Improvements in the Art of Applying Electricity to the Human Body and Apparatus Used therefor, said Apparatus being also Applicable for other Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1886
Complete Left, 6th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th June, 1887.
RESERV
[Communicated from abroad by HORACE FAIRBANKS and WILLIAM PADDOCK FAIR-
BANKS, both of St. Johnsbury, in the County of Caledonia and State of
Vermont, one of the United States of America.]
Improvements in the Art of Applying Electricity to the Human
Body and Apparatus Used therefor, said Apparatus being also
Applicable for other Purposes.
1 SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The invention has for its object to enhance the modical and curative effects of
electricity when applied topically to the human body and consists in making such
application whether it be in the form of a magneto, dynamic, or other current when
the muscular tissues of the parts to be acted upon are in a state of tension produced
by causes independent of the source or operation of the electricity.
The apparatus devised for the application of electricity as above mentioned consists
in the combination with machines used for tosting the strength of different muscles
of the body a source of electricity which will send to such muscles a current increasing
in strength with the amount of muscular force exerted.
As the force in such machines is always exerted against the resistance of a spring it
is proposed to so construct and arrange a secondary coil by which the current is given
that, when the machine is not acted upon, it will be almost clear of the primary coil
and in proportion to the force exerted will be drawn over it.
Apparatus can be connected with this mechanism by which it is unlocked and made
ready for use by the insertion of a suitable coin in payment for the service.
There may be an indicator to show the strain applied and another the electric energy
developed.

page_text: Improvements in the Art of Applying Electricity to the Human
Body and Apparatus Used therefor, said Apparatus being also
Applicable for other. Purposes.
I, SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communication
to me from abroad by Horace Fairbanks and William Puddock Fairbanks, both of St.
Johnsbury, in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont, one of the United
States of America) 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 invention has for its object to enhance the medical and curative effects of
electricity when applied topically to the human body and consists in making such
application when the muscular tissues of the several parts to be acted upon are in a
state of tension, such such tension being produced by causes independent of the source
or operation of the electricity.
The electricity applied may be in the form of any magneto or dynamic current,
but the special apparatus which has been devised for the purpose consists in the com-
bination, with machines used for testing the strength of different sets of muscles of
the body and indicating the amount of force evolved by the exertion of such muscles,
of a source of electricity which will when the machine is operated (by strain, im-
pact &c.) send to the muscles thereby set in motion, a current increasing in strength
with the amount of inuscular force exerted.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification, is shown a
machine which while testing and registering the number of pounds weight lifted will
apply to the muscles specially set in motion a constantly increasing current of
electricity, Figure 1 being a sectional olevation, partly broken away, of the
apparatus; Figure 2 a plan view similarly partly broken away, and Figure 3 a detail
of handle.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.
A is the main case containing the apparatus proper, A' being the foot plate. B is a
vertical tube holding the spring S, surrounding the long tube D and resting at its
lower end on a collar d formed on same.
Upon the top of D is mounted the handle E in which are arranged two insulated
metal ferrules e, e¹, connected to the induction coil I by wires passing down through
the tube D. The lower end of the tube D is placed upon a collar or projection F
connected with the induction coil I and resting upon an insulated block
g on the
spring G, which with the spring H is secured to a downward projection from the
casting K, this spring H being, as shown, suitably insulated.
Lis the vibrator; the battery and connections, which are placed in compartment A²,
not being shown.
The long tube D is normally locked down by the pivoted catch M with head M'

page_text: In the tube B is an opening 6 to receive any required coin, which when introduced
through it, falls through the trough N into the cradle O its weight there being
sufficient to overbalance the counterpoise Q and allow the lever M to swing on the
edges m sufficiently clear of the collar or projection F to admit of the handle E being
lifted, its upward movement bringing into contact with the curved face of M
showing M still farther over, the cradle O being thereby tripped so as to allow the coin
to run down the spout R into another compartment of the case.
The upward draft of the tube D releases the spring G and allows it to make contact
with the spring H, thereby closing the primary circuit of the battery through these
springs, the primary coil P and the vibrator L in a well-known way.
When the lifting tube is at its lowest point the secondary coil I is nearly, or quite
clear of the primary coil P, but as the handle is raised the secondary coil is drawn
more and more over it, until, at the utmost point of the lift of the tube D it com-
pletely covers the primary coil and delivers its most powerful current to the two
insulated metal forrules e, e¹, by the connections above mentioned.
As a means of indicating the power applied to the handle and the amount of electric
energy developed an indicator face or scale T (shown clearly in Figure 2) divided
up into units of pounds weight and electric units, may be set in the top of the casing A,
as shown, and a needle or pointer U be worked as follows:-
A loose collar V, on which is mounted the pointer U, encircles the tube D, and is
prevented from moving in the direction of its draft by the casting K, but a set
Screw W passing through the collar V and entering a spiral slot or groove D¹ cut in
the tube D enables the collar V to revolve and the pointer U to move when the tube is
drawn upon.
A steel key, or spline K' is screwed to the casting K and works in a. vertical
slot D' cut in the tube D so as to prevent the tube from being turned in any way
whereby the pointer might be worked erroneously.
It will be readily understood that, although in the accompanying drawings is shown
and in this specification described a machine by which the amount of weight lifted
can be ascertained, the actual construction of the parts will not be altered in a
machine for testing the force of impact of a blow, or even the power with which the
breath can be exhaled, the pressure being in every case exerted against a spring and
equivalent means being used to indicato the result."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The art of applying electricity to parts of the human body in which the
muscular tissue is in a state of tension by previous, or simultaneous, independent
physical effort all substantially as herein set forth.
2. In a machine for testing degrees of force or muscular energy the combination
with the spring, upon which such force is exerted, of an induction coil, battery
&c., and connections as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a strength testing machine the combination with the spring upon which the
force is exerted of a battery, primary and induction coil put in circuit by such
pressure so as to produce an induction current such induction current increasing with
the amount of force developed all as herein set forth.
4. The combination of a strength testing machine, induction coil, automatic coin
catching device (arranged to unlock the apparatus so that it can be operated upon
when the coin is introduced) and indicator showing pounds lifted and units of electric
energy developed substantially as set forth.