IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR DISTRIBUTING SOUND AND FOR BETTER OBTAINING A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF BUILDINGS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Cyrus Engert, of Three Mills Lane, Bromley-by-
Bow, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invontion of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPLIANCES FOR DISTRIBUTING SOUND AND FOR BETTER OBTAINING
A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF
BUILDINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Cyrus Engert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
ADAM CYRUS ENGERT, of Three Mills Lane, Bromley by Bow, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR DISTRIBUTING SOUND AND FOR
BETTER OBTAINING A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR
OF BUILDINGS."
In order better to obtain a uniform distribution of sound throughout the interior
of large rooms, churches, public halls, and such like, and to prevent return waves of
one sound interfering with and preventing the distribution of other sounds, I
employ a number of steel or iron wires stretched along the longest length of the
room or building, and strained tight until they are so tuned as readily to take up
vibrations in the air, such as are produced by the loudest or strongest return wave
which previously interfered with the proper distribution of sound throughout all
parts of the building. Should any return wave still exist the tuned wires will
take up and distribute such waves so quickly that they cannot do harm, and will
prevent them interfering with the distribution of other succeeding sounds.
In cases where it is required to reduce return waves from domes and arches,
corners, or recesses of buildings, so that no annoyance shall be experienced from
them, I also stretch wires across such corners or recesses, and connect these wires
with the horizontal wires before mentioned, which are stretched lengthwise of the
building.
Also, in cases where the height of the building permits, I stretch a second layer
of wires at a distance above the first layer, and like them properly tuned, and
connect them all one with the other by cross wires and spiral springs. In the
same way three, four, or more layers of tuned wires might be used if required.

page_text: The upper layers of wires might be entirely taken away from sight, or led to an
upper building or room, or to other suitable placo; or some of the upper layers
might be enclosed in a box or recess lined with felt or damping material to deaden
vibration.
In the same way any natural or artificial resonance may be distributed throughout
the whole of a building, as for example, when metal resonating plates are used, as
described in my former Patent, No. 2288, in the year 1878, wires may be stretched
until properly tuned a short distance in front of the plates, and be connected to the
horizontal wires before mentioned; or, in the same way, tuned wires may be
stretched in the vicinity of musical instruments, as for example pianos or organs, or
may be attached directly to such instruments, and may also be used for conveying
musical or other sounds produced in one place to any place where it is desired that
the music or other sound shall be heard.
If only a single layer of horizontal wires is used the several wires of this layer
should be connected one with the other near their ends by wires and spiral
springs, so that the vibrations may circulate from one to the other, which they
will do at a speed 16 times quicker than that at which the vibrations travel
through the air.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Adam Cyrus Engert in the Great Seal' Patent Office on the 11th
November 1880..
ADAM CYRUS ENGERT, of Three Mills Lane, Bromley-by-Bow, in the County of
Middlesex.."IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR DISTRIBUTING SOUND AND FOR
BETTER OBTAINING A UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF SOUND THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR
ÓF BUILDINGS."
In order better to obtain a uniform distribution of sound throughout the interior
of large rooms, churches, public halls, and such like, and to prevent return waves
of one sound interfering with and preventing the distribution of other sounds, I'
employ a number of wires, preferably of steel or iron, stretched along the room or
building, generally along its longest length, and strained tight until they are so
tuned as readily to take up vibrations in the air, such as are produced by the
loudest or strongest return wave which previously interfered with the proper dis-
tribution of sound throughout all parts of the building. Should any return wave
still exist the tuned wires will take up and distribute such waves so quickly that
they cannot do harm, and will prevent them interfering with the distribution of
other succeeding sounds, as the wires will convey the sound waves at a speed 15'
times quicker than they can travel through the air, 'and'consequently no after sound
.or echo will be experienced. To strain the wires to the extent requisite it is'
necessary to employ some powerful straining mechanism;' preferably I wind up one
end of the wire on to a strong pin or barrel, which can be turned by a hand lever,
and then held from turning back by a pawl engaging with the teeth of a ratchet
wheel formed upon it, as in mechanism commonly employed for straining the wires
of wire fences. The wires may be stretched across the room or building at any
desired distance below the roof or ceiling.
In cases where it is required to reduce return waves from domes and arches,
corners, or recesses of buildings, so that no annoyance shall be experienced from
them, I also stretch wires across such corners or recesses, and connect these wires
with the horizontal wires before mentioned, which are stretched lengthwise of the
building. The connection of the wires one with another is made by attaching to
the strained and tuned wires near to their ends a connecting wire, which is also
strained and kept strained by a coiled spring at one or other of its ends, or inter-
mediate of its length.
Also, in cases where the height of the building permits, I stretch a second layer
of horizontal wires at a distance above the first layer, and like them properly
tuned, and connect them all one with the other by cross wires and spiral springs.
In the same way three, four, or more layers of tuned wires might be used if
required.
The upper layers of wires might be entirely taken away from sight, or led to an
upper building or room, or to other suitable place; or some of the upper layers
might be enclosed in a box or recess lined with felt or damping material to deaden
vibration. In some cases dampers may be applied to the other wires.
In the same way any natural or artificial resonance may be distributed throughout
the whole of a building, as for example, when metal resonating plates are used, as
described in my former Patent, No. 2288, in the year 1878, wires may be stretched
until properly tuned a short distance in front of the plates, and be connected by
strained wires and springs to the horizontal wires before mentioned; or, in the same
way, tuned wires may be stretched in the vicinity of musical instruments, as for
example pianos or organs, or may be attached directly to such instruments, and may
also be used for conveying musical or other sounds produced in one place to any

page_text: place where it is desired that the music or other sound shall be heard, whether in
the interior of a building or in the open air.
If only a single layer of horizontal wires is used the several wires of this layer
should be connected one with the other near their ends by wires and spiral springs,
so that the vibrations may circulate from one to the other.
Having thus described my Invention, I would state that I am aware that it has
before been proposed to hang a number of copper wires across the interior of a room
or building, with the view, as it was stated, of dividing or breaking up the sound;
I do not therefore claim the exclusive use of wires suspended across the interior of
buildings, but heretofore when such wires have been used they have been simply
carried across from one side or end of a room to another, and have not been so
strained as to tune them and render them capable of taking up and conveying with
great rapidity the vibrations of any desired noto, nor have the wires been connected
one with another by other strained cross wires, nor have there been layers of strained
wires one above the other, as herein before described; the novelty of my Invention
therefore consists in,--
First. The use of wires stretched across the interior of a room or building, and
strained tight until they are tuned to respond to any desired note, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described; also the employment of similarly strained and
tuned wires for conveying sound from one place to another, whether in the interior
of a building or in the open air, substantially as herein described.
Second. The use of cross wires or cross wires and springs for connecting the
tuned wires one to another.
Third. The use of two or more layers of tuned wires placed one above the other,
and connected one to the other by cross wires or cross wires and springs.
Fourth. The use of dampers in combination with the tuned wires.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Cyrus Engert, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
3
NAADT