Improvements in and relating to Spirometers or Machines for Testing Lung Power, and Mechanism for Controlling the Operation thereof by the deposit of a Coin.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Spirometers or Machines for Testing
Lung Power, and Mechanism for Controlling the Operation thereof
by the deposit of a Coin.
I, DANIEL AZRO ASHLEY BUCK, residing at Number 518, George Street, in the
City of New Haven, County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in spiro-
meters and coin-controlled mechanism for use in connection therewith.
The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and highly-efficient
means for testing and strengthening the lungs; and, secondly, new and improved
mechanism for controlling the use of a spirometer by the deposit of a coin, the
latter feature having in view to prevent the re-use of the device without the
deposit of a second coin.
The invention also has for its object to greatly simplify the construction and
operation of the parts, avoiding all complication, and reducing the cost to a
minimum.
The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing::
-
Figure 1 is a front elevation. Figure 2 is an enlarged view, from the rear,
with the enclosing box broken away. Figure 3 is a side or edge view. Figure 4
is a view of the indicator-controlling segment. Figure 5 is a view of the coin-
receiver of the operating lever. Figure 6 is a detail.
Referring to the drawing, A designates a box or enclosing casing, in the front
wall a of which is a cut-away a¹ to accommodate a removable metallic plate a².
On the exposed face of this plate is a dial having suitable marks of graduation,
preferably from zero (0) to one-hundred (100). In one of the upper corners of
this plate is an opening a through which projects an inclined chute aỡ on which
a coin is designed to be deposited so as to slide inward. This chute is struck up
from a single metallic plate, the side edges of which are bent to form flanges a
fitting in grooves a of opening a', while in the bottom the plate is cut away to
form an opening a8, and a tongue a². The latter is bent downward and is held
to a flange a on the rear face of plate a² by a screw a¹. The extreme lower end
of this chute is flanged at a¹³, and fits snug against the shouldered end of a post a¹t
and a shoulder 6 of a curved guide-bar 6, the latter and said post being made
integral with plate a². The lower end of bar b¹ is cut-away at 62.
B is an arbor extending through a central opening of the dial, and carrying
the indicator-hand C. At its rear end, this arbor is supported by a plate b
depending from the end of a post integral with a plate a². On the arbor B is
a small toothed pinion d, while also on said arbor, near its rear end, is a disk d¹
with which an arm & is designed to have frictional contact and thereby hold

page_text: the arbor at any point to which turned. This arm is pivoted at 3 to plate b
and has a curved edge conforming to the peripheral contour of disk d¹. The
outer end d³ of this arm is weighted so as to normally hold said arm in frictional
contact with the disk d. On the lower end is a shoulder with which a cam d
is designed to engage in such manner as to raise the arm from contact with
disk when the arbor turns the indicator-hand back to zero. This cam is loose
on a shaft D projecting from plate and is carried by a lever E fulcrumed on
said shaft, said cam having a cylindrical hub e, the reduced portion e' of which
fits snug in an opening in the lever.
The lever E is composed of a plate e², and a rod e³. On one end of the plate
is a weight e, by which the outer end of the rod is normally held elevated. To
this end of said rod is secured a coin-receiving receptacle F, which is struck up
from a single piece of metal. Its front vertical portion f has its upper end f¹
flanged and inclined toward the outer end, while its rear side f2 is extended up-
wardly and formed with an opening f³. The front and rear sides are united at
one end by a flange f* extending from said front side and engaging the rear side.
The end of the rod e fits in the vertex of the receptacle, and the latter is held on
said rod by solder, or the like. Normally, the flanged end f¹ of the coin-receptacle
bears against the lower flanged end of the coin-chute and the rear wall projects
above the end of the chute, so that a coin deposited in said chute will fall into
said receptacle and turn the lever as against its weighted end. In its descent the
receptacle F travels concentrically to the curved guide-bar b¹, and
upon
reaching
the lower end of the latter the coin falls from the open end f* of receptacle
through the cut-away 62 into a suitable receptacle. As the lever is thus tilted,
the rounded periphery of cam d engages arm and raises the latter from contact
with disk ; but when the lever returns to its normal position the shoulder 8
is opposite a flat edge of said cam. This cam is formed with an open-end slot g
for insertion of a screw-driver, or other suitable tool, whereby the cam can be
turned and adjusted so as to regulate the point at which the rounded edge thereof
will contact with and raise the arm d².
is
G designates a double-segment loosely journaled on shaft D and having opposite,
toothed portions g, g, the former being in engagement with pinion so as to
effect the turning of the arbor and the indicator-hand. With the
other toothed portion, 92, is designed to engage a pawl g³ fulcrumed
on a plate held to an abutment of plate a² by a screw gº,
said plate having an open-end slot g7 by which it can be readily
adjusted by a suitable tool. The pawl g3 at its lower end has a tooth g³ project-
ing from one side, while the other side of said end is weighted, as at g*, the
weight serving to constantly hold said tooth 98 in engagement with the segment,
operating in the manner of the escapement of a watch. This tooth acts as a
brake or governor, preventing the index-hand from being returned to the start-
ing point too rapidly, and also serving to hold the hand at that point,
avoiding all rebound. The pawl at its upper end has a tooth g³
which does not normally engage with the segmental teeth, being held
away therefrom by the weighted end g³. But if a sudden movement be imparted
to the segment, the upper tooth will be instantly thrown into engagement with
teeth g³, under the swinging or momentum of the pawl, thereby arresting further
movement of the indicator-mechanism. The pawl will, however, resume its
normal position as soon as the pressure is removed.
His a pawl fulcrumed at h on the lower end of the toothed segment g¹. It
has an outer hooked end h¹, an upper short arm ², and a lower long arm 3, the
weight of the latter tending to normally hold the short arm h³ in contact with
a stop-pin h projecting from the face of segment g¹. But when the segment gl
is turned downward, the long arm h³ of said pawl will strike a lug projecting
'from the face of plate a³, and turn the pawl H so that its hooked end will pro-
trude beyond the segmental teeth g¹. With this hooked end of the pawl is
designed to engage a spring-arm projecting laterally from an arm I loosely

page_text: h6
mounted on shaft D. When this engagement occurs, if the arm I is moved
upward it will cause the double segment to turn on its shaft, but the instant
the arm his disengaged from said pawl, the latter under the weight of its long
arm h³ will fall backward until arrested by stop h. Then the arm
cannot engage with said hooked end of the pawl, and in consequence will
not affect the indicating mechanism. Assuming the segment to have been so
moved, and the pawl and arm 6 to be disengaged, it is necessary to deposit a coin
in the chute to effect the return of the segment to its normal position. As this
is done a lateral arm i of lever E will engage stop h and in descending, the
lever will move the segment with it, and as soon as the long arm of the pawl
strikes lug h5 said pawl will be turned to engage the arm he. By making arm ho
of spring metal it is free to give and slide down over the hooked end of pawl H
if, (as sometimes occurs during shipment) the segment is lowered, thereby throw-
ing the hooked end of the pawl outward while the spring arm he is above it. The
deposit of a coin causing the tilting of the lever will, however, result in the arm h
sliding past the pawl and into engagement with the underside of the hook thereof.
Jis a piston cylinder, into the lower end of which opens a tube ; having at its
outer end a mouth-piece j¹. The rod of piston is connected at its upper end
to yoke extending transversely over the cylinder. To the ends of this yoke are
connected the upper ends of coiled springs 5, the lower ends of the latter being
suitably secured to projections of the lower cylinder-head. On a cap on the
centre of yoke 4 is designed to rest the lower end of arm I. Hence any upward
movement of the piston will result in raising the outer end of arm I, and if the
lateral arm he is in engagement with the hooked pawl the segment will be turned.
Otherwise, the arm I will be raised without affecting the segment, and it is neces-
sary to deposit a coin in order to so move the segment that the pawl will be
positioned into engagement with the arm h6.
From what has been said it will be seen that when a coin is deposited in the
chute it will be guided by the latter into the receptacle of the lever, and the
latter being thereby weighted down will turn on its fulcrum, raise the friction-
brake so as to permit the indicator-arbor to freely turn, and the lateral arm of
said lever engaging the stop of the segment will turn the latter on its shaft back
to its lowermost position, causing the hooked pawl to swing forward so as to
engage with the lateral member of arm I. The coin is held in the receptacle by
the guide-bar until the lower end of the latter is reached, and then being dropped
therefrom, the lever will return to its normal position, permitting the brake to
lower into engagement with the disk on the arbor. The operator, thereupon
blowing through the tube, will cause the piston to rise, carrying with it the
arm I, which, through the agency of its engagement with the hooked pawl, will
turn the segment, and the latter will operate the indicating-mechanism, the hand
designating the extent of the pressure. The segment is held at this point by
the weighted pawl g". As soon as the pressure is released, even to a small degree,
causing the slightest lowering of arm I, the hooked pawl falls backward out of
line of engagement with the elevating arm, and hence any further or renewed
pressure on the cylinder will not be indicated by the index-hand. Should the
operator give a sudden blow or blows into the cylinder, the upper tooth of the
weighted pawl g³ will be thrown into engagement with the teeth of the segment,
arresting and holding the latter. When another coin is deposited the parts will
again assume their normal position and the hand will be returned to zero.
It will be observed that I have produced a combined spirometer and coin-con-
trolled mechanism, which is simple in construction, inexpensive and not liable
to readily get out of order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
". 1
1
1
11
Latton

page_text: mechanism for moving said arbor comprising a segment, a pneumatic device for
moving said segment, and a pawl for normally holding the latter when gradually
moved and for preventing the sudden movement thereof, as set forth..
2. A spirometer having a dial, an arbor and an indicator-hand on the latter,
mechanism for moving said arbor comprising a segment engaging said arbor, a
pneumatic device for moving said segment, and a weighted pawl having two teeth,
one being normally in engagement with said segment and the other being forced
into such engagement when the segment is moved too rapidly, substantially as
set forth.
3. A spirometer having a dial, an arbor, an index-hand thereon, mechanism
engaging said arbor, comprising a double segment having opposite toothed por-
tions, one of which engages said arbor, a pawl designed to engage the other toothed
.portion of said segment and weighted at one end, and a piston for moving said
double segment, substantially as set forth.
4. In a spirometer having indicating-mechanism comprising a toothed segment,
a double-toothed pawl weighted at one end, whereby one tooth of said pawl is
normally in engagement with said segment and the other tooth will engage and
hold said segment if the latter is moved too suddenly, as set forth.
5. In a spirometer having indicating mechanism comprising a toothed segment,
a pawl weighted at one end and engaging said segment, a plate on which said
pawl is pivoted having an open-end slot, and a single screw holding said plate,
substantially as set forth.
6. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating
said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm normally bearing on said disk, a
cam for releasing said arm from said disk, when said arbor is being reversed, and
means for operating said cam, as set forth.
7. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating
said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm normally bearing on said disk, and
a lever having an arm designed to engage and release said arm from said disk,
as set forth.
8. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating
said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm normally bearing on said disk, a
lever, a cam rotary-adjustable on said lever and having an open-end slot and a
curved portion designed to engage said arm and raise it from contact with said
disk, substantially as set forth.
9. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating-mechanism, means for moving
such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means designed to engage
said pawl and effect the movement of said mechanism while so engaged, said
pawl being so mounted that when once disengaged by said operating means it
will move out of the line of movement thereof, as set forth.
10. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism, means for
moving such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means designed
to engage said pawl and effect the movement of said mechanism, said pawl being
so mounted that when once disengaged by said operating means
will move
out of the way thereof, and means for reengaging said pawl with said arm when
the means for moving said mechanism is returned to its normal position, as set
forth.
11. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating-mechanism, means for
moving such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means comprising
an arm designed to engage said pawl and move said mechanism, said pawl being
so mounted that if said arm is disengaged therefrom it will move out of the line
of travel of said arm, substantially as set forth.
12. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism, means for
moving such mechanism having a pawl provided with a hooked end and a
arm, and operating means comprising an arm designed to engage said pawl and
long
in its upward travel move said mechanism, and a stop for limiting the move-
ment of said pawl when disengaged from said arm, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 13. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a
segment engaging said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said segment
having an arm, two stops, one for limiting the movement
of said pawl
and the other for turning said pawl, an arm designed to engage the hook of said
pawl, and means for elevating said arm, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of
a segment engaging said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said seg-
ment having upper and lower arms, a stop on said segment designed
to limit the movement of said pawl, a second stop designed to be engaged by said
lower arm and move said pawl, an arm designed to engage the hooked end of said
pawl, and means for raising said arm, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a
segment engaging said pinion, a pawl on said segment having a hooked end and
an arm, a stop for limiting the movement of said pawl, a second stop designed
to be engaged by said arm and move said pawl forward, an arm designed to engage
the hooked end of said pawl, and a pneumatic device designed to raise said arm,
substantially as set forth.
16. The combination with the base, and the index-hand and its arbor carry-
ing a pinion, of a shaft projecting from said base, a segment on said shaft engag-
ing said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said segment, an arm loose on said shaft
having a lateral projection designed to engage said hooked pawl, and a pneumatic
device designed to elevate said arm, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a
shaft, a segment thereon engaging said pinion, a pivoted pawl on said segment,
an arm loose on said shaft designed to engage said pawl when the latter is moved
forward, a disk on said arbor, an arm bearing on said disk, and a coin-controlled
lever having a cam designed to engage said arm, and means for moving said
segment, substantially as set forth."
18. A spirometer having indicating means, a segment for moving the same,
a hooked pawl on said segment, an arm designed to engage with said hooked
pawl, a pneumatic device for raising said arm, and a coin-operated lever designed
to engage and move said segment in its descent, substantially as set forth.
19. A spirometer having indicating means, a segment for moving the same, a
stop carried by said segment, a pivoted pawl having a hooked end and an arm, a
pivoted arm designed to engage said pawl, a pneumatic device for raising said arm,
said pawl when disengaged being held out of the way of said arm against said
stop, and a coin-operated lever having an arm designed to engage said stop and
return said segment to its normal position, substantially as set forth.
20. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of
a double-segment engaging said pinion, a stop and a pawl carried by said segment,
the movement of said pawl being limited by said stop, a second stop for tilting
said pawl, a pivoted arm designed to engage said pawl, a pneumatic device for
raising said arm, a weighted pawl designed to engage said segment having upper
and lower teeth for the purpose stated, and a coin-carrying lever having an arm
designed to engage said stop of said segment, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day
1007
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.