An Improved Coin Controlled Spirometer.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Coin Controlled Spirometer.
JAMES PARKER 121 Lambert Street Hull Yorkshire Engineer do hereby declaro
the nature of this invention to be as follows
And consists in arranging a water bourne receiver similar to a gas holder, of a
known capacity, and into this holder the breath is conducted.
This holder I designate a measurer and affix a hand or figure to the same to denote
the amount of breath sent into the measurer on a fixed scale or dial.
I also use one or more figures in connection with the said measurer or méter and
which are caused to move automatically when the breath is forced into the said
measurer.
To actuate this instrument I arrange a lever over a valve having at its end a box;
or receiver for holding a coin, this lever being weighted at one end uncovers or opens
the said valve through which all the breath passes unless it is held down by the
weight of a coin, when the machine has been used by the introducing of a coin the
movement or action of the measurer releases the coin from the end of the lever and
allows it to fall into a box or drawer at the bottom of the instrument.
Dated this 30th day of July 1888.
JAMES PARKER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Coin Controlled Spirometer.
I JAMES PARKER of 26 Alexandra Road, Hull in the County of York Engineer, 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 object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which shall on the insertion
of a proper coin be capable of measuring and indicating the air capacity of the lungs,
and consists essentially in means for conducting the breath from the mouth of the
operator or experimenter through a suitable tube into a receiver of known capacity
constructed somewhat similar to an ordinary gas bolder, the displacement of the
receiver and consequently the measurement of the volume of air inclosed being
indicated on a fixed scale and the action of the said measuring. apparatus being
released by the insertion of a predetermined coin.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one form of my
apparatus Fig. 2 is a front elevation and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.
The breath is conveyed through the mouthpiece a and tube b into the upper part
of a floating vessel c having an opening d which may be closed by the valve e when a
coin of the proper weight and size is deposited in the cage suspended by the rods g
from the end of the valve lever h. When the cage f is empty the valve e is held open
by means of the counterweighted lever i as clearly shewn.
The coins are inserted through the plate k and pass.down the shoots land m into
the cage f
The height to which the vessel c is elevated, and consequently the volume of air
inclosed in it, is indicated by the pointer n attached by a wire o to a serrated plate p,
the teeth of which as they advance displace the counterweighted lever q which on its
return causes the hammer r to strike the bell s. The length of the teeth t corre-
spond with regular differences in the volumns of air conveyed to the reservoir ¢ and
so serve to indicate the accumulation.

page_text: The lever u is hinged to the lever at the point so that, as the plate p ascends
the bell lever is displaced as above described, but on its descent the lever u turns on
its axis v and allows the end w to escape the teeth t.
For the purpose of ejecting the coin from the cage after each operation of the
apparatus, a serrated plate is placed vertically down the centre of the traverse of
the coin cage so that, as the cage ascends it slides with the said coin over the
teeth but when the cage f descends the coin is caught by one of the teeth and
ejected into the receptacle y.
2
The vertical motion of the vessel c is guided by the rods secured to the outer
vessel A.
An arm B has one end-C secured to the vessel c the outer end D being connected.
to the chain E passing over a pulley F connected to the spindle G of the crank H to
which is attached an acrobatic figure I which is thus caused to rotate as the apparatus
is operated.
A moving figure may also be attached to the pointer n if desired.
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
In an apparatus for measuring and indicating the air capacity of the lungs
1. Conducting the air discharged from the mouth of the operator into a receiver of
known capacity constructed similar to an ordinary gas holder the escape of air from
which is prevented (on the previous insertion of a coin of predetermined amount in
the apparatus) by means of a valve closed on the insertion of the said coin so as to
allow the receiver to be raised by the air and to indicate on a scale the quantity, the
said valve being reopened on the descent of the holder substantially as described.
2. Ejecting the controlling coin from the suspended coin cage after each operation
on the descent of the receiver by means of the teeth of a serrated plate secured to a
fixed part of the apparatus substantially as described.
3. Indicating the increase. in volume of the air in the receiver by causing a bell, or
gong to be struck at certain intervals corresponding with predetermined increases of
voluine, by means of mechanism actuated automatically by the ascent of the measuring
vessel substantially as described.
4. The arrangement and construction of a coin controlled spirometer substantially
as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of May 1889.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
156, Strand, W.C., Agents.