An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for the Exhibition of X Rays Effects.
Year: 1897

page_text: Amalination 23rd Jan., 1897--Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
Application 23rd Jan., 1897--Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for the Exhibition of X Rays
Effects.
I, THEODORE VAN HEEMSTEDE OBELT of 140 Rokin, Amsterdam, in the
ingdom of Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
d in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
nd ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved device or apparatus so constructed
nd arranged, that by the mere insertion of a coin of predetermined value and the
artial turning of a handle, an electric circuit is closed, which, operates upon the
rimary winding of a suitable Ruhmkorff coil, the secondary winding of which is
connected to, and passes an induced current through a Crookes' tube placed beneath
or otherwise adjacent to a suitable fluorescope in connection with a lens or eyepiece,
so that a person, after the insertion of the said coin and the operation of the said
handle, may, by inserting the free hand through a suitable aperture in the case of
the apparatus, so as to be between, or approximately so, the said Crookes' tube and
fluorescope, obtain an anatomical view of the said hand through the said lens or
eyepiece.
Up to the present time the exhibition of the now well known X rays effects have
been possible only under certain conditions, which have precluded the general
public from readily seeing them, and the object and purpose of my invention is to
provide a simple and inexpensive means for the exhibition of the said effects and
to automatically control the access of the public thereto.
In order that my said invention and the method of operating the same may be the
better understood I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings, of which,
Fig. 1 is a perspective external view of a complete machine according to my
invention, while Fig. 2 is a part vertical section of the same substantially as I
prefer to construct and arrange it.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fluorescope forming part of same, and drawn
to an enlarged scale.
Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of the mechanical and electrical portion
of my invention, (also drawn to an enlarged scale,) illustrating the insertion of the
O coin and the subsequent operations of the same.
Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the entry and release of the coin into and
from the coin tube.
In apparatus for the exhibition of X rays effects, it frequently happens in cold
weather, that the Crookes' tube will not warm up, directly the electric circuit is
5 closed, sufficiently to penetrate the object exposed, but in most cases will readily
do so in mild or warm weather, and this being the case it will be understood
that no time arrangement would be suitable with my said apparatus, the duration
of exposure depending, to a great extent, upon the temperature surrounding th
machine.
40
For the purposes of my invention I provide a wood or other case such as A
In the crown or roof
of any suitable size, shape, or configuration, the front of which may have a pai
of fixed or detachable glass or other panels C and D.
the said case I provide an eyepiece B which may or may not be arranged
carry a magnifying glass or lens, and beneath this, within the said case, I fix
45 preferably rectangular funnel shaped case E, which may conveniently be ma

page_text: of millboard or other thin and light-tight material, the mouth of which I cover
with or enclose by a suitable fluorescent screen F, thus converting E and F into
a fluorescope, and at a suitable distance from, and preferably immediately below
this I fix a suitable Crookes' tube G, the terminals of which I connect electrically
with the secondary terminals of a suitable Ruhmkorff coil H situated in any
convenient part of the case A. Upon a shelf or horizontal division H' in the
said case provide a pair of metallic plates or blocks J and J', mounted upon
a vulcanite or other non-conducting strip K, arranged to slide horizontally upon a
guide piece L fixed to the shelf H. One end of the strip K is adapted to
receive a spiral or other spring M (which may or may not be enclosed within
a suitable case) the tension of which operates to keep the opposite end of K
in contact with a suitable cam N, mounted upon a spindle, one end of which
extends through the front of the case and carries a handle or its equivalent O.
In any convenient part of the crown or roof of the case A, I provide a coin
slot P, from which extends, within A, a chute R, and for clearness of illustration
I assume that the apparatus is to be set in motion by the insertion of a penny
piece, and that the said slot and chute are adapted for the reception of such a
coin. The said chute R is placed in such a position, and at such an angle that
the coin; S, when first deposited therein, falls and rests upon the plate J¹, sub-
stantially as at Fig. 4, and at an angle substantially as at Fig. 6, the particular
formation of the said chute permitting this without the coin leaving the same.
The manner of operation is as follows.
The person desirous of obtaining an anatomical view of the hand would first
deposit the coin in the slot P, which would fall, as before stated, to the position
shewn by Figs. 4 and 6, resting upon the plate or block J. The hand to be
viewed (say the right hand) would then be passed through an aperture T in the
case A, a velvet, plush or other opaque and preferably black curtain V suspended
above the said slot or aperture (shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 1 and by a dotted
line in Fig. 2) being then folded around the wrist to exclude the light. The said
person (or someone operating for him or her) would then with the disengaged hand
move the handle or its equivalent O from the position shewn by full lines, to
the position shewn by a dotted line in Fig. 1, which would move the cam N
from the position shewn in Fig. 4 to that shewn in Fig. 5, which would push the
sliding piece K along the guide L, and bring the plates or blocks J J into such a
position that the space between these would be immediately beneath the chute R,
when the coin S would fall and rest upon both J and J' as at Fig. 5, and the latter
being in electrical connection with one of the primary terminals of the coil H, and
the former with a suitable battery W (placed in any convenient position within A)
coupled up with the other terminal, and the said coin S by its connection with J
and would close the primary circuit, when the secondary or induced current
would flow through the tube G, and permit the X rays effects to be seen through
the eyepiece B.
Upon the release of the handle the cam N would be returned to its normal
position (Fig. 4) by the tension of a suitable spring a, the slide K and the
plates JJ being returned to their normal positions (Fig. 4) by the tension of the
spring M, and during the return motion of the said plates the coin S would be
carried by these into the position shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 4, and this being
then clear of the back face of the chute R (the particular formation of which may
conveniently be that shewn by dotted lines at 6 in Figs. 4 and 5) would fall as
shewn by Fig. 7 into a box or other receptacle such as e suitably located within
the case A.
The interior of the case A, and such other parts of the apparatus as would be
likely to reflect light to the detriment of the operation, may be coated with any
suitable dead black pigment.
It is obvious that the sliding initial movement of the plate or slide K may be
effected by a cam of other shape than that shewn by N in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and that
the chute R may be formed other than that shewn at b for permitting the release

page_text: of the coin S under the circumstances described, and I reserve to myself the right
to employ any reasonable modification of the shape or configuration of the said
parts without departing from the principle involved.
"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.
1st. In a coin freed machine or apparatus for exhibiting X rays effects, the
combination of a fluorescope, Crookes' tube, Ruhmkorff coil, and a suitable electric
generator, with means for closing the circuit of the latter in connection with the
said coil by the insertion of the said coin, substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated.
2nd. In a coin freed apparatus for exhibiting X rays effects, the combination of a
case such as A, having a curtained aperture such as T, eyepiece B, and coin slot P,
the latter in connection with a chute such as R, adapted to deposit the inserted
coin upon a pair of metallic plates J and J' upon an insulated plate K, arranged to
slide upon a guide such as L, operated by a cam such as N, actuated by a handle
such as O, the said plates J Ji being in electrical contact with a suitable generator
such as W, and the primary winding of a Ruhmkorff coil, the secondary circuit of
the latter being coupled up to a Crookes' tube such as G, placed beneath or near a
fluorescope such as E F, with automatic means for releasing the said coin after use,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by the accom-
panying drawings.
1 1
T
1907
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.