An Improved Recording and Reproducing Arrangement for Phono- graphs, Graphophones and other Machines for Reproducing Speech and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Recording and Reproducing Arrangement for Phono-
graphs, Graphophones and other Machines for Reproducing Speech
and the like.
I, CLAUDE GRIVOLAS Fils, of 5, Avenue de la Faisanderie, Chatou (Seine et
Oise), in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to the part which in every phonograph or machine
for reproducing speech or the like is intended either to engrave on a suitable
level surface, having a shifting movement, a sinuous furrow by means of a
stylus or point forming one with the diaphragm, which vibrates under the
mechanical action produced by the emission of a suitable sound, or to travel along
a groove already traced, and to change the sinuosities of this groove into sonorous
waves perceptible to our senses. According as they are intended to carry out
one or other of these objects, the diaphragms are divided into two categories,
namely recording diaphragms and reproducing diaphragms.
The various recording or reproducing diaphragms as hitherto known are com-
posed of a round disc of glass, crystal or other suitable material, stretched or
otherwise, and capable of vibrating, which is encased in a mount in the form of
a box or dish with a flat bottom, perforated in the centre to give passage either
to external sounds which cause the diaphragm to vibrate, or to sounds emitted
by the vibrations of this diaphragm itself.
In the centre of the diaphragm either a precious stone (sapphire) or any
other hard body of good cutting power is arranged for the recording diaphragm,
or a rounded or polished head for the reproducing diaphragm.
Sometimes the central opening of the box or dish has an external tubular elbow
which is prolonged parallel to the vibrating diaphragm in order to direct the
sound to the side, but the sound always strikes this diaphragm in a perpendicular
direction.
But experience having shown me that the shapes and the elbows or bends
alter both the power, clearness and veritable intonation of the sounds recorded
and reproduced by phonographs, I have after much research produced a dia-
phragm in which elbows or bends are dispensed with, enabling the sound to
follow a direction parallel to the vibrating plate.
For this object this little device is composed 1st, of a case resembling a washer,
flanged and threaded, to which is soldered a flattened tube, 2nd a diaphragm
of glass, crystal or other suitable material on which is fixed an arm or support
holding a sapphire out so as to cut and trace a furrow, 3rd, of a plate threaded
externally and serving to fix the diaphragm in the case, an indiarubber washer
being inserted between the diaphragm and the plate, the whole being screwed
together.
The tube flattened at one of its ends to conform to the thickness of a slot
provided in the edge of the case is arranged in such a way that the sounds

page_text: transmitted by the round side and coming from a hood or trumpet, are directly
transmitted between the diaphragm and the plate passing through the said slot
without being forced to travel round angles or bends and without striking the
centre more than the edges of the vibrating plate or diaphragm as in the old
diaphragms with a central opening.
In a modification of construction of the reproducing diaphragm, its box is
composed of a block provided from the centre of the diaphragm to the edge
with an open passage or recess under the vibrating plate and conveying the
vibrations of the diaphragm directly to the discharge side which is fitted to the
end of the trumpet. In this diaphragm the sapphire point is composed of a
capsule which is stuck in the centre of the circular diaphragm and which carries
the reproducing sapphire fixed in the centre of a central cavity.
It is evident that in any of the types of diaphragms described, the arrange-
ment of lateral opening as compared with the diaphragins hitherto made with
a central opening affords a better utilisation of the sounds and a more easy trans-
mission of the vibrations intended to produce impressions on the surfaces
situated opposite the recording sapphire.
An Improved Recording and Reproducing Arrangement for Phono-
graphs, Graphophones and other Machines for Reproducing Speech
and the like.
I, CLAUDE GRIVOLAS Fils, of 5, Avenue de la Faisanderic, Chatou (Seine et
Oise), in the Republic of France, 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 present invention relates to the part which in every phonograph or machine
for reproducing speech or the like is intended either to engrave on a suitable
level surface, having a shifting movement, a sinuous furrow by means of a
stylus or point forming one with the diaphragm, which vibrates under the
mechanical action produced by the emission of a suitable sound, or to travel along
a groove already traced, and to change the sinuosities of this groove into sonorous
waves perceptible to our senses. According as they are intended to carry out
one or other of these objects, the diaphragms are divided into two categories,
namely recording diaphragms and reproducing diaphragms.
In order to allow of the invention being better understood reference will now
be made to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the various arrangements of diaphragms at present
employed;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the diaphragm which forms the subject of the present
invention;
Fig. 5 a section on the line A-B of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 a view in detail of the various parts composing this diaphragm ;
Fig. 7 an end elevation from the side of the tube;
Fig. 8 a view of the improved diaphragm fitted with its trumpet for collecting
and directing the sounds;

page_text: Fig. 9 is a section on the line C-D of Fig. 10 and
Fig. 10 a front view of a modified construction of a reproducing diaphragm
and
Fig. 12 is a section on the line E F of Fig. 11 and
Fig. 11 a front view of another modification of construction for a recording
diaphragm.
The various recording or reproducing diaphragms as hitherto known shown
in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are composed of a round disc m of glass, crystal or other
suitable material, stretched or otherwise, and capable of vibrating, which is
encased in a mount c in the form of a box or dish with a flat bottom, perforated
in the centre at o to give passage either to external sounds which cause the
diaphragm m to vibrate, or to sounds emitted by the vibrations of this diaphragm
itself.
In the centre of the diaphragm either a precious stone (sapphire) or any
other hard body of good cutting power is arranged for the recording diaphragm
or a rounded or polished head tor the reproducing diaphragm.
Sometimes as shown in Fig. 3 the central opening of the box or dish has
an external tubular elbow a which is prolonged parallel to the vibrating dia-
phragm in order to direct the sound to the side, but the sound always strikes
this diaphragm in a perpendicular direction.
But experience having shown me that the shapes and the elbows or bends
alter both the power, clearness and verticable intonation of the sounds recorded
and reproduced by phonographs, I have after much research produced a dia-
phragm in which elbows or bends are dispensed with, enabling the sound to
follow a direction parallel to the vibrating plate
For this object as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 this little device is composed 1st, of
a case v resembling a washer flanged and threaded, to which is soldered a flattened
tube t, 2ndly, a diaphragm m of glass, crystal or other suitable material on
which is fixed an arm or support holding a sapphire s out so as to cut and
trace a furrow, 3rd, of a plate threaded externally and serving to fix the
diaphragm m in the case v, an indiarubber washer being inserted between the
diaphragm m and the plate n, the whole being screwed together as shown in
Figs. 4, 5 and 7.
The tube flattened at one of its ends to conform to the thickness of the slot f
provided in the edge of the case is arranged in such a way that the sounds
transmitted by the round side and coming from a hood or trumpet Fig. 8, are
directly transmitted between the diaphragm m and the plate n passing through
the said slot f without being forced to travel round angles or bends and without
striking the centre more than the edges of the vibrating plate or diaphragm m
as in the old diaphragms with a central opening.
In a modification of construction of the reproducing diaphragm shown in
Figs. 9 and 10 its box is composed of a block provided from the centre of the
diaphragm to the edge with an open passage or recess d under the vibrating
plate e and conveying the vibrations of the diaphragm directly to the discharge
side which is fitted to the end of the trumpet. In this diaphragm the sapphire
point is composed of a capsule h which is stuck in the centre of the circular
diaphragm e and which carries the reproducing sapphire s fixed in the centre of
a central cavity.
Another modification of the recording diaphragm is shown in Figs. 11 and 12
but being practically similar in construction to the one shown in Figs. 9 and 10
it is needless to describe it further.
It is evident that in any of the types of diaphragms described, the arrange-
ment of lateral opening as compared with the diaphragms hitherto made with
a central opening affords a better utilisation of the sounds and a more easy trans-
mission of the vibrations intended to produce impressions on the surfaces
situated opposite the recording sapphire.

page_text: 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. The improvement in phonographs, graphophones and other machines for
recording and reproducing speech and the like consisting in the substitution of
a lateral opening for the central opening in the case carrying the vibrating dia-
phragm substantially as described.
2. In recording and reproducing arrangements for phonographs and talking
machines forming a lateral opening directly in the diaphragm case, and providing
a tube as a prolongation thereof in order to adapt it to be fitted to the trumpet
or like transmitting device, the said lateral opening having for its object to
direct the sound in a direction parallel to the vibrating diaphragm instead of
allowing it to strike the said diaphragm in a perpendicular direction, as hitherto
substantially as described.
3. The improved construction of diaphragm cases for phonographs, grapho-
phones, and other machines for recording and reproducing speech and the like,
constructed and operating substantially as herein before described with reference
to the several figures of the drawings.
J
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.