A Regulator of the rotary movement of the Phonogramme.
Year: 1896

page_text: I, PAUL CONSTANT AMANS, of Montpellier Republic of France, Physician, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements which are effected by this invention may be ranged under
the following headings:-
(1) A Regulator of the rotary movement of the Phonogramme.
(2) An apparatus for stopping and for setting in motion.
(3) Apparatuses for recording and reproducing the sound.
(4) The stripping of the phonogrammes.
(1) On the shaft, the speed of which is to be regulated, I arrange a grooved
pulley, on which runs a cord serving to actuate a shaft which is of a piece with the
regulating apparatus.
This apparatus is sustained by two supports which allow it to turn around an
intermediate shaft and in one of the said supports a screw-threaded enlargement
receives a screw (acting as a fixed screw in a movable nut) which enables an
angular movement to be given to the whole system and the tension of the cord to
be increased or diminished.
The small shaft of the regulating apparatus is fixed on the supports by means
of screw-threaded punches, the use of which is to regulate its postion with the
utmost precision with regard to the pulley. It carries a little fly-wheel and very
light re-actionary organ, which is composed of very elastic pallets or a simple
feather, forming the distinguishing characteristic of my Regulator and creating
an elastic, gentle, but quite sufficient resistance.
(2) The stopping and starting apparatus consists of a toothed sector, a little
crank, worked by hand with the help of a little string attached to it, brings this
sector into engagement with a toothed wheel, mounted on the shaft of the regu-
lating apparatus. A spring or counterweight sets it free as soon as the string is
let go.
(3) The Recorder and the Reproducer have the following special characteristics:-
The membrane which receives the sounds is separated from the phonogramme
by another and thicker membrane pierced at its centre by a circular opening for the
passage of the vibrating chain and carrying on the edges of the opening two posts
which support a special diaphragm which in its turn supports the chain.
The diaphragm is a rectangular piece one end of which notched for the passage
of the chain, rolls on the head of the posts almost without any friction. It serves,
either by cylindrical bearers, or by punches, to make the handle of the tracer
roll a little lower down, pressing it on the surface of the phonogramme either by
its weight or by the action of a ball belonging to an elastic adjustable rod attached
loosely to the set of membranes. The vibrating chain is composed of two pieces:
that which, fixed to the membrane, receives the vibrations and that which traces
the mark. They are jointed on an axis which co-incides with that around which
the diaphragm oscillates.

page_text: Besides the fact that it can neither vibrate nor sink in suddenly, the tool,
made according to my system, may receive a tracer with two heads, the one blunt,
which is the sounder the other sharp, which is the tracer which a rotation of 1800
brings, at will, alternately into contact with the phonogramme. The tracer may
be defined geometrically, in the plane tangent to the roller, by an oval, and in the
plane perpendicular to its axis, by a cusp or stationary point, that is to say, a
point where two tangent curves present their concavity in a contrary direction with
regard to the tangent. The shavings do not roll out on the cone sides of the
tracer and never foul it. The sounder differs from the tracer only in the fact the
edge of regression is null.
(4) The stripping tool is a cylindrical screw-threaded rod moving in a nut with
tw branches held by a screw. The plane, itself, properly so-called, whether formed
by the tempered end of the screw or by interchangeable cutters is a sharp edge,
shaped like the circumference of a circle. The geometrical centre being on the
axis of rotation of the screw, it follows that its penetration into the substane will
exactly proportionate to the course traversed by the screw.
Dated thi Ca
1000
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.
I, PAUL CONSTANT AMANS of Montpellier in the Republic of France, Physician
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 concerns improvements in phonographs.
These improvements relate to the following points:
1. The regulator of the rotatory movement of the phonogram.
2. The stopping and starting apparatus of the phonogram.
3. The sound-inscribing apparatus.
4. The sound-reproducing apparatus.
5. A new type of phonogram.
6. The planing of phonograms.
In the annexed drawing which illustrates my invention:
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of the phonograph in a plane passing through the
axis of the tympan-box supposing this latter to be about the middle of its transla-
tion course along the phonogram cylinder.
Fig. 2 is a partial view of the phonograph, showing the speed regulating appara
tus and the stopping and starting apparatus.
Fig. 3 represents the lower face of the speaking and listening apparatus.
Fig. 4 represents a part view of the small lathe constituting the support of the
phonogram cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the apparatus for planing the phonograms.
Fig. 6 represents an elevation of the tracing head of the stylet.
Fig. 6b is a bottom view of this head.
Fig. 7 represents in elevation a stylet with two heads which serve one for the
tracing and the other for the reproduction.
Fig. 8 shows a bottom view of the counter tympan with the apparatus which is
connected with it to put the sounder in the proper groove in case it should deviate
from it.

page_text: The new phonograph is moved by a counterpoise, which may be raised by means
of a crank X. It is composed of a gearing with three parallel and horizontal axles
(Fig. 1) (1) the driving shaft R' around which the weight cord Y rolls; (2) an
endless screw R" supporting the chased bearing of a carriage whose part 1 is
visible in Fig. 1; (3) a shaft G¹ belonging to a little lathe with puppet and counter-
point and which supports the phonogram cylinder; this small lathe is shown in
Fig 4.
This gearing is set between two vertical plates A forming the frame of the
phonograph and connected by horizontal rods."
The part R, provided with a mouth piece d, has two heels C and C terminating
with eyelets and which articulate, the first on a support D¹ whose other extremity,
supplied with an eyelet, can slide on the rod R, the second on the support or
carriage D', this arrangement enables, by the rotation of the shaft R" the transla-
tion of the support D₁ along the phonogram cylinder; the articulations at C and C'
which allow the changing of the inclination of the speaking and listening apparatus
are made rigid for the working of the phonograph. The phonogram cylinder is
fixed upon the small lathe between the point of the puppet and the counter-point
and is held there by the pin t.
On the top of one of the two plates A is fixed an apparatus forming the speed
regulator and the stopping and starting apparatus. This apparatus is composed
of two arms E, F in the form of cart shafts with cross bar (Figs. 1 & 2), being
able to turn around a shaft K fixed to the two plates A. The upper extremities of
the arms E, F, have holes made in them in which 2 threaded rods Z Z turn
slightly hollowed conically at their inside ends to receive two pivots forming the
two ends of a shaft G which is consequently supported by the rods Z Z¹.
Upon the shaft G are fixed three small grooved pulleys B of different diameters
on one of which passes a cord turning also around the pulley B' which is wedged
to the axle of the puppet; the said axle G has also a fly-wheel H, working like
ordinary fly-wheels and a small cylinder bearing the reaction organ J; this
reaction organ is composed of very elastic pallets of such a form and inclination
upon the axle that the shocks are deadened, the swells avoided and the least
divergent string of air possible; for this two or three feathers are used as shown in
the drawing.
The support E presents on the side a swelling f pierced with a hole in which a
screw L turns (acting as a fixed screw in a movable nut), whose extremity comes
in contact with a blade M rigidly fixed upon the plate A. The device E, G, F,
can turn around the axle K; the working of the screw L will give this device a
certain angular displacement upon this axle K. According as the cord is more or
less stretched we give this arrangement E, G, F, an angular movement in either
direction by turning the screw L; in this way we succeed in giving the necessary
and exact tension to the cord, so as not to create a useless resistance.
To obtain the instantaneous stopping or starting of the phonograph, the shaft G
of the regulator has a cog-wheel which can gear with another cog-wheel r
(Figs. 1 & 2); this latter has teeth only on a part of its circumference (about th)
it is fixed upon a shaft n which can turn in a bracket fixed on the branch F of the
regulator. At the other end of this shaft n is wedged a crank connected with the
hand of the operator by means of a cord p. By pulling this cord in the direction.
of the arrow the wheels r and are put into gear: the regulator instantaneously
stops and acts upon the arrangement of the phonograph.
If the cord is let loose the crank returns quickly to its former position owing to
a spring . The regulator continues and the movement recommences.
The phonogram cylinder (Fig. 4) upon which the sound marks are traced by the
tracer and against which the reproducing stylet rubs when the phonograph must
speak, is composed of a bobbin in wood or any other appropriate substance which
is a bad conductor of heat, provided with two collars all, all, 61, 611 at its extremi-
ties; the speaking matter is dispensed between the 2 collars which form an integral
part of the bobbin. The bobbin has at its ends and according to its axle, nails k & k¹

page_text: having a conical hollow on their heads to hold between the two points of the lathe.
The extreme supports of the latter and of its puppet are constituted by the two
plates A.
The arrangement of the bobbin described above is intended to allow the cooling
of the matter which has been placed warm on the bobbin which is a bad conductor
of heat, without split or opening and to allow the cylinders to be piled on one
another without fear of being broken or scratched. The speaking and the listening
apparatus is composed of a massive part K having a groove or channel made at
its centre, similar to the exterior auditive conduit of animals.
This groove
or channel leads to a closed cylindrical cavity (Fig. 1) which is the tympan-box.
This box is closed on one side by the vibrating disk b in front of the auditive con-
duit, and on the other side by a special plate b which is the counter-tympan.
The vibrating disk b of the tympan is a plate of mica, metal, hardened rubber or
other suitable material. The counter tympan has a circular opening at its center,
and at each side of the diametrical line it has two brackets u upon which a very
hollowed out rectangular paddle is articulated (Figs. 1 & 3); it is the tension
paddle; the opening of the counter-tympan and the hollow of the paddle serve
as a passage to the vibrating chain which is the organ transmitting the sound
vibrations from the tympan to the phonogram and vice versa. This vibrating chain
is composed of 2 piece (1) the hammer i fixed to the centre of the vibrating
membrane; (2) the stylet S; this latter balances on its centre between the two
arms of the tension paddle. The balancing of the stylet and that of the tension
paddle take place through the arrangement of the screws (Fig. 3) which are
regulated so as to obtain the least friction and not to hinder the vibration of the
tympan.
The stylet can serve either for inscribing and reproducing the sounds, that is to
say, for to speaking and listening; for this purpose the stylet represented in Fig. 1
also in Fig 7 has two diametrically opposed heads the one sharp the other
blunt o¹.
A simple rotation of the tension paddle of 180° suffices to bring either of the
heads into contact with the cylinder. The form of the tracing head is based upon
the following considerations: the phonographic graving tool differs from that of
a turners' in that it continually vibrates around an axle which is itself movable;
the point must consequently have the property not only of easily penetrating into
the matter but also to leave and easily get rid of the matter taken from the cylinder;
the tracer adopts the form shown in Figs. 6 & Gbis with this arrangement the
shavings spread out on the convex side of the stylet and never dirt it.
We have seen that for the reproducing head the contact with the surface takes
place with a rounded or blunt face without edge. The weight of the hollowed
paddle or tension paddle is divided between the two extremities of the stylet
(Figs. 1 & 3); to this paddle has been added a movable weight Q over tension
paddle, which by the aid of the screw V₁ to which it is pivoted, enables the pressure
of the tracer to be varied on the phonogram cylinder; but to render the tension
of the membrane independent of the pressure on the cylinder, we have adapted to
the apparatus a counter-tension paddle, Q, a kind of balance one of whose arms
relieves the membrane and the other is over-run by a movable weight 0¹ or over
counter-tension paddle, pivoted to the screw V. Practically, we have under our
fingers a tension screw V₁ and a counter-tension screw V (Figs. 1 & 3).
When we make use of a blunt head (for listening) it may happen that when the
apparatus is fixed and placed upon the carriage the head is not in the furrow traced
on the cylinder to replace the head in the furrow, the counter tympan is movable
on the massive part and possesses a small appendage N (Fig. 8) pushed by a
screw N¹; it suffices to slightly turn the screw N¹ to lead the head into the furrow.
The planing of the cylinders is done by means of a very simple instrument
similar to the stylet, and represented in elevation (Fig. 5). It is a screw T
terminated by a kind of razor t¹ with a circular edge supported by a heavy nut P

page_text: which may be fixed to the support D₁ by means of eyelets provided in the nut and
tightened by means of the crank P with screw-threaded eyelets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A new phonograph distinguished by a special regulator for the speed of the
phonograph, a stopping and starting apparatus, a quadruple paddle to regulato
separately the penetrating force of the graving tool in the phonogram and the
tension of the vibrating membrane, bobbins in wood or any other material which is
a bad conductor of heat serving as the body of the phonogram cylinders, a screw
enabling the reproducing head of the stylet to be put back into the furrow after
deviation and finally by the planing tool of the phonogram.
2. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the use of a speed regulator constituted
by a frame which may have an angular movement on a shaft fixed to the frame of
the phonograph, and bearing a shaft-upon which are wedged a reaction apparatus
and a pulley receiving a cord which otherwise turns around a pulley wedged upon
the shaft whose speed we wish to regulate, the frame E F being pushed in one
direction or the other by a screw bearing against a rigid blade M according to the
tension we wish to give to the cord of the regulator.
3. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the use of an instantaneous stopping
and starting apparatus fixed upon the frame of the regulator as described above.
4. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the arrangement of the phonogram roller
on a lathe and the translation of the tracing or reproducing apparatus by means
of a carriage displacing itself along an endless screw.
5. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the use of a quadruple paddle destined
to regulate separately the penetrating force of the graving tool in the phonogram
cylinder and the tension of the vibrating membrane or tympan b..
6. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the use of a double headed stylet
allowing the use of the same tool for tracing and reproducing as described.
7. In the phonograph claimed under (1) the use of a planing tool for the phono-
grams as described.
Dated this 6th day of April 1897
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.