Improvements in and connected with Voice or Speaking Tubes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Voice or Speaking Tubes.
We, JAMES DIXON CHURCHILL, of London Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, and HENRY ROSE, of H.M.S. Rodney forming part of the Channel
Squadron, Captain in the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object Improvements in and connected with Voice or
Speaking Tubes. According to the Specification of a former Patent granted to
Captain Henry Rose R.N. No. 7481 of the year 1892 a voice or speaking tube is
clothed with non-conducting material and carried by elastic suspension guys, mouth
pieces being provided that are clothed with non-conducting material and furnished
with elastic encircling cushions at their orifices.
Now according to the present invention for the purpose of supporting the tube
at places where if attached directly to available structures or objects such as for
example frames or columns of fast running engines which would be subject to
considerable vibration improved elastic supports are employed. Such a support
comprises a box or frame and a plate or equivalent one suitably connected it may
be by a rod or bracket to the frame or other object, the other to the tube to be
supported and between the box or frame and the plate or equivalent there is
interposed hair felt india rubber or other material that will form an elastic
support or cushion and will sustain the tube and its connections at the desired
point.
Where a voice tube has to be arranged vertically or approximately so it is
provided at or near its upper end with a flange or collar and is supported by means
of a bracket with a cushion such as an india rubber ring interposed between such
bracket and the flange or collar.
An improved mouth and ear piece is as follows:—
It comprises a metal sheath, adapted to couple onto the tube, provided with a
suitable abutment to receive the insulating material surrounding the tube, and
partly within the sheath an india rubber device the form of which as seen in a
central longitudinal section thereof is approximately trumpet mouthed up to a
part at which the largest diameter occurs whence the form is that of a frustum
of a cone, made hollow and adapted to fit against the user's face or head; thus
there is produced a flexible cup or receiver such as will tend to further contract
in diameter at its outer edge when compressed longitudinally.
In order to obviate the use of heat as required for brazing or soldering lengths
of tube together as also the necessity for taking templates and providing special
lengths of tube having the couplings brazed or soldered thereto as heretofore
usual lengths of tube are coupled as follows:-
:-
Over each of the tube ends to be connected there is slipped a ring or collar one
of these being provided with a male and the other with a female screw thread, the
ends of the tubes are then flanged or beaded, it may be to approximately a bell
mouth; then the tube ends are placed together with or without an interposed
washer or washers of asbestos or other suitable packing material and the joint
completed by screwing together the rings or collars.
For joining two lengths of tube so as to permit of swivelling there is secured
to each a ring or short tube; one of these has a flange the other is formed with
a male screw on to which screws a coupling ring formed with a lip that overhangs
and encloses the flange of the first named ring, but leaves it free to turn.

page_text: For the purpose of insulating at the joints tubes that are lagged with suitable
insulating material, permanently secured, to within a short distance of the ends of
each length, the following plan is adopted. Sleeves of insulating material are so
disposed as to break joint and are held in position by metallic shields sprung over
them and adapted to be readily removable should it be necessary to disconnect
any portion of tube for cleaning or other purpose.
To further facilitate this operation the elbows or bends are connected only by
the couplings, therefore, not being fastened to bulkheads or other supports, they
can be removed and replaced with facility.
To insulate the tube at points of passage through bulkheads etc. additional
bodies of insulating material are compressed within suitable boxes or plates the
arrangement being such as to prevent the normal covering of the pipe coming in
contact with any metal and at the same time to close the aperture through the
bulkhead so that it shall remain water tight.
In order to obviate accumulations of water or moisture such as frequently occur
in voice or speaking tubes the following plan is adopted. In suitable positions
cups are attached to the tube by any suitable means; these cups communicate
with the tube and also with the atmosphere by small holes, and are partially filled
with some suitable filtering material such as asbestos through which water can
percolate but which will prevent appreciable loss of sound in the absence of
sufficient water to seal the outlet.
In some cases on board ship where it is desired to use an electric bell, whether
as a signal that communication is about to be made through the voice or speaking
tube or otherwise, the tube being properly insulated is used as the lead for the
electric current, the return lead being made by connection to the metal of the
ship, thus dispensing with the usual wires.
Dated this 5th day of September 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Voice or Speaking Tubes.
We, JAMES DIXON CHURCHILL, of London Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, and HENRY ROSE, of H.M.S. Rodney, forming part of the Channel
Squadron, Captain in the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has for its object Improvements in and connected with Voice or
Speaking Tubes. According to the Specification of a former Patent granted to
Captain Henry Rose R.N. No. 7481 of the year 1892, a voice or speaking tube is
clothed with non-conducting material and carried by elastic suspension guys, mouth
pieces being provided that are clothed with non-conducting material and furnished
with elastic encircling cushions at their orifices.
For the purpose of enabling the several improvements to be clearly understood
we will proceed to describe the same by the aid of the illustrative drawings
hereunto annexed;
In these drawings,
Figs. 1 and 14 shew partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, a voice or
speaking tube with mouth pieces arranged according to this invention to afford
communication between the engine room A. and the bridge B of a steamer which,
however, for convenience of illustration is shewn much smaller in proportion to the
voice tube than would usually be the case in actual practice.

page_text: Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in cross section, showing an elastic support
according to this invention suitable for a horizontal portion of a voice tube.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly in side elevation, showing an elastic support
suitable for a vertical portion of a voice tube.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan; Fig. 5 a front elevation partly in vertical section; and
Fig. 6 a side elevation, illustrating a modified construction of elastic support
suitable for carrying a vertical portion of a voice tube.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal central section of an improved mouth and ear piece
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 8ª an end view, illustrating a modified
arrangement for insulating, from vibration, the tube when it passes through a bulk-
head or other partition.
Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line of Fig. 1A.
Figs. 2 to 9 inclusive are drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1.
is the voice or speaking tube of metal clothed with insulating material 2 such
as sheet felt that is a bad conductor of sound and vibration, and having preferably
an outer cover of canvas 3.
Now according to the present invention for the purpose of supporting such a
tube at places where, if attached directly to available structures or objects, as for
example, the frames or columns 4 of a fast running donkey engine 5 or parts in
connection therewith, it would be subject to considerable vibration, improved elastic
supports are employed. Such a support, suitable for carrying a horizontal portion
of the tube, is shown at 6 in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 2. It comprises a box or
frame 6ª connected by a rod 6b to the deck 7 or other structure, and a plate 6°
connected by a rod 6d and baud 6* to the length of tube to be supported, and
between the box or frame 6" and the plate 6° there is interposed hair, felt, india-
rubber or other material 6° that will form an elastic support or cushion, and will
sustain the tube and its connections at the desired point.
Where a voice tube, or a portion thereof, has to be arranged vertically, or
approximately so, it is provided with a flange or collar 8 (Figs. 1 and 3) and is
supported by means of a bracket 9 with a cushion such as an india rubber ring 9*
interposed between such bracket and the flange or collar; or the flange or collar 8
may rest on the nuts 8" of bolts 8b whose heads rest on plates or washers 8° placed
upon rings or perforated blocks of india rubber 8ª supported by the bracket 9 as
in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
In places where it may be necessary or desirable to stay the tube to decks bulk-
heads and the like by means of a bracket, such as 9* (Fig. 1A), we bed the tube
in the bracket with a ring 9 of india rubber of considerable thickness intervening
between the tube and the bracket, as described in the said former Specification.
10 (Figs. 1 & 7) is an improved mouth and ear piece. It comprises a metal
sheath 10, adapted to couple onto the tube 1, provided with a suitable abutment 10
to receive the insulating material 2 surrounding the tube, and, partly within the
sheath, an india rubber device the form of which, as seen in a central longitudinal
section thereof, is approximately trumpet mouthed up to the part 10° at which the
largest diameter occurs, whence the form. is that of a frustum of a cone (10°)
made hollow and adapted to fit against the user's face or head; thus there is
produced a flexible cup or receiver such as will tend to further contract in diameter
at its outer edge 10° when compressed longitudinally. The outer end of the mouth
and ear piece is shown provided with an ordinary removable end piece with whistle
to serve as an audible indicator, as well understood.
In order to obviate the use of heat as required for brazing or soldering lengths
of tube together, as also the necessity for taking templates and providing special
lengths of tube having the couplings brazed or soldered thereto as heretofore usual,
lengths of tube are according to this invention coupled as follows:-
Over each of the tube ends to be connected, there is slipped a ring or collar;
one of these (marked 11 in the drawing) is provided with a male screw thread and
the other (marked 12 in Fig. 1) is provided with a female screw thread; the ends 1* 1°

page_text: of the tubes are then flanged or beaded, it may be to approximately a bell mouth ;
then the said tube ends are placed together, with or without an interposed
washer or washers (13) of asbestos or other suitable packing material, and the joint
is completed by screwing together the rings or collars 11 and 12.
For joining two lengths of tube so as to permit of swivelling, there is secured
to each a ring or short tube as shown near the top of Fig. 14. One of these rings
or short tubes (marked 14 in the drawing) has a flange 14ª the other (15) is formed
with a male screw on to which screws a coupling ring 16 formed with a lip 16ª
that overhangs and encloses the flange 14" of the ring 14, but leaves it free
to turn.
For the purpose of insulating, at the joints, tubes that are lagged with suitable
insulating material (permanently secured) to within a short distance of the ends of
each length, the following plan may be adopted. Sleeves 17 of insulating material
are so disposed as to break joint with the connecting rings 11 and 12 or 14 and 15,
and are held in position by metallic shields 18 sprung over them and adapted, by
being made as split tubes, to be readily removable from around the joint, should it
be necessary to disconnect any portion of tube for cleaning or other purpose.
To further facilitate this operation, the elbows or bends 1ª may be connected
only by the couplings, therefore, not being fastened to bulkheads or other supports,
they can be removed and replaced with facility.
To insulate the tube at points of passage through bulkheads 7a etc. additional
bodies of suitable insulating material (19) such as hair or felt are compressed
within a suitable stuffing box 20 (Figs. 1 and 14) by means of a fixed gland 20°
over which the box is drawn by screws as shown, the arrangement being such as to
prevent the normal covering of the pipe coming in contact with any metal, and at
the same time to close the aperture 21 through the bulkhead, so that it shall
remain water tight.
Figs. 8 and 8 illustrate a modified arrangement in which 19, 19ª are pieces of
material that is a bad conductor of sound or vibration, such as india rubber, made
preferably of triangular shape as shown, and arranged one on each side of a
flange 1 on the pipe 1 and compressed in place against the said pipe and flange by
being compressed between the bulkhead 7* and an end plate 19b by bolts 19. The
arrangement as will be seen is such that the bolts do not come in contact with the
flange, and the pipe does not come in direct contact with the bulkhead or with
the plate 190, whilst the aperture 21 through the bulkhead is effectually closed.
In order to obviate accumulations of water or moisture, such as frequently occur
in voice or speaking tubes, the following plan is adopted. In suitable positions,
cups 22 are attached to the tube 1 by any suitable means (for example, by
straps 22 Fig. 14); these cups 22 communicate with the interior of the tube 1 and
also with the external atmosphere, by small holes 22, 22, respectively, and are
partially filled with some suitable filtering material (22) such as asbestos or
sponge, through which water can percolate, but which will prevent appreciable loss
of sound in the absence of sufficient water to seal the outlet. It is desirable to
interpose an india rubber ring or equivalent packing, (as at 23 Fig. 9) between the
mouth of the cup and the outer surface of the tube 1.
As will be evident some of the above described improvements can be used without
the others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An elastic support for a voice or speaking tube comprising a box or frame 6ª
connecting rod 6b plate 6° and connecting rod 6 one of these rods being attached to
the voice or speaking tube, the other to the deck or other structure to which the
voice or speaking tube is to be secured, and cushioning material 6° such as hair,
felt, or indiarubber interposed between the box or frame 6ª and the plate 6° to
form an elastic support or cushion substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. For a voice or speaking tube clothed and cased as described, a mouth and ear
piece such as illustrated at 10, which comprises an india rubber device the form of
which, as seen in a central longitudinal section thereof, is approximately trumpet-
mouthed up to the part (10°) at which the largest diameter occurs, whence the form
is that of a frustum of a cone (104), made hollow, and adapted to fit against the
user's face or head, substantially as described.
3. A voice or speaking tube comprising two or more separate lengths or parts
which are coupled together in the manner hereinabove described according to
which over each of the tube ends to be connected there is slipped a ring or collar,
one of these having a male screw thread, the other a female screw thread the
ends 1, 1° of the tubes are then flanged or beaded, then they are placed together,
(with or without an interposed washer or washers 13) and the rings or collars are
screwed together.
4. A voice or speaking tube comprising two or more lengths or parts to each of
which, in order to permit of swivelling, there is secured a ring or short tube, one
of which has a flange, the other has a male screw on to which screws a coupling
ring formed with a lip that overbangs and encloses the flange of the first mentioned
ring, but leaves it free to turn, substantially as described and shown.
5. A lagged voice or speaking tube insulated where it passes through a bulkhead
or the like by means of insulating material compressed between two bodies such as
within a stuffing box having a gland, or between plates, one of which may be the
bulkhead, the arrangement being such as to prevent the normal covering of the
pipe, or the pipe itself, coming in direct contact with any metal or rigid structure
and at the same time to close the aperture through the bulkhead or the like, so that
it shall remain watertight.
6. A voice or speaking tube in which, in order to obviate accumulations of water
or moisture, there is (or are) provided in a suitable position (or each of several
suitable positions) a cup attached to the tube, so as to be in communication with
the interior of the tube and also with the external atmosphere, by small holes, this
cup being partially filled with some suitable filtering material (such as asbestos or
sponge) through which water can percolate, but which will prevent appreciable loss
of sound in the absence of sufficient water to seal the outlet at this point,
substantially as described.
7. A lagged or insulated voice or speaking tube provided with a flange or collar
and supported by means of a bracket with an interposed cushion or cushions such
as an india rubber ring or rings substantially as described with reference
respectively to Fig. 3, or modified according to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive of the
accompanying drawings.
8. A voice or speaking tube with joints lagging or insulating covering mouth
and ear pieces, and draining device or devices all substantially as hereinabove
described.