Improvements in and relating to Phonographs, Gramophones and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
DI BUITIVATION.
Improvements in and relating to Phonographs, Gramophones
and the like.
I, HENRY JONES, of 3040, Market Street, in the City of Philadelphia, State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in gramophones and other sound
recording and reproducing machines of a like nature: And the principal object
of my said invention is to improve the construction of the recording and reproduc-
ing mechanism, especially that part known as the sound box and stylus supporting
bar, by means of which the sound delivered from the receiver is greatly improved
and a clear and distinct articulation obtained.
With these objects in view my invention consists in providing a simple and
efficient means for securing the diaphragm in the sound box whereby it can be
easily and quickly removed and replaced without unscrewing any of the parts.
My invention further consists in providing a sound box constructed in sections
and having the different sections insulated from each other so as to prevent any
harsh or metallic sound that might emanate from the stylus bar and stylus point,
from being communicated to the receiver.
My invention still further consists in an improved construction of stylus bar,
and in mounting said stylus bar in pivotal bearings, so that it is capable of
swinging on the said pivot bearings laterally in either direction.
My invention still further consists in providing the said pivoted stylus bar
with a spring or springs, connected at one end to the sound box frame and at
the other end to the stylus bar, for returning said bar and the diaphragm to
normal position after they have been vibrated under the impulses of the sound
waves produced through the record and stylus point.
My invention further consists in the construction, combination and arrange-
ment of the different parts such as will be hereinafter fully described and
particularly pointed out in the claims made hereto.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference are used to
indicate similar parts:-
-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sound box and stylus bar embodying my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a central sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the
sleeve for holding the stylus point omitted.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the sound box having the bracket for supporting
the stylus point removed and illustrating the springs for returning the stylus bar
and diaphragm to normal position.
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a single spring instead of a
double one as shown in Fig 3.
Fig. 5 are detail perspectives illustrating the knife edge bearings between the
stylus bar and the sound box frame.
1

page_text: Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the springs for the stylus bar.
Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating another form of pivotal bearings
between the sound box frame and the stylus bar; also showing the stylus point
as insulated from its supporting sleeve.
In carrying out my invention I provide a sound box, A, of the ordinary shape
and size provided with the usual tubular sleeve, A', for connection with the
trumpet or other receiver. The front part of the said sound box, A, is formed of
an independent box or ring, a, open in front and having its outer rim or flange
curved or bent over as illustrated at a', in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A circular tube
or gasket,, is fitted against the back of the box, a, against which rests the
diaphragm, B, and a second rubber tube or gasket, a², is fitted on the other side of
the said diaphragm, B, and held in place by means of the bent or rounded edges, a',
of the box rim.
These rings being of flexible material it will be readily understood that by
contracting them they can be easily removed from the sound box frame and the
diaphragm, B, released. The section, b, of the sound box consists of a metallic disk
having formed integral therewith the tubular sleeve, A. Between this and the
section, a, is interposed a ring, c, of rubber or other sound non-conducting
material. A metallic ring, d, having an opening in its centre through which the
tubular section, A', passes is provided, and interposed between this section, d,
and the section, b, is a ring, e, of sound non-conducting material. The
sections, a, b, c, d, and e, are securely fastened together by means of the screw, f,
and around the aperture provided in the section, 6, is secured a rubber sleeve, b¹,
as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will thus be seen from the above
described construction that the diaphragm, B, is entirely insulated from the sound
box and that the tubular section, A', is also insulated from the section, a, of the
sound box so that it would be impossible for any grating or metallic sound to
be transmitted to the receiver from the stylus bar.
On the lower edge of the sound box is a projection, C, having a projecting
flange, e, for supporting the stylus bar, D. On the lower surface of the flange, c¹,
are formed knife edges, d, located at each end of the said flange and adapted to
fit in V-shaped grooves, (3, formed in the upper surface of the stylus bar, d.
These knife edges, d', may either be riveted in the section, c', or cast therewith or
screwed in as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. On the edge
of the stylus bar, D, is a lug, e¹, and on the rear edge of the flange, c¹, is a lug, c³,
located directly opposite the lug, e¹. To the lug, e¹, is secured one end of a flat
spring, E, by means of the screw, c³, while the other end of the said spring, E,
is secured to the lug, e², by means of the screw, c. This end of the spring, E,
is formed with a forked or slotted portion, f¹, through which the screw, et, passes.
A recess or cutaway portion, e, is formed in the stylus bar, D, above the spring, E,
as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be seen that one end of the
spring, E, is rigidly secured to the stylus bar at e³, while the other end is loosely
secured in its slot, f', to the screw, e, which is carried by the lug, e³, of the
sound box frame. A second spring, E', is provided located by the side of the
spring, E, but secured in an opposite manner as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3
of the drawings. The rigid end of this spring, E', is secured to a lug, y, formed
on the back edge of the stylus bar, D, while the slotted end, f, is engaged by a
g, carried by a lug, g², formed on the front edge of the flange, c', of the
sound box frame. A cutaway portion, 93, is also provided below this spring, E.
Thus as the stylus bar, D, is vibrated by means of the sound waves transmitted
from the record through the stylus point the springs, E, E¹, act on the said bar, D,
to return it to normal position the spring, E, acting in the one direction while
the spring, E', acts in the other direction. The knife edges, d, act as pivots upon
which the said stylus bar, D, swings.
screw,
The lower side of the stylus bar, D, is secured to bracket, H, having formed
thereon a sleeve, h, adapted to receive the stylus point, I. The set screw, H³,
is provided in the said sleeve, h¹, for securely holding the stylus I, in position.

page_text: In Figure 7 of the drawings I have illustrated another form of bearing for the
stylus bar which consists of the studs, 4, which may be screwed or otherwise
secured to the flange, c', of the sound box frame, having on their lower ends
the balls, , which are adapted to the grooves, m, formed in the stylus bar, 1).
In this figure I have also shown the sleeve, h, formed on the bracket, H, as
provided with an interior sleeve of rubber or other sound non-conducting material
as illustrated at ', which entirely surrounds the stylus and insulates it from its
supporting sleeve.
This construction prevents any grating or false sounds which might be caused
by roughness, or uneveness of the grooves of the record, from being transmitted
through the stylus point to the receiver or trumpet.
In Figure 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a single spring, E, instead of a
double spring as shown in Fig. 3 having one end rigidly connected to the
stylus bar, D, and its other end loosely held to the sound box frame at e¹, by
means of the screw, e³, engaging the slotted end, f¹. While I prefer the double
springs heretofore described, this construction of single spring can be used with
good results.
While I have described and illustrated what I consider my preferred form, it
will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to this precise construction,
but hold that various slight changes and modifications might be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.
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. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box open at its front
end, a diaphragm adapted to said sound box, and a flexible ring adapted to fit
snugly in the sound box for retaining the diaphragm in position, substantially
as described.
2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box having a
diaphragm located therein, flexible rings located on each side of said diaphragm,
and an overlapping rim formed on the sound box adapted to partly embrace the
outer ring and hold the same in position.
3. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box and diaphragm,
a stylus bar yieldingly mounted on the sound box frame, and pivotal bearings for
said stylus bar, whereby an easy lateral movement can be obtained, substantially
as described.
4. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box comprising a
section, a, for holding the diaphragm, a stylus bar carried by said section and a
section, , completely insulated from said section, a, for attachment of the
receiver, substantially as described.
5. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box comprising a
section, a, a diaphragm located therein insulated from the sound box, a stylus
bar carried by the section, a, a section, b, having a tubular extension for attach-
ment of the trumpet, a layer of sound non-conducting material, c, located between
the sections, a and b, ring section, d, and a layer of sound non-conducting
material, e, located between the sections, b and d, substantially as described.
6. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound box comprising a
section, a, a diaphragm located therein and insulated therefrom, a stylus box
carried by said section, a, a section, b, having a tubular extension, A¹, apertures
formed in said section for the reception of bolts, sleeves of insulating material
provided in said apertures, a section, c, of sound non-conducting material located
between sections, a and b, a ring, d, a layer of sound non-conducting material
between the sections, b and d, and bolts, f', for connecting the said sections
together, substantially as described.
7. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of the
sound box and diaphragm of a stylus bar yieldingly mounted on the sound box

page_text: frame, and ball and socket bearings formed between the said sound box and
stylus bar, substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
8. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
sound box and diaphragm, of knife edges formed on the sound box casing, a
yielding stylus bar, and grooves formed on said stylus bar adapted to receive the
knife edges, thereby forming a bearing capable of easy lateral adjustment,
substantially as described.
9. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination with the
sound box and diaphragm, of an extension formed on the lower edge of said
sound box, knife edges formed in said extension, a stylus bar having grooves
adapted to receive the knife edges, and springs connected at one end to the stylus
bar and at the other end to the sound box extension, substantially as described.
10. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a
sound box and diaphragm, a stylus bar pivotally connected to an extension on the
sound box, knife edge bearings for said stylus bar, and a pair of flat springs, E, E,
one of said springs being rigidly connected at one end to the stylus bar
and loosely connected at its end to the sound box while the other spring is
rigidly connected at one end to the opposite side of the stylus bar and loosely
connected at its other end to the opposite side of the sound box, substantially as
described.
11. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of a
sound box and diaphragm, a stylus bar, and an intervening tubular section of
sound non-conducting material interposed between the stylus point and its
securing sleeve for preventing the false vibrations of the stylus point being
communicated to the sound box, substantially as described.
12. The combination of a sound box composed of sections insulated from each
other with sound deadening material, a diaphragm carried by the front section,
a stylus bar pivotally connected to said front section, and a stylus point insulated
from the said stylus bar, substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 11th day of Tulu, 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.