Improvements in Coin Released Lung Testing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1897—Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Released Lung Testing Apparatus.
I, ISAAC ALTIN GRANT of 72 Court Block, St. Paul, Ramsey County,
Minnesota, United States of America, Broker, 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 relates to improvements in coin released lung testing apparatus,
and consists in the particular features of construction hereinafter specifically
described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification;
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved apparatus, broken away at points
to show features of construction;
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on line of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the coin actuated means for operating the
exhaust valve of the bellows.
In the drawings A represents a suitable box or case, made up of the hollow
base 2, and the upper glass dome or case 3. Centrally arranged in the dome 3
and sliding upon the central vertical rod 4 is the bellows 5 secured to the top 6
of the base 2, which serves as the bottom of the dome. In the front of the
base 2 is arranged a coin chute 7, which communicates with an inwardly project-
ing guide or runway 8. A plunger 9 is arranged underneath the runway, and
has suitable support 10. The outer end of the plunger is provided with a
handle 11, and upon the inner end is arranged a spiral spring 12, abutting
against the fixed lug 13, and a nut 14 upon the plunger, by means of which
spring the plunger is held in the normal or outward position shown in Fig. 2.
The plunger is formed with an upwardly extending lug 15, projecting through
a longitudinal slot 16 in the bottom of the runway, for the purpose hereinafter
more particularly described.
Upon the top of the bellows is arranged a suitable valve B, by which the
exhaust port 17 in the bellows is adapted to be closed during the operation of
the apparatus.
As shown in the drawings, this valve consists of the seat
member 18 secured to the top of the bellows, and a valve member 19 having
pivotal connection 20 with said seat member, so as to close the port 17 when in
lowered position. A stop 21 is also provided to limit the movement of the valve.
Connected with the free end of the valve is a cord 22, extending upward and
over the pulleys 23 and 24 at the top of the dome, the other end of the cord
being connected with the weight 25 working in the vertical tube or guide 26.
The weight 25 exactly counter-balances the weight of the valve, so as to prevent
closing of the same when in open position, but will not open the valve when
the same is closed.
Pivoted in the opening 27 in the side of the runway is a lever 28, the inner
end 29 of which extends into the runway, so as to be engaged by the coin. To
the outer end of the lever is connected a cord 30, which passes around a pulley 31

page_text: in the top of the compartment 2, and is thence carried up and connected with
the cord 22 between the pulleys 23 and 24, by means of an eye 32.
A
At the front of the upper case is arranged a dial or face 33, having a vertically
arranged glass tube 34. Adjacent the tube 34 is the graduated scale 35, having
inscriptions, as shown, indicating the measure of capacity of the Aungs.
ball 35 is arranged in the tube 34, and is attached to a cord 36 which passes
over pulleys 37 and 38 at the top and bottom of the case 3, its other end being
connected, as shown in Fig. 2, to the bellows.
A suitable mouth piece 39 projects from the front of the case 2, and is con-
nected by a tube 40 with the bellows.
The valve member 19 normally
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
stands in open position, as shown in Fig. 2, being held in such position by the
connected counter-balancing weight 25. A din 41; being dropped into the
chute will fall upon the bottom of the runway in front of the lug 15, as shown.
The plunger then being forced inwardly will carry the coin against the inner
end of the lever 28, turning it on its pivot, as shown in Fig. 3. The turning
of the lever pulls upon the connected cord 30, drawing the cord 22, to which
it is loosely connected, downward between the pulleys 23 and 24. It will be
evident that this will lift the weight 25, since the other end of the cord 22
is connected with the raised valve member 19. As the coin is carried past the
lever 28, so as to release the same, said lever will of course turn back to its
normal position under the tension of the cord 30, and this will allow the cord 22
to become taut under the influence of the weight 25 and the weight of the valve
member 19. It will also be evident that since the valve member 19 and
weight 25 are exactly counterbalanced, they will simultaneously drop as the
tension of said cord 22 is relieved, and this dropping of the valve will be sufficient
to bring it to closed position. The operator then blows up the bellows through
the mouth pieco 39 and tube 40. As the bellows are being inflated the valve
member 19 will remain closed, since there is no pull exerted upon it by the
As the
weight 26, said weight and valve member being counterbalanced.
bellows are inflated the connected indicator cord 36 will be pulled upon, raising
the indicator ball 42 in the glass tube, and thus indicating the lung capacity of
the operator. When the test has been made the bellows of course will begin
to collapse, the air passing out through the port 17, opening the valve member 19,
and thus as the bellows is returned to collapsed condition the parts will stand
in the position shown in Fig. 2, ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a coiu controlled apparatus of the class described, the combination with
the bellows and connected tube and mouth piece, of the exhaust valve and the
connected balancing weight, the connected mechanism adapted to be actuated
by the coin to lift said weight, whereby the valve will drop to closed position
as the weight falls upon the releasing of said actuating mechanism.
2. In a coin controlled apparatus of the class described, the combination with
the bellows and the connected tube and mouth piece, of the pivoted valve arranged
upon the top of said bellows and adapted to close the exhaust opening of the
same, the counterbalancing weight having cord connection with said valve,
the connected mechanism adapted to be actuated by the coin to lift the weight
when said valve stands in open position, suid valve and weight simultaneously
dropping upon the release of said mechanism so as to close the valve.
3. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination the bellows, the
connected tube for inflating the same, the exhaust valve, the counterbalancing
weight serving when said valve is open to retain it in open position, the lever
for lifting said weight, the means for actuating said lever, operative only in
conjunction with an interposed coin, whereby when a coin is dropped into the

page_text: apparatus the counterbalancing weight may be lifted, and the valve allowed to
close in position for the apparatus to be used.
Dated this 5th day of June 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.