Improvements in Electro-magnetic Induction Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2: d Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-magnetic Induction Apparatus.
I, CORNELIUS BENNETT HARNESS of 52 Oxford Street in the County of Middlesex,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electro-magnetic induction apparatus.
In electro-magnetic apparatus intended for administering electric shocks for
medicinal purposes, as hitherto constructed vibrating armatures have been employed,
and consequently in the said apparatus owing to the limited number of vibrations
that can be obtained the shocks are administered in a jerky manner and are therefore
unpleasant.
The object of my invention is to obviate the above defects and to provide an
improved electro-magnetic induction apparatus for administering electric shocks for
medicinal purposes and having a considerably greater number of beats in a given
time that is to say, making and breaking contact much more rapidly and therefore
producing a more continuous current, and consequently a more pleasant sensation,
and moreover administering more of the magnetic current.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a convenient box or case
containing a battery of any suitable description. Upon a partition placed above the
said battery I fix an induction coil. The said induction coil is provided with a
revolving armature consisting preferably of a wheel provided with suitable teeth or
projections and formed of iron or other suitable metal. This wheel is arranged to
rotate about either a vertical or a horizontal axis so that the periphery of the said
wheel is capable of revolving in close proximity to but without touching the pole of
the magnet or induction coil. Upon the spindle carrying the above mentioned wheel is
fixed a smaller wheel having any suitable number of teeth or projections against
which a suitable spring contact piece is adapted to bear and thus make and break
contact when the larger toothed wheel is rotated by the magnet or induction
coil.
A suitable switch for connecting and disconnecting the battery, and terminals for
attaching the conductors are moreover provided.
By the employment of a revolving armature I provide an electro-magnetic induction
apparatus for administering medical electricity of greatly increased efficiency and
more pleasent in use than apparatus of the kind or class as hitherto constructed.
It is obvious morcover that I can somewhat modify the construction of the
apparatus without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dazed this 2nd day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-magnetic Induction Apparatus.
I. CORNELIUS BENNETT HARNESS of 52 Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Electrician, 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 :-
My invention relates to electro-magnetic induction apparatus for administering
electricity for medicinal or healing purposes.
In such apparatus as heretofore constructed, vibrating armatures are usually.
employed and by reason of the limited number of vibrations that can he obtained in

page_text: a given time by means of these armatures the induced currents are administered in a
jerky manner disagreeable to the patient.
The object of my invention is to obviate this defect and to provide an improved
electro-magnetic induction apparatus for electropathic purposes, in which a considerably
greater number of beats or interruptions of the circuit will be produced in a given
time, that is to say, the making and breaking of the contact will be effected much more
rapidly than in such apparatus as beretofore constructed.
I accomplish this result by the use of a revolving instead of a vibrating armature
for effecting the required interruptions of the circuit. By this means the induced
currents administered to the Patient produce a more pleasant sensation than heretofore
so that the patient can endure more powerful currents, without inconvenience or
pain.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, the lid or cover of the box or case being removed, and
Figure 2 a side elevation showing one form of my improved apparatus.
Figure 3 is a plan, the lid or cover being removed, and
Figure 4a front elevation showing another form or modification of the said
apparatus.
Figure 5 is a transverse section, drawn to an enlarged scale of a portion of the
apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6 is a plan, the lid or cover being removed, and
Figure 7 a front elevation showing a further modification of my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the box or case of the apparatus. 13 is the induction or intensity coil.
CC are the binding posts or terminals to which are connected suitable handles for
receiving the induced currents when the apparatus is in operation.
The box or case A contains a battery of any suitable description. Upon a
partition A placed above the said battery is fixed the induction or intensity coil B.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 the induction or intensity coil B
is so arranged as to act also as a magnet and has combined with it a revolving
armature consisting of a wheel D provided with suitable teeth or projections Di
and formed of iron or other suitable metal. The wheel 1 is carried upon a
spindle E and is arranged to rotate between screws or bearings El about a hori-
zontal axis so that the periphery of the said wheel or the extremities of the teeth
or projections may revolve in close proximity to but without touching the
pole of the magnet or induction coil B. Upon the spindle E is fixed a smaller
wheel G having any suitable number of teeth or projections G' against which a
suitable spring contact piece or brush H is adapted to bear and thus make and
break contact when the wheels D, G are rotated by the said magnet or induction
coil.
I is a switch for connecting and disconnecting the battery. When the said
switch I is moved so as to bear upon the contact piece I' some of the cells of the
said battery are brought into operation and when the said switch I is moved so
as to bear upon the contact piece the whole of the cells are brought into
operation. The said switch I may be arranged to throw any suitable number of
cells into operation. J, J are binding-posts or terminals for the attachment of the
conductors.
In the modification of my apparatus illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, I provide two
induction or intensity coils B also forming magnets and I mount upon the spindle E
an armature comprising two wheels D connected by bars or strips D' of iron or
other suitable metal. These connecting bars or strips take the place of the teeth
or projections D'. The switch I is so arranged as to form electrical connection
with different numbers of the cells of the battery according as it is moved into
contact with the contact piece 1', 12 or 13. I provide moreover in this instance
a separate device more clearly shown in Figure 5, for connecting and disconnecting
the battery. This device comprises a rod or push piece K provided with a

page_text: handle K. The extremity of the rod or push-piece K bears against a spring
contact piece L, which is adapted to bear against the contact piece M. N is a tube
or sleeve through which passes the rod or push-piece K. K' is a pin or stud
arranged to move in an L-shaped slot N' provided in the tube or socket N.
When it is desired to disconnect the battery, the rod or push-piece K is depressed,
thereby moving the spring contact piece L away from the contact piece M and
breaking or interrupting the circuit. By turning the said rod or push piece K so
that the pin or stud K2 passes into the lower or horizontal portion of the slot N',
the contact piece I will be retained in this position.
Figures 6 and 7 show a modification of my apparatus wherein I employ separate
magnets O for rotating the armature instead of utilizing the induction coil or intensity
coil for this purpose as herein before described. In this instance moreover I employ
two wheels G and I fill up the spaces between the teeth or projections G' with some
suitable nonconducting or insulating material. I thus provide for diminishing the
noise produced by the apparatus when operated, and I employ two spring contact
pieces or brushes H in combination with each of the said wheels G. This arrange-
ment obviates sparking. The battery can be connected or disconnected by means of
a push-piece or rod P the handle P₁ of which projects above the partition or plate A¹.
Qis a piece of insulating material provided upon the push-piece or rod P and against
which bear spring contact pieces R when the said push-piece or rod is depressed.
When the said push-piece or rod P is drawn up, the contact pieces R leave the
insulating material Q and dropping into the notch P complete the circuit.
The armatures above described can be rotated at a very high velocity. Therefore
a much greater number of interruptions of the circuit can be effected thereby than by
the ordinary vibrating armatures.
I can moreover regulate the number of emissions of the current so as to provide
regularly measured intervals, by means of short or long interruptions as may be
required for purposes of medical practice or of simple experiment. To effect this,
all that is necessary is to vary the distance between the teeth or projections G' upon
the wheel G according to the results to be obtained.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my apparatus
without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance instead of
arranging the wheel forming the revolving armature to rotate about a horizontal axis
I can arrange it to rotate about a vertical axis.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
1 claim,
First An electro magnetic induction apparatus which is provided with a revolving
armature, for the purpose above specified.
Second-The improved electro-magnetic induction apparatus constructed sub-
stantially as described with reference to either of the forins or modifications shown
in the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated thi 10th 1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.