Improvements in Phonographic or Sound or Speech Producing Implements for Use in Light-houses and other Places where Very Loud or Far Reaching Audible Signals are Desired.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Phonographic or Sound or Speech Producing
Implements for Use in Light-houses and other Places where
Very Loud or Far Reaching Audible Signals are Desired.
1. GEORGE CROSLAND TAYLOR, of Thornton Hough, in the County of Chester,
Electrician and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My apparatus consists of a framework carrying two, three or more wheels in the
same plane. Over the periphery of these wheels is run a slip or band of metal,
parchmented paper, cellulose, horn or other strong tough material. This band is
perforated with holes corresponding to the vibrations of the voice as produced by
The phonograph. but magnified. This band is passed through a die or confined
space and is caused to travel through the same space by driving one or more of the
said wheels by steam power or otherwise as may be convenient at the back, or
the most convenient side of the band is placed a steam or air chest supplied with
steam or air at a high pressure as may be found best suited, this steam or air chest
has a hole in it the size of a hole in the band opening into the die through which
the perforated hand passes, and opposite the line of holes in the band. On the other
side of the die. exactly opposite the orifice from the steam chest is another hole
larger than the hole opening into steam chest and conical outward. Attached to
the die covering this second hole. I fix a trumpet or horn similar to those which
are used to log horns. The whole apparatus may be supported on a revolving
stage so as to direct the horn in various directions.
The steam or air is directed to the steam or air chest by a pipe regulated by a
valve, and the steam boiler together with the small steam or air engine, necessary
or not to drive the band, may be on the same platform or foundation plate as the
apparatus so as to revolve with the horn, and suitable apparatus may be used to
cause the band to move or revolve, such for instance as that used for working
band saws.
The object of having a steam chest or enlarged diameter of pipe in front of the
rifice in the band is to enable the full pressure of the steam or air to be utilized
and avoid wire drawing: while to enable the band to pass through the die without
indue friction. I only allow the minimum of area to be actually exposed to the
team or air pressure, the orifices preferably conical, opening into the band with a

page_text: diameter the same size at that point as the holes in the band, and expanding
outwardly Further to still reduce the friction may in some cases make the die
rather wider than the band, and sink in it above and below the orifice antifriction
packing and gland as in steam engines. When steam or air is admitted into the
steam or air chest, and the band is caused to move through the die at the same
time and at the requisite speed, the repeated admission and cutting off of the steam
or air is caused to make corresponding vibrations in the horn. The noise thus
produced in the case of ordinary steam syrens can be heard some ten to fifteen
miles in fairly still weather, therefore if the holes correspond in rhythm to the
vibrations produced by the human voice or other sounds desired to be produced,
the apparatus will re-produce such sounds.
By this means light-house and other naval stations and ships or railway stations
may shout out in a loud voice or sound their own name signal or designations.
This would be of public utility and a means in stormy weather at sea of saving
life.
I believe this method of a band as described to be entirely novel, and the band
can be made of long lengths and easily manufactured and replaced.
I prefer to obtain the patterns for holes in the bands by means of holes produced
in a strip of tinfoil or paper. by means of a phonograph, and enlarging the same by
means of a microscopic enlarge lantern as is well understood. If increased power
be required I may use two or more holes in the band in the same transverse line.
or a long slit instead of a drilled hole, a coresponding arrangement of orifices being
arranged in steam chest, die, and fog horn.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6. Lord Street, Liverpool.
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Figure 4 sectional details of steam chamber and speaking mechanism.
Figure section through upper packing box looking down.
Figures 6 to 10 five forms of perforated band.
Figures 11 to 13 top plan section and bottom plan of gland of stulling box.
In these A is a framework carrying two, three, or more wheels B. B'. B. in the
same plane. wheel B2 can be placed at any distance from B' or B. and B² is
tightened by screw to keep band tight. Over the periphery of these wheels which
may be covered with vulcanized fibre, vulcanite, or asbestos, to cause adhesion. is
run a strip or band of metal, parchmented paper, cellulose. horn or other strong tough
material. just as a band saw is run on similar wheels. This band is perforated
with a line of holes parallel to its sides corresponding to the vibrations of the voice
as produced by the phonograph. but magnified. The band can be perforated in
numerous ways either as round or square holes. Figure 6. as rectangular holes,
Figure 7, as acute lozenge shaped holes with similar orifice, or an orifice more nearly
perpendicular to the side of the band or lines of holes arranged perpendicularly or
obliquely as set forth in Figure 9. or in any or all of the forms set forth in
Figure 10. The distance apart of these holes is found by enlarging a phonographic
Stencil by magic lantern in a manner well known. The plan prefer is to form
the image on a smoked glass caused to travel horizontally, the marker being a fine
point on a diaphragm against which the voice is projected. This band is passed
through a die or confined space G and is caused to travel through the same space
by driving one or more of the said wheels by compressed air or steam power or
otherwise as may be convenient. In the drawing Figure 1. B' is shown driven by
means of a pulley on the same shaft. this is driven by strap 2. from pulley b
on a crank shaft driven in its turn by engine b, which is supplied with steam by
steam pipe band steam boiler 6. At the back or the most convenient side of the band
is placed a steam or air chest E supplied with steam or air at a high pressure as
may be found best suited by pipe F. This steam chest is set forth in Figures 4
and 5. It contains a perforated false bottom c¹ and chamber below c² in which the

page_text: condensed water collects and from which it escapes by pipe e whenever the cock e' is
opened to blow it off. This steam or air chest has a conical hole H in it, which
hole is the same width and breadth at its narrowest end next the band as the
holes in the band, when these are uniform. This opens into the die G through
which the perforated band A' passes, and opposite the line of holes in the band A¹.
On the other side of the die, exactly opposite the orifice from the steam chest is
another similar but opposite conical hole 1. the same shape and size or slightly
larger than the hole opening into the steam chest, and conical outward. Attached
to the die covering this second hole. 1 fix a trumpet or horn J similar to those
which are used for fog horms or fog syrens, the whole apparatus is supported on a
stage Krevolving on centre and ruimers on circular rail so as to direct the
horn in various directions and can be made to revolve and be guided by hand or
any suitable machinery.
The steam or air is directed to the steam or air chest by a pipe F regulated by a
valve L, and the steam boiler together with the small steam or air engine b
necessary or not to drive the band, may be on the same platform or foundation
plate as the apparains, so as to revolve with the horn, or the steam can enter
through a central trunnion . Suitable apparatus may be used to cause the band
to move or revolve, such for instance as that used for working band saws, as shown
this can be worked by hand, by handle b if necessary.
The object of having a steam chest or enlarged diameter of pipe in front of the
orifice in the band is to enable the full pressure of the steam or air to be utilized
and avoid wire drawing: while to enable the band to pass through the die without
undue friction. I only allow the minimum of area to be actually exposed to the
steam or air pressure. the orifices H. I. preferably conical, opening into the band
with a diameter the same size at that point as the holes in the band. and expanding
outwardly. Further to still reduce the friction. I may as shown sink in the die
above and below the orifice, antifriction packing M and split glands N¹ as in steam
engines. When steam or air is admitted into the steam or air chest, and the band
is caused to move through the die at the same time and at the requisite speed, the
repeated admission and cutting off of the steam air is caused to make corre-
sponding vibrations in the horn. The noise thus produced as in the case of
ordinary steam fog syrens or fog horns can be heard some ten to fifteen miles in
fairly still weather, therefore if the holes correspond in rythm to the vibrations
produced by the human voice or other sounds desired to be produced, the apparatus
will reproduce such sounds.
By this means lighthouse and other naval stations, and ships or railway stations
may shout out in a loud voice or sound their own name, signal or designa-
tions. This would be of public utility and a means in stormy weather at sea of
saving life.
I believe this method of a band as described to be entirely novel, and the band
can be made of long lengths and easily manufactured and replaced, numerous
change bands being used on the same apparatus.
I prefer to obtain the patterns for holes in the bands either by means of holes
produced in a strip of tin foil or paper, by means of a phonograph or on a plain
Smoked glass, and enlarging the same by means of a microscopic enlarging lantern,
as is well understood. If increased power be required I may use two or more
holes in the band in the same transverse line as shown at Figure 9. of a long slit
instead of a drilled hole as shown at Figure 7, a corresponding arrangement of
orifices being arranged in steam chest, die, and fog horn.
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
1 claim is:
1st. In phonographic or aerophonic apparatus, the application of a band_per-
foarted in one or more lines with the required phonograph signals, substantially as
Jihad

page_text: 2nd. In combination with a fog horn, a travelling band perforated with phono-
graph signals passing between it and the steam or air source, so as to rapidly make
and cut off connection, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination of the slide having conical holes opening outward, the
perforated band A. and the enlarged steam chamber, whereby a full volume of
steam is ensured without wire drawing.
4th. The arrangement for giving greater volume of sound and passage for the
air and steam, without increase in the length of the band, or of each individual
signal, which consists in increasing the orifices laterally and making them long
transverse slits or rows of holes substantially as described.
5th. The combination of the band A. slide with stulling boxes at each end, and
orifices close to the band whereby the steam is confined to passing through the
solitary hole in the band open to the orifices at one time.
6th. The application of the band saw arrangement of band, and carrying driving
wheels for phonograph or aerophone purposes, substantially as described.
Daind this 10th day of October 1984
GEO. CROSLAND TAYLOR.
Agents, Wm. P. Thompson & Co..
6. Lord Street, Liverpool.