mprovements in Apparatus for Determining the Direction from which Audible Signals are Issuing.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Communicated from abroad by DAVID PORTER HEAP, Lieutenant Colonel,
Engineer Corps, United States Army, temporarily residing at the City
of Portland, County of Cumberland, and State of Maine, United States of
America.]
mprovements in Apparatus for Determining the Direction from
which Audible Signals are Issuing.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in a class of sound-locating instruments to
which the name of "Eophone" has been given.
The purpose of these instruments is the locating of the direction of sounds
produced at a more or less distant point from the instrument, its usefulness being
especially realized by its employment as an aid to navigation, its operation in such
use being to detect and locate the direction and position of a sound producing
object in its relation to a vessel carrying the instrument, at such times when said
object may not be visually perceived, as at night, during foggy weather, or by
reason of distance, thereby enabling vessels navigating the high seas to change
their direction of movement with relation to, and hence avoid contact or collision
with, dangerous objects, such as vessels, icebergs, the shore or other obstacle to their
safe onward movement.
The present invention consists in novel structures in the instrument having for
their object not only to increase the sensitiveness of the instrument whereby the
range of its sound detecting capacity is enlarged, but to improve its mode of
operation, whereby exactitude in determining the direction of the sound is attained,
so that a sound emanating from an object as a horn, bell or whistle located thereon,
or deflected from any object, as by echo, may have its location or direction indicated
acoustically at a time when the object is sufficiently distant from a moving vessel
to enable the course of the latter to be changed, and thus avoid collision with said
object and the dangers consequent thereto.
In its general construction, this instrument embodies the main characteristic
features of these instruments as heretofore constructed. Thus it consists of two
sound receivers located on opposite sides of, and isolated by, a partition and
arranged to point in a like direction or simultaneously in the direction of the
objective sound, which receivers are provided with conveying tubes terminating in
ear pieces; communication with which may be had through flexible tubes, said
instrument being provided with means for so supporting it as to enable it to be
readily moved in various directions with respect to the horizon and thus be trained
toward the source of sound until the location thereof is determined by the conduction
of the waves of sound through the receivers and conductors connected therewith to
the ears of the operator.
In the improved instrument the sound receivers are located in substantial
parallelism on opposite sides of a separating partition & the mouths of the
receivers, instead of consisting of, narrow, slot like openings ranged parallel with
the sides of the partition, are enlarged and extended therefrom so as to provide
O broad mouths widened out from the sides of the vertical partition said receivers

page_text: being more or less conical in form longitudinally, and having their mouths preferably
cut at an acute angle to the sides of the central partition.
The central partition in advance of the receivers is spread or bent outwardly
in opposite directions so as to widen its forward end and convert it into a guard,
the front face of which is of such a widthwise extent as to substantially cover or
shield the mouths of the receivers. The sides of said spread or widened front end
of the partition or guard constitute deflectors for guiding the waves of sound
impinging upon then, directly into the conveying receivers, whereby they are
carried to the ears of the operator by the sound conductors.
But
When the instrument is pointed directly at the source of sound the guard will
partially intercept the sound waves and obstruct the mouths of the sound receivers,
thus obstructing the direct passage of the sound waves to the receivers.
when the operator moves the instrument slightly in a lateral direction, the sound
waves will pass one edge of the guard, directly into the receiver at that side, and
thus become audible in the one ear of the operator, while no sound will be
appreciable in the other ear.
The front face of the guard may be curved or straight, as either shape would
be effective & the deflectors connecting the front guard with the sides of the
partition may be also curved or straight, or be shaped so as to constitute only a
supporting strut or brace sustaining the front guard in its position relative to the
partition.
In constructing this improved instrument, materials are used which are good
non-conductors of sound.
In using this instrument, it may be supported for use in any suitable manner.
Thus, it might be mounted upon a stand as is a surveyor's instrument and be
appropriately moved by hand and this is the preferable way. Its sound conductors
may of course lead directly to the ears of the operator or be provided with tubular
flexible extensions connected with ear pieces, but in its special use, as upon vessels,
whether or not the operator be housed, it is important to protect the ears from
extraneous sounds by covering the bead of the operator with a non-conducting
helmet so that sounds may not be heard through impact with the body.
A good form of helmet and ear piece carrier consists of a carrier made of a flat
flexible strip of non-conducting material shaped to cover both ears and of a
length, to extend from one ear to the other over the top of the head. The ear
pieces are secured to this carrier and have projecting upturned short tubes, adapted
to be readily coupled to the rubber hose constituting the flexible connection with
the conductors.
As a support for this ear piece carrier, a band is secured to the carrier, and
extended at right angles thereto so as to pass from the forehead over the top of
the head to the nape of the neck, said carrier and band being again secured
together by a band made in whole or in part of elastic material so as to provide a
means of securing the helmet in place, as by a buckle, and the whole will be
enveloped by a covering or hood made of a non-sound conductor, as felt or knitted
goods, the same being attached to the framework in any suitably way.
The essential characteristics of this helmet are that it shall so far envelop the
head of the operator as to constitute an insulating device rendering sounds inaudible
by impact and provided with ear pieces.
From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of this sound
locating instrument it will have been observed that its method of use is to so move
a guard that extends transversely over the mouths of substantially parallel or
forwardly pointing sound receivers in such relation to them and to the direction
of the sound, as to wholly obscure said receivers and thus cut off the sound waves
from entrance into either of them, or to uncover or partially uncover one or the
other receiver & thus permit the entrance of sound waves therein, whence it results
that the sound is heard through only one receiver at a time and thus the location
thereof with respect to the direction in which the instrument points is made
apparent.
i
'

page_text: It is to be understood that any arrangement of a front guard with respect to the
substantially parallel or forwardly pointing sound receivers whereby when the
instrument is directed towards the source of sound both of them may have
the sound waves obscured therefrom while by a movement of said front guard such
as a sliding or swinging action with respect to such receivers the sound waves
may be admitted alternately into both, is to be regarded as within the scope of
this invention.
1 1 of Sontember 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
5
50
mprovements in Apparatus for Determining the
which Audible Signals are Issuing.
Direction
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
ature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
articularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in a class of sound-locating instruments to
which the name of "Eophone" has been given.
The purpose of these instruments is the locating of the direction of sounds
produced at a more or less distant point from the instrument, its usefulness being
especially realized by its employment as an aid to navigation, its operation in such
use being to detect and locate the direction and position of a sound-producing object
in its relation to a vessel carrying the instrument, at such times when said object
may not be visually perceived, as at night, during foggy weather, or by reason of
distance, thereby enabling vessels navigating the high seas to change their direction
of movement with relation to, and hence avoid contact or collision with, dangerous
objects, such as vessels, icebergs, the shore, or any similar obstacle to their safe
Onward movement.
The present invention consists in novel structures in the instrument, fully herein-
after explained and claimed, having for their object not only increasing the
sensitiveness of the instrument, whereby the range of its sound-detecting capacity
is enlarged, but to improve its mode of operation, whereby exactitude in determining
the direction of the sound is attained, so that a sound emanating from an object,
as by a horn, bell, or whistle located thereon, or deflected from any object, as by
echo, may have its location or direction indicated acoustically at a time when
the object is sufficiently distant from a moving vessel to enable the course of the
latter to be changed, and thus avoid collision with said object, and the dangers
consequent thereto.
Practical embodiments of these improvements are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the instrument.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional plan view thereof, taken on the line 2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front end elevation taken on the section line 3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the instrument, shown upon a reduced scale.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation, upon a reduced scale, showing the mode of using the
instrument.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, illustrate the construction of a non-sound-conducting helmet,
and means for connecting the instrument thereto; and
Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the ear pieces.
In its general construction, the present instrument embodies the main characteristic
features of sound-locating instruments of this class as heretofore constructed. Thus

page_text: it consists of two sound receivers located on opposite sides of, and isolated by a
vertical partition, and arranged to point in a like direction, or simultaneously in
the direction of the objective sound, which receivers are provided with conveying
tubes terminating in ear pieces, communication with which may be had through
flexible tubes, said instrument being provided with means for so supporting it as to
enable it to be readily moved in various directions with respect to the horizon, and
thus be trained toward the source of sound, until the location thereof is determined
by the conduction of the waves of sound, through the receivers and conductors
connected therewith, to the ears of the operator.
In the improved instrument, the sound receivers B, C, are located in substantial
parallelism on opposite sides of a vertical separating partition A, having straight
sides, and the mouths of the receivers, instead of being a narrow slot-like opening
ranged parallel with the sides of the partition, are enlarged, and extended therefrom,
so as to provide broad mouths widened out from the sides of the vertical partition,
said receivers being semi-conical in form longitudinally, and having their mouths
preferably cut at an acute angle to the sides of the central partition, as shewn.
The central partition A, in advance of the receivers, is spread or bent outwardly
in opposite directions, so as to widen its forward end and convert it into a guard D,
the front face of which is of such a widthwise extent as to substantially cover or
shield the mouths of the receivers B, C, the sides of said spread or widened front
end of the partition or guard constituting deflectors E F, preferably curved, for
guiding the waves of sound impinging upon them, directly into the conveying
receivers, whereby they are carried to the ears of the operator by the sound-
conductors 12, 13.
When the instrument is pointed directly at the source of sound, the guard D
will partially intercept the sound waves, and obstruct the mouths of the sound
receivers, as shewn in full lines in Figure 4, thus so obstructing the direct passage
of the sound-waves to the receivers, that practically most of such sound-waves as
pass the edges 20, 30 of said guard will be directed beyond the receivers B, C, and
thus, not entering said receivers, will be less audible to the operator, but, when the
operator moves the instrument slightly in a lateral direction, as indicated by the
dotted lines in Figure 4, the sound-waves passing the guard D at one edge thereof,
as 20, will pass directly into the receiver, as B, at that side, and thus become
audible in the left ear of the operator, while no sound will be appreciable in his
right ear.
In this operation, it will be observed that when the instrument has its longitudinal
axis aligned with the sound-producing point, the guard D will so obstruct the
sound waves, that but little sound can be heard in either receiver, while but a slight
movement of the instrument in either direction will admit the flow of sound waves
past one or the other edge of the guard D into one receiver or the other, and
provide for the entrance of a large volume of sound into one ear or the other, thus
making the transitions from silence to sound very marked, and enabling the
direction of the sound to be located with great accuracy, and by moving the
instrument laterally but a few degrees.
The front face of the guard D, through shown as being curved, might be straight,
as either shape would be effective, when presented directly to the source of sound,
in so obstructing the sound waves meeting it as to prevent them from entering
either of the receivers B, C, but the curved form is of great utility, because, when
its relation to the source of sound is such that the direction of the movement of
the sound waves carries some waves which pass over its edges, as say 20, into one
of the receivers, as B, then, such sound waves as impinge upon the guard D and
are obstructed by it, will not only be prevented from entering the non-active
receiver, as C, but be deflected in a direction diametrically away from the same.
The deflectors E, F, connecting the front guard D with the sides of the central
partition A, although preferably curved, might be straight, or be shaped so as to
constitute only a supporting strut or brace sustaining the front guard D in its
position relative to the partition A, but, for simplicity of construction and perfection

page_text: operation, the curved form shewn is preferred, and especially for the reason cune
und waves coming laterally into contact with either of these deflectors will, by
ason of the guiding action of the curved form, be deflected directly into its
mpanion receiver.
In constructing this improved instrument, materials are preferably used which
e good non-conductors of sound. Thus, the partition A is composed of four
minæ of fibrous material, preferably wood fibre, which is capable of being
ade into sheet form. The outer sheets 1 and 2 may be a thin veneer or veneers
f wood or of wood fibre united to form a heavy board, and thus afford strength
ufficient to enable them to be secured in place, or be spread apart to form the
eflectors E, F, and support the guard D, whose curved front face is constructed
f like material. The inner laminæ, 3, 4, are preferably of a softer fibre than
wood veneers, or compacted fibre, as, for instance, sheets of half-stuff or paper
tock or "water leaf," suitably dried, and preferably composed of sulphite wood
ibre, such sheets offering resistance enough to support the sheets 1 and 2 apart.
The partition A is thus composed, in its outer sheets, of a good non-sound-
conductor, and in its inner sheets, or interior, of a superior non-sound-conductor,
said interior, when in the form of sheets 3, 4, having the same preferably extended
forward to constitute interior divisions of the guard D extended beyond the
partition, and supported before the receivers B, C.
Where the divisions of the said guard come together, it is preferable to support
and strengthen them by means of blocks of wood 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and, in order that
the said guard may be a superior non-conductor of sound in all directions, that is,
from its face rearward, when the instrument is pointed directly toward the source
of sound, or from one side laterally to the other, when the instrument is swung so
as to allow the waves of sound to pass beyond the head of the guard at one side
thereof, and be directed into one of the receivers, said head or guard is packed
interiorly with a good non-conducting substance, preferably one which has the
additional feature of lightness, as cork or cotton, though wood-fibre, as excelsior or
dried sulphite pulp, would serve the purpose. In order to confiue this packing, and
maintain it in place, the top and bottom of the guard are closed by sheets, as 14, 15,
of the light material, as before described.
While the several parts of this instrument, as thus far described are shewn as
rivetted together, other means of fastening them may be adapted. The guard D,
although herein shewn as covering the mouths of the receivers B, C, and preferably
extending latterally beyond the same, need not extend beyond them, but preferably
the structure will be that shewn, as with it a high degree of efficiency has been
attained practically.
Although the receivers have been described to be semiconical formations, it is
obvious that if each receiver was a cone, or so nearly a cone, as would be constituted
if one side next to the partition A was slightly cut away, some, if not all, of the
advantageous results would be attained, if the instrument were otherwise so
constructed, as herein shewn.
While the sides of the partition A are shewn, and have been described as
straight, they may be slightly curved, or made concave vertically, as may also be
the sides of the front guard, without departing from the invention.
In using this instrument, it may be supported for use in any suitable manner.
Thus, it might be mounted upon a stand, as is a surveyor's instrument, and be
Its sound conductors
appropriately moved by hand, and this is the preferable way.
0 may, of course, lead directly to the ears of the operator, or be provided with
flexible extensions, as the tubes 22, 23, connected with ear pieces 18, 19; but in its
special use, as upon vessels, whether or not the operator be housed, it is important
to protect the ears from extraneous sounds, by covering the head of the operator
with a non-conducting helmet, so that sounds may not be head through impact
5 with the body.
A good form of helmet and ear piece carrier is illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, and
consists of a carrier 10 made of a flat flexible strip of non-conducting material,

page_text: shaped to cover both ears, and of a length to extend from one car to the other,
over the top of the head. The ear pieces 18, 19, are secured to this carrier, and
have projecting up-turned short tubes 28, 29, adapted to be readily coupled to the
rubber hose 22, 23, constituting the flexible connection with the conductors 12, 13.
As a support for this ear-piece carrier, a band 11 of like flat flexible non-
conducting material is secured to the carrier 10, as by a rivet, and extended at
right angles thereto, so as to pass from the forehead, over the top of the head, to
the nape of the neck, said carrier 10 and band 11 being again secured together by
a band 16 attached to the forward end of the band 11, and connected with the
carrier 10 near its forward ends, and with the rear end of the band 11, and
preferably being made, in whole or in part, of elastic material, so as to provide a
means of securing the helmet in place, as by a buckle.
The ear pieces consist of a tube 28 (see Figure 9), bent so as to project upwards
to connect with the instrument above the head of the operator, the delivery end of
which tube passes through a hole in the carrier 10, beyond which its flaring end
projects sufficiently to receive upon it an annular rubber cushion 24, the tube being
connected rigidly to the carrier 10 by means of a collar 17 rivetted in place, the
whole ear piece 18 being substantially like the "phone" of a telephonic instrument,
though the cushion 24 may be of hard or soft rubber, as may be desired.
The tubes 28, 29 may pass through the band 16, if desired, and the whole will
be enveloped by a covering or hood 25, made of a non-sound-conductor, as felt or
knitted goods, the same being attached to the framework in any suitable way.
The essential characteristics of this helmet are, that it shall so far envelop the
head of the operator as to constitute an insulating device, rendering sounds inaudible
by impact, and provided with ear pieces 18.
From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of this sound-
locating instrument, it will have been observed that its method of use is to so move
a guard that extends transversely over the mouths of substantially parallel or
forwardly pointing sound receivers, in such relation to them and to the direction of
the sound, as to wholly obscure said receivers, and thus cut off the sound waves
from entrance into either of them, or to uncover or partially uncover one or the
other receiver, and thus permit the entrance of sound waves therein, whence it
results that the sound is heard through only one receiver at a time, and thus the
location thereof with respect to the direction in which the instrument points, is
made apparent.
This guard has been described as of a width substantially equal to the dimensions
of the mouths of the receiving. It may be slightly less or greater in extent than
said receivers, and yet produce good results.
It is therefore to be understood that any arrangement of a front guard with
respect to the substantially parallel or forwardly pointing sound receivers, whereby,
when the instrument is directed toward the source of sound, both of them may
have the sound waves obscured therefrom, while by a movement of said front
guard, such as a sliding or swinging action with respect to such receivers, the
sound waves may be admitted alternately into both, is to be regarded as within the
-scope of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A sound-locating instrument, consisting of two substantially parallel acoustic
receivers, an interposed central vertical separating partition, and a guard sustained
in front of said receivers, and extending laterally, so as to cover or partially cover
the mouths thereof, substantially as described.
2. A sound-locating instrument, consisting of a central vertical separating
partition, and of two substantially parallel acoustic receivers with enlarged mouths,
-one on each side of the partition, substantially as described.
L
3. A sound-locating instrument consisting of a central vertical separating

page_text: partition, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers, with enlarged mouths, one-
on each side of the partition, and each provided with a sound conductor,
substantially as described.
4. A sound locating instrument consisting of a central vertical separating
partition, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers, with enlarged mouths, one
on each side of the partition, and a front guard, substantially as described.
5. A sound-locating instrument consisting of a central vertical separating
partition, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers, with enlarged mouths, one
on ench side of the partition, and a front guard, having a curved face, substantially
as described.
6. A sound locating instrument consisting of a central vertical separating
partition, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers, with enlarged mouths, one
on each side of the partition, and a front guard, having curved sides, substantially
as described.
7. A sound-locating instrument consisting of a central vertical separating
partition, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers, with enlarged mouths, one
on each side of the partition, and a front guard having curved sides and a curved
face, substantially as described.
8. A sound-locating instrument consisting of two substantially parallel acoustic
receivers, one on each side of a vertical separating partition, and a guard extending
laterally before the mouths of said receivers, the front walls of said mouths being
respectively substantially at right angles with the sides of said guard, substantially
as described.
9. In a sound locating instrument, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers,
and an interposed vertical separating partition, consisting of, or provided with, a
non-sound-conducting material, to insulate one receiver from the other, substantially
as described.
10. In a sound locating instrument, two substantially parallel acoustic receivers,
and an interposed vertical separating partition, consisting of, or provided with, a
non-sound-conducting material, and a head constructed of, or provided with, a
non-sound-conducting material, substantially as described.
11. A sound locating instrument, consisting of two substantially parallel acoustic
receivers, with enlarged mouths, a vertical separating partition, a front guard of
approximately triangular form, covering the mouths of said receivers, and filled
with non-sound-conducting material, substantially as described.
12. The described method of locating the point from which acoustic signals.
emanate, by vibrating a guard in front of two substantially parallel acoustic
receivers separated by a vertical partition, and provided with separate sound.
conveyors leading to the ears of the operator, substantially as described.
13. In a sound-locating instrument, consisting of two substantially parallel
receivers separated longitudinally by a vertical partition, and provided with a
front guard, the combination therewith of means for moving said guard with respect
to the source of ɛound, so as to cut off the sound waves from said receivers, or to
admit sound waves to one or the other of them, substantially as described.
14. The combination with a sound-receiving instrument and the sound-conductors
thereof which lead to the ears of the operator, of a non-sound-conducting helmet
substantially as described.
15. A helmet for use upon the heads of persons operating sound-conducting
instruinents, the same consisting of a non-sound-conducting envelope combined with
sound-conducting tubes or ear-pieces substantially as described.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Davea vins i ren way
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.