm B when it is closing the
aperture t, and vice versa move down with the plate B to give the full aperture, with
a less proportionate motion of the added plates A, A2, as will be seen from their
angled slots A, A³. Thus referring to Figure 9 A it will be seen that the moving
pin e traversed transversely by the lateral slide pointer P through the fixed trans-
verse slot A in the frame D, works through the diagonal angled slots B, C, A¹, A³,
in each slide B, C, A, A, to move it to its desired extent either up or down to close
or open the aperture t in the plates. The traverse of the pin e from the starting
end, when all the diaphragm plates are close, works in the diagonal slot C¹ in first
diaphragm plate C to raise its lower opening end c from the close central point of
the lenses for the largest opening upwards desired. While the second diaphragm
plate B, would have the pin e working through the diagonal slot B' in it, formed in
the reverse direction to the former plate C so as to be traversed proportionally down-
wards to the upward traverse of the first diaphragm plate from the centre of the
lenses to the full extent of the largest opening required during the maximum trans-
verse motion of the pin e and pointer P in the transverse groove A". Then the third
diaphragm plate A would be made with a shorter diagonal slot A³ towards the
beginning of its traverse in the same direction as that in the second diaphragm plate B,
so that the pine would move it down a proportionate shorter distance along with the
second diaphragm plate, and have the slot curved or bent into a horizontal direction
to allow the pin e to traverse to its maximum extent without opening this diaphragm
plate further. While the fourth diaphragm plate A would have a still shorter diagonal
slot A than that of the third diaphragm plate A², and a longer horizontal part
of its slot A' at the end and be moved à shorter distance downwards simultaneously
with the second and third diaphragm plates, to give the full opening downwards, the
lower ends of the two latter plates overlapping with each other, and with the second
diaphragm plate B at their lower ends, all so as to fill up in all positions of the
diaphragm plates the open space between the lower end of the second diaphragm
plate B and the large open annular rings T on one or both sides of the sliding
diaphragm plates of and within the case of the camera lenses. This diaphragm or
diaphragm shutter shown in Figure 9 A may be portable and removable from the
diaphragm slit T3 in the lense case T, T, and have a pointer P on the slide of the
moving pin e, and index figures P¹ on the upper part of the plate D and transverse
slide A indicating the size of opening of the diaphragm, so as to set the diaphragm
plates to any size of opening without requiring to withdraw the diaphragin from
its slit T3 to suit the strength of light and photograph to be taken. In this way
any required number up to five or six sliding shutters, torgive the same effect, might
be moved in an equivalent manner in their guide frames A.or D.
These shutters and their mechanism may also be made duplex for stereoscopic work,
that is one mechanism being made to work the diaphragms of two lenses simultaneously,
when the lenses are within a few inches of each other, as by making the diaphragm
plates longer and having suitable apertures or openings at each end, and with the
actuating diagonal slots in the centre as described, so that when the diaphragms of
the one lense were actuated by its mechanism it would actuate the diaphragms of the
other lense....
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 :-
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
diaphragms or shutters and their spring automatic actuating mechanism for photo-
graphic and other lenses or cameras, substantially as herein described, in reference to
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second: In diaphragm and shutter mechanism for photographic and other lenses

page_text: or cameras, the mounting and use of thin reciprocating plates formed with diaphragm
apertures, and reverse angled slots at their outer ends, and traversed on each other
by a lateral reciprocating slide and pin, to open and close respectively, the diaphragm
aperture to the extent desired, substantially as and in the manner herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In diaphragm and shutter mechanism for photographic and other lenses or
cameras, the actuating of the vertically reciprocating diaphragm plates whether of
this Iris or other form of diaphragm shutters by a pin and horizontally traversing
slide frame, operated by a crank pin working in a curved or double angled slot
in it, for the opening and closing of the shutters and aperture, said crank pin being
formed on a segmental ratchet wheel actuated substantially as and in the manner
herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In diaphragm and shutter mechanism for photographic and other lenses or
cameras, the mounting of a spindle and crank handle above the spring barrel, said '
spindle being passed through a lateral slot in the fixed slide, with a cam working in a
slot in a stop lever, fulcrumed behind the spring pawl of the internal ratchet wheel,
for letting go the ratchet wheel to give either instantaneous action to open and close
the diaphragms, or give a pause to retain the diaphragms open for any desired time,
by said stop lever, and a pin on the back of the ratchet wheel, substantially as and in
the manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. In diaphragm and shutter mechanism for photographic and other lenses or
cameras, the releasing of the retaining pawl lever which works the automatic spring
mechanism for opening and closing the diaphragms, by a pneumatic piston and cylinder
operated by an air ball, substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.