Improvements in Phonographs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1897-Accepted. 8th May, 1897
both of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Phonographs.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :---
The present invention relates to new and improved apparatus for recording and
reproducing sound, and has for its object to provide a construction which may be
used for recording sound and reproducing the same either in the same or a magnified
volume, and this by means of simple interchangeable parts capable of use in the
same construction. Besides this, the present invention provides a
improved association of sound recording and reproducing parts, as the stylus
diaphragm and sound chamber, as well as means for controlling the movement of
the stylus with and yet independently of the recording cylinder.
new and
In the drawings is illustrated a construction embodying the features of the
present invention, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation, certain parts being in central vertical section;
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a different arrangement of parts;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the devices shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a detail view in vertical section of parts shown in Figure 1, but
showing a modified form of tension spring;
Figure 6 is a detail view, partly broken away, of a device for converting a
rotary motion into a lateral motion and imparting the same to the stylus carrying
part at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts of the several views of the
drawings.
Referring to these drawings in detail, 1 represents the base of the instrument,
which may be in any desired form, but it is shown as being made in the form of
the conventional representation of a lyre. 2 represents a motor for actuating the
spool carrying the record cylinder, this being of any character and here shown as a
spring motor. A governor 3 is shown for controlling the movements of the motor,
this governor being likewise in any desired form.
A spindle 4 is provided for carrying the record cylinder spool 5, said spindle
being supported at one end only on a standard 6. The spool 5 has formed on it a
portion 7, adapted to receive a belt transmitting rotary motion from the motor 2.
On the spool is a worm wheel 8, meshing with a part 9 to give lateral motion to
the stylus carrying part. 1 represents the record cylinder which is composed of
any plastic material suitable for receiving and preserving a graphic representation
of the movements of a sound, the diaphragm transmitting to it by a stylus.
Suitably positioned on the base is a post 11, adjustably secured in place by
means of a screw 12, passing through a slot 13. This post is for the purpose of
interchangeably supporting different forms of sound recording and sound reproducing
parts, and for this purpose is provided with a threaded socket 14.

page_text: Situated over, or approximately over, the central line of the record cylinder are
the devices which transmit the sound vibrations to the recording cylinder and
which, acting conversely, reproduce them. These devices consist of a sound
chamber 15, having a diaphragm 16, to which is attached, or integrally formed, a
stylus 17.
The construction here illustrated as embodying the invention, is so constituted
as to be capable of use with different forms of sound conduits, whether for the
purpose of transmitting sound waves to the diaphragm to be by it graphically
recorded on the cylinder through the medium of the stylus, or for the purpose of
reproducing from the record cylinder the sound waves so recorded. For instance,
in Figure 1, a bell mouthed tube, or megophone, 18, is shown, which may be used
as a receiver for collecting, concentrating, and directing upon the diaphragm sound
waves entering it, or may be used for the purpose of reproducing, magnifying, and
distributing from the recording cylinder sound waves graphically represented
thereon. This bell mouthed tube is pivoted at its flaring end upon a stem 19,
passing through it, and having a threaded head 20 screwing into the socket 14,
the narrow end being connected with the sound chamber by means of a
nipple 20.
In Figures 2 and 3, the instrument is shown as designed for use in connection
with an ear tube. For this purpose the post 11 supports an extension 21, which is
shown as secured to said post by means of a threaded projection 22, screwing into
the socket 14. Secured to the extension 21 is a bracket 23, which is provided with
a tube section 24, into one end of which fits a flexible ear tube, the other end
receiving a tube 25 having a pivot point 26 fitting a recess in the extension 21,
the other end of this tube fitting into and carrying the sound chamber with its
diaphragm.and stylus.
When the instrument is used as a sound recorder, it is essential that motion be
given to the stylus in a direction longitudinally of the revolving recording cylinder,
while the stylus is in contact therewith. And, also, when the instrument is used
for the purpose of reproducing sounds previously recorded and graphically
represented on the record cylinder, it is desirable (although not essential) that the
stylus should be guided and controlled to follow the record line of sound repre-
sentations independently of the guiding action such line would have upon the
stylus if it were left free to be guided thereby. These objects are accomplished
by means of the worm wheel 8 and part 9. This part 9 is formed of some material
which may be easily serrated or indented, such as wood, and is provided with
corrugations or teeth which are the reciprocal of or are adapted to engage the
spiral of the worm wheel 8 to transform from the rotary motion of said wheel to
the stylus a movement longitudinally of the recording cylinder at a rate corre-
sponding to the rate of revolution of the record cylinder, said corrugations being
formed in the piece 9 by pressing the same in contact with a worm wheel similar to
the one with which it is designed to co-act when in operation. The part 9 is
guided in its lateral movement by a grooved friction roller 27, carried on a
support 28, which support extends transversely across the instrument and is
provided at the opposite side with a friction roller 29 which supports and guides a
rod 30, attached to the stylus carrying part (see Figure 1). The part 9 is secured
to the stylus carrying part on the opposite side.
An important feature of the present invention consists in the devices by which
tension is imparted to the stylus carrying part to cause the stylus to be kept in
contact with the record cylinder with a uniform degree of pressure. It is essential
to the best operation of the instrument that the stylus should bear upon the record
cylinder always at right angles to the axial line of said cylinder and without any
inclination; and as the stylus moves across longitudinally from end to end of the
record cylinder about a centre of rotation, the tension device to exert the required
tension, must be one which varies correspondingly. To provide for this, there are
devised the constructions illustrated in the drawings, that construction shown in
Figures 1 and 2 consisting of a rod 31 provided with arms 32 pivoted in line with

page_text: the point about which the stylus carrying part oscillates. To the end of the arm 31
is secured a spiral spring 33 whose other end is attached to the stylus carrying
part. By this construction, it will be seen that the spring exerts a constant tension
upon the stylus carrying part and the arm 31, moving about the same centre of
oscillation as the stylus carrying part itself, causes the spring to exert upon the
stylus through the medium of its supports a pressure always at right angles to the
axial line of the record cylinder. whatever the position of the stylus may be, and
this irrespective of whether the instrument is placed in a true horizontal position
In Figure 5, there is illustrated a modification of this tension device in
which the spring instead of being secured to a rod, as in Figures 1 and 2, is.
secured directly to an eye 34 in line with the pivotal point of the stylus carrying
part.
or not.
While there is here described the use of the worm wheel 8 and the part 9 for
the purpose of controlling the movement of the stylus carrying part longitudinally
of the recording cylinder both in the operation of recording sound and reproducing
it, it is only absolutely essential when the instrument is used for the purpose of
recording sound. But the use of these parts for controlling the movement of the
stylus during the operation of reproducing sound is an advantage in that the stylus
is compelled to follow the line of sound representations upon the cylinder
absolutely, as it is controlled by exactly the same devices which actuated it during
the operation of recording the sounds, so that danger of the stylus leaving the line
or groove of sound records is obviated, and the danger of injuring the cylinder by
the stylus leaving the record line and abrading the surface of the cylinder is done.
away with.
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 by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a diaphragm carrying
a stylus and located in juxtaposition to the record cylinder, substantially as
specified.
2. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a sound chamber having
a diaphragm carrying a stylus and located in juxtaposition to the record cylinder,
substantially as specified.
3. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a pivoted stylus-
carrying part, and means for imparting to said part a motion longitudinally of the
recording cylinder proportional to the rotary motion thereof, substantially as.
specified.
4. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a pivoted part carrying
a sound chamber provided with a diaphragm and stylus, and located in juxtaposition
to the record cylinder, substantially as specified.
5. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, means for transforming
a rotary motion and imparting to the stylus-carrying part a motion longitudinally
of the record cylinder, said means consisting of a worm wheel and a part provided
with teeth formed therein by pressing said part into contact with a surface similar
to the one with which in operation it co-acts, substantially as specified.
6. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a pivoted stylus-
carrying part, and a pressure device operating to cause the stylus to press upon the
record cylinder at right angles to the axial live thereof, throughout its path of
movement, substantially as specified.
7. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a pivoted stylus-
carrying part, and a pressure device pivoted in line with the center about which
the stylus-carrying part oscillates, and operating to cause the stylus to press upon
the record cylinder at right angles to the axial line thereof throughout its path of
movement, substantially as specified.
8. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, the combination with
a sound chamber having a diaphragm carrying a stylus and located in juxtaposition

page_text: to the record cylinder of a part adapted to interchangeably support different forms
of sound conduits, substantially as specified.
9. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, the combination of a
sound chamber having a diaphragm carrying a stylus and located in juxtaposition
to the record cylinder, of an adjustable post adapted to interchangeably support
different forms of sound conduits, substantially as specified.
10. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound a pressure device
consisting of a rod having pivotal arms in line with the pivotal point of the stylus
carrying part, and a spring attached to said rod and to the stylus carrying part,
substantially as specified.
11. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, the combination of a
pivoted stylus-carrying part, means for moving said stylus-carrying part about its
pivotal point, means for interchangeably supporting different forms of sound
conduits, and a spring pressure device operating to cause the stylus to press upon
the record cylinder at right angles to the axial line thereof throughout its path of
movement, substantially as specified.
12. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a pivoted stylus-
carrying part, and a pressure device consisting of a rod having arins pivoted in
line with the centre about which the stylus-carrying part oscillates, and a spring
secured to said rod and to the stylus-carrying part, substantially as specified.
13. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a bell mouthed tube
pivoted at its flaring end, substantially as specified.
14. In an instrument for recording and reproducing sound, a sound chamber
consisting of a diaphragm and a receiver, substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.