The Film Daily (1929)

THE -2£k DAILV Friday, July 19, 1921 25th Instalment, 'Sound Patent9 Seriei MORE USES FOR MOTORS This is the twenty-fifth instalment in "Sound Patents," a series of articles dealing with the patent history of sound and synchronisation devices in the United States, England, France and Germany. Benjamin T. Rauber, New York patent attorney, is the author. A somewhat similar device is shown in United States patents No. 1,292,798, issued Jan. 28, 1919, and No. 1,294,672, issued Feb. 18 .1919, to O. E. Kellum. The arrangement of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1 of patent No. 1,294,672 in which a commutator (39) is driven from a phonograph (11) and in a manner similar to the commutators described previously, serves to successively energize and de-energize a number of electro-magnets (42) each of which is provided with an armature core (42a) that is drawn into the magnet when the latter is energized. Thus, with each revolution of the commu Diagram illustrating Kellum system. U. S. Patent No. 1,294,672. tator each of the electro-magnetic cores (42a) is drawn downwardly and then released, causing the crank shaft (16a) to rotate in much the same manner as the crank shaft of an automobile. The intermittent drive of the projection machine is driven from the crank shaft (16a) through the gears (IS and 14). A number of patents have been issued containing further improvements and modifications of synchronously controlled motor drives, but as these refinements are largely of a purely electrical character and belong in the field of electrical engineering rather than of synchronization of sound and pictures, I their details will not be described or reproduced, only the general purpose and effect will be stated hereinafter. Among these patents is the British patent No. 9,622, issued to W. E. Lake on Oct. 19, 1911, in which individual motors for driving the phonograph and projection machine or cinematograph are driven from a common electrical source and the armatures of the motors are electrically connected so that current w'll pass through this connection if one of the armatures rotates more rapidly than the other. The apparatus also shows a rheostat for the field of one of the motors whereby the speed of the motor may be controlled. French patent No. 467,153, issued to G. W. Ford on June 5, 1914, is directed to a mounting of the motor on a disc type of phonograph. United States patents No. 1,234,127 issued July 24, 1917, and No. 1,396,401 issued Nov. 8, 1921, to William H. Bristol disclose the use of two single phase armatures connected in series and three phase field circuits. The second of these patents includes in addition, a speed gear and speed regulating mechanism and governing means for the latter between the phonograph shaft and the synchronizing apparatus. FILM CONTROLS STARTjNCAPPARATUS A large number of patents have been granted at various times for apparatus for controlling the start F. E. THOBMEYER. MEANS FOB 0ONTR0LLINO THE TIME OF 8TAETING PHONOGRAPHS AND THE UIE. APPMOATIOH FILED DEO. 20, 1905. 1,049,171. Patented Dec. 31, 1912. i 8EESTS-BHEET 1 ing and stopping of sound devici at definitely fixed points in the filv An early patent of this type United Spates patent No. 928,070, i« sued to J. C. S. Rousselot July l; 1909. This patent is. however d rected to the controlling of variou sound or noise devices to produc required stage effects at definit points in the film. As shown dia grammatically in Figs. 10 and 11 o the patent, one of the sprocke wheels (2) over which the film (3 passes is geared through a shaft (1 and gears (4 and 5) to a reel ove which passes a film or perforate< sheet (9). The sheet (9) is, there fore, advanced at a rate directly pro portional to the passage of the filrr (3). The roller (11) over which th band or sheet (9) passes is metallii and is connected through a wire (13] to a binding post (15) and to eacl of a number of electro-magnets (IS] (Continued on Page 7) 6, %5' 10 jj 3<d How the starting time of phonograph in the Thormeyer system is controlled. U . S. Patent No. 1,049,171, issued 1912. Three drawings explaining the Rousselot device wherein sound is started or stopped at fixed points on the film. U. S. Patent No. 928,070.