Improvements in Medico-electrical Apparatus.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
Improvements in Medico-electrical Apparatus.
We, JOHN RANDOLPH HARD, and TножAS WILSON, both of No. 174, Centre
Street, in the City, County and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturers of Medico-Electrical Apparatus, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in binding and contact devices, for use in
medico-electrical apparatus.
One part of the invention relates to a contact-device for use with the rheotome of
the electrical apparatus, whereby the contact-point may be made to touch the
vibrator-spring at various points; another part relates to a binding-post for the
conductor of the electrical apparatus, made from "tinsel" cord, the said post being
also constructed to bind a conductor made from stiff wire and finally, another part
relates to a coupling for binding or coupling together two such "tinsel" cord
conductors of the electrical apparatus.
In the annexed drawings, which serve to illustrate this invention,
Figure 1 is a plan of an electrical apparatus embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. This figure shows the coupling for the
conductor in section axially.
Figure 3 is an axial, sectional view of the binding post, showing it as clamping or
binding a tinsel cord.
Figure 4 is a similar sectional view of the binding-post, showing it as clamping a
stiff wire conductor.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the post that supports the vibrator-spring of the
rheotome detached.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the post that bears the contact-screw detached.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a slightly modified form of the post shown in
Figure 6.
A represents the base supporting the rheotomie, binding-posts, etc., B is the electro-
magnet. C is the armature. Cx is the vibrator-spring carrying the armature, and D
is the post in which the said spring is clamped and held. This post is slitted, as
[Price 87

page_text: shown in Fig. 5, and the inserted spring is held in place by a screw-cap 3, which
screws on to a tapered screw, 2, on the end of the post. The armature () is elongated,
and may be formed integrally with the spring C. By slipping the spring through
the slit in the post D, it may be made stiffer or weaker as desired. The spring is
usually provided with a strip of platinum, c, in or on its face, to make contact with
the platinum pointe of the contact-screw E.
The screw E is mounted in a post F, the construction of which will be best
understood by reference to Fig. 6. The base 4, of the post F, has a screw-threaded
socket, 5, to receive a screw 6. This screw has a head, 7, provided with a transverse
screw-hole for the screw E, and an axial slot 8, which divides the hole axially. At
its upper end, the split head has a tapered screw, 9, to receive a clamping screw-
cap, 10. On the screw 6, is a cup-like jam-nut, 11, which takes over the lower part
of the head 7, so as to conceal the screw 6.
The screw-cap, 10, serves to clamp the contact-screw E, to prevent it from turning
too easily, and to take up lost motion from wear. By loosening the jam-nut 11, the
head 7 may be turned on its axis so as to cause the tip of the screw E to make
contact with the vibrator-spring C at various points, as indicated in Figure 1, where
the full and dotted lines indicate, respectively, two extreme positions of the screw E.
The screw E may also be raised and lowered by means of screw 6. Or, the same
result may be effected by the device illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein a smooth pin, 6×, is
substituted for the screw 6, and a set-screw, 11, is substituted for the jam-nut, 11.
The head, 7, of the post F, in which is mounted the contact-screw or part E, is in
the nature of a rotatively mounted nut, the axis of rotation of the said nut being
substantially at right angles to the screw-axis.
Any screw-clamping device may be substituted for the screw-caps on the posts D
and F; and the contact-screw or part, E, might be a smooth pin instead of a screw,
but a screw is preferable.
Referring now especially to Figures 3 and 4. G is the improved binding-post. 12
is. the base of the post, which has a screw-threaded socket to receive a screw 12. This
screw has a milled flange, 13, and above this a stem, 14, provided with a screw-
thread, 15, and a conical tip, 16. On the stem 14 is screwed a cap, 17, which has a
milled flange, 18, and an aperture in its crown to receive the "tinsel" cord H. This
cord is, or may be, of the usual kind, made up of very fine wires with a braided
covering of non-conducting material. The inner face of the cap, 17, is made conical
to correspond with the conical tip, 16. To effect the binding, the end of the cord is
passed through the aperture in the cap 17, which has been unscrewed to make room
for it. The cap is then screwed down tightly and this causes the conical tip, 16, to
enter the mass of wires, spread them, and clamp them tightly. Any one may operate
this clamping-device, as no special skill is required, and the contact of the tip, 16,
with the greater part of the wires insures electrical contact. The braided covering of
the cord is housed by the cap and protected against fraying out.
Figure 4 shows the application of the binding-post G, when employed for binding
a stiff wire conductor H'. Through the base, 12, of the post is bored or formed a
hole, 19, to receive the said wire, and when the wire is inserted, the screw 12* is
driven down upon it to clamp it fast and insure electrical contact. Thus a post is
provided for binding conductors of any kind at will.
The improved coupling, I, for tinsel cord conductors, or other like flexible con-
ductors, seen in Figures 1 and 2, is constructed on the same principles as the binding-
post G, so far as the clamping of the wires is concerned. 20 is a metal stem with
like conical tips, 21, 21, on its extremities, with two like screw-threads, 22, 22,
formed on it, and with a central flange 23. On each end of stem 20 is screwed a
binding-cap 24, which cap has an aperture in its crown to receive the conductor. The
coned tip 21 spreads the wires and clamps them precisely as in the binding-post. By
screwing on both caps, 24, independently, the coupling is made capable of detachment
from either conductor independently.
This coupling I, as well as the binding-post G, may be used to bind, electrically, a
single, fine, flexible wire.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1st: In a medico-electrical apparatus, the combination, with an armature-spring:
as Cx, of the contact-screw or part, as E, mounted in a head or nut, as 7, and
extending transversely through the same; the said head or nut being mounted
rotatively in a base on an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the contact-
screw, the said base, and means, substantially as described, for preventing the rotation
of the said nut or head on its axis, substantially as set forth.
2ndly The combination, with the vibrating armature-spring of a medico-electrical
apparatus, of a contact-screw or part mounted in a head or nut, and the said head or
nut mounted rotatively on an axis at right angles to the axis of the said contact-
screw as set forth, whereby the said screw may be caused to make contact with the
spring at various points.
3rdly In a medico-electrical apparatus, the combination, with the contact-
screw E, of the post F comprising the head 7 having a female screw to receive the
screw E, and a base 4 provided with a socket in which the said head 7 is rotatively
mounted, substantially as set forth.
4thly In a medico-electrical apparatus, the combination, with the contact-screw,
of the socketed base 4, and the screw 6 provided with a slitted head 7, the said head
having a female screw to receive the contact-screw, a conical screw 9 and a screw
cap 10, substantially as set forth.
:-
5thly A binding-post for a medico-electrical apparatus, consisting of a base, a
stem 14 provided with a screw 15 and a conical tip 16, and a screw-cap 17 to screw
to the said stem and having an aperture in its crown to receive the conductor to be
clamped, substantially as set forth.
6thly A binding-post for a medico-electrical apparatus, consisting of a base 12
provided with a hole 19 to receive a conductor, and an axial, screw-threaded, socket,
a screw 12* to screw into the said socket, a stem 14 integral with the screw 12*,
having a screw 15 and a conical tip 16, and a screw-cap 17 to screw to the said stem,
the said screw-cap having an aperture in its crown to receive the end of a conductor,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7thly A coupling for the conductors of a medico-electrical apparatus, consisting
of a metal stem 20 having conical extremities and provided with two screw-
threads 22 22 and a flange 23, and two apertured binding-caps 24 24 having apertures
in their crowns to receive the conductors and female screws to engage respectively
with the screws on the stem, as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of September 1887
JOHN RANDOLPH HARD.
THOMAS WILSON.