US1025504A - Combined vibrator and vacuum apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. &-w. BIRRELL.

COMBINED VIBBATOR AND VACUUM APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1911.

1,025,504. Patented May 7, .1912

A L I ATTORNEY UNITED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

i JAMES BIRRELL AND WILLIAM BIB-BELL, OF -SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOIRS, BY DIRECT AND MIESINIE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BIRRELL VACUUM VIBRATOR COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

COMBINED VIBRATOR AND vacuum APPARATUS.

King and State of Washington, have'in-' vented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Vibrators and Vacuum Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vibrators for the treatment of certain forms of disease and to, vacuum inductors of the same class.

The object of the invention is to combine these beneficial agencies for the treatment of abnormal conditions that their healing functions may be utilized simultaneously, separately or alternately.

Furtherobjects of the invent-ion will be apparent from the following description ofv the invention and its application.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of a fluid'actuated vibrator and-a fluid-jet induced vacuum apparatus, together with the adaptation of parts therewith, as will be hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated .in the accompanying views, and finally set forth in the appended claims.

In said views Figure 1 :is a view of an embodiment of the invention shown partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section with a portion of the flexible shafting broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view" of the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of-an attachment of the invention. 4

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a tubular casing provided at one of its ends with an internally threaded socket 2 which may be screwed directly upon the threaded bib of a waterfaucet or, as shown, similarly connected with an attachment 3 for making a water-tight joint with a faucet unprovided with screw threads. The opposite end of said casing is enlarged to afford a tangentially'arranged bulbous extremity-having an interior spheroidal chamber 4 provided with a considerable number of outlet holes 5 in its bottom wall. Numerals 6 and 7 designate cone-avoconvex partitions across the upper-and lower ends, respectively, of the tubular portion of Specification of Letters iatent.

said casing to afford a suction-chamber 8 therebetween. Axially arranged apertures 6' and 7 are provided in the respective partitions in vertical alinement with the axis of the faucet receiving attachment 3, the

latter of which apertures is of larger diameter than the upper one. The numeral 10 denotes a tubular extension preferably radial to said bulb and rectangular to said tubular casing 1. It is provided with a nipple 11 at its outer extremity and its inner end is closed from communication with said chamber 4 by an axiallyalined plug 12. The bore 13 of said extension is provided with a sideissuing outlet through a pipe 1 1 communieating with the upper portion of the suctionchamber 8. 15 indicates a rotatable shaft mounted axially of said extension 10 in bearings'in plug 12' and in the opposite wall of said casing at 16. Operatively' connected with said shaft is a jet power wheel 17 having buckets 18 at spaced intervals about its periphery. 19 is a disk fixedly mounted for rotation with said wheel and adapted to be impinged by a clamping screw 20 entered through a threaded hole in the casing to prevent at times the rotation of the wheel.

The outer end of the shaft 15 is extended into the bore 13 and there connected with an end of a flexible shaft. 21 by a coupling 22.

Said flexible shaft may be and is preferablyof considerable length and at its remote extremity is connected, as by acoupling 22, to a short length of rigid'sha-ft-ing 23 rotatably mounted in a vibrator head. Said head consists in a globular casing 24 having an interior chamber divided by aywall .25 into inner and outer compartments26 and 27. 28' is a radially arranged tubular extension to said head integrally or otherwise connected at its'inner end centrally of said wall 25. An axial bore 29 is provided in said extension 28 for the reception of an end of the flexible shaft 21 and its connecting rigid shaft 23, as before explained. The latter is extended through a bearing in the wall 25 and its end protruding into the outer com-- partment 27 is provided with an arm 30 fixedly secured thereto in proximity of one of its endsand adapted to be revolved with the. shaft 23 in a plane parallel with the wall Said flexible shaft 21 is comprised of a length of relatively small closely coiled spring Patented May 7, '1912. Application filed July 31, 1911. Serial No. 641,647. i

wire. Surrounding said shaft with an annular. space 31 therebetween is a flexible coiled wire sheath 32 fixedly secured at each of its ends-to'the interior surfce of the respective tubular extensions 10 and 28. 33 denotes a section of rubber, or other yielding air-tight tubing incasing said metal elements of the shaft. It is engaged over the nipple 11 and the like part 34 of the extension 28 and affords air-tight communication from the bore 13 to the bore 29 of the vibrator. Apertures 35 and 36 respectively connect the last named bore with the inner compartment 26 and the latter-with the compartment 27. Access from compartment 27' to the atmosphere is had through an outwardly protruding tubular nipple-37 adapted to receive an apertured applicator attachment 38 (see also Fig. 4). Said compartment 27 is provided with a threaded venthole to receive a bifurcated screw 39 for regulative communication with the atmosphere.

4O denotes a cushion handle grip. overlying the tubular extension 28 through which a secure grasp of the vibrator may be had and the latter conveniently manipulated.

The operation of the invention may be described as follows: The apparatus is adapted to be attached to a water-faucet either through the employment of the attachment 3 or coupled directly therewith through the internally threaded socket 2. Said faucet is connected to a source of water-supply under pressure. Upon the water being turned on it flows with high velocity through the aperture 6' of the partition 6 into the suction chamber 8 and thence through the aperture 7 where it impinges upon the bladesof the water-wheel 17 to cause the same to revolve and is discharged through the outlet holes 5.

v The rotary motion of the wheel is transmitted through the shafts 15, 21 and 23 to the vibrator-head. The arm 30 fixed to an end of the shaft 23, is rotated at a high velocity and owing to its unbalanced connection with its rotating shaft creates a series of rapid vibratory waves which are communicated through the vibrator-head to the applicator. As the water is forced through the aperture into the suction-chamber 8 and from thence through the aperture 7 it creates a partial vacuum within said chamber inducing a flow of air into the suction chamher through the pipe 14 connecting with the bore 13. The influence of said suction is communicated through the annular space 31 within the tubing 33 to the bore 29 whence air is drawn through the apertures 35 and 36 to the tubular nipple 37 where access to atmospheric air ishad axially of the suitable applicator attachment. It will be seen. that the vibrations due to the rotary movements of the water-wheel and attachments, and the suction communicated to the tubular nipple simultaneous and may be applied at the combined so-called vibrator and suction head to many useful and beneficial results, both in unison and separately. Said applicators may be made in wide variety of forms toaccomplish the various functions of which the apparatus is capable. The form shown in section in Fig; 1 attached to the head is of a style favored for treating the scalp. The projections 41 when vibrated and brought into cont-act with the scalp apply a mild beneficial massage to the skin at the same time loosening any scale or dandruff that maybe present while the suction of air through the nipple 37 draws any dust or scale therethrough and carries the same into the suction-chamber 8 where it is mingled with the water and discharged through the holes 5.

In Fig. 4 is shown a form of applicator through which the vibrations may be communicated to the surface of the body and coincidentally apply a partial vacuum thereto. The device comprises flexible rubber annular walls 42 inclosing a cup-like depression 43. The aperture 44 is adapted to fit over the nipple "37 and when the outer perimeter 45 of said walls is brought into contact with the surface of the body, the air is rarefied in said depression by the aforesaid suction. The concurrent vibrations do not cause the partial vacuum to be impaired to any extent but facilitate the movement of the device along the surface of the skin. This method of treatment combines the exhilaration and stimulation accompanying the mild application of the vibrations with the local removal of air pressure from the part inducing a mild congestion of blood or hyperemia thereat with marked curative effects in some cases. The amount of air suction may be regulated independently of the velocity of the water jet and the speed of the water wheel by the provision of the bipletely close the same which will cause the entire pressure of the suction to be felt at the applicator. The screw 39 may be withdrawn, however, to uncover a more or less amount of the slot therein which will relieve said pressure atthe applicator to a corresponding degree. No appreciable suction or vacuum would be felt at the applicator when the said screw is withdrawn to its maximum extent in order to afford opportunity for the-vibratory functions of the apparatus to be applied independently of the suctional effects. Likewise the rotary motion of the wheel may be stopped by the manipulation of the screw 20 to cause it to bear upon the disk 19 with suflicient force to maintain said wheel at rest. Thus it will be seen that the two primary functions of moving from the hair'of the person being.

treated all dust and germs as soon as loosened from its habitat and preventing same from being set free in the atmosphere has been recognized as a valuable one andv one not heretofore available for such purpose.

While we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention with some particularity we do not intend to be understood as confining ourselves to the precise form shown as. various changes in detail and modification of design -may obviously be made within the spirit of the invention, and within the scope of the appended claims.

'What we claim as our invention, is

1. In apparatus of the class described, fluid induced suction device, a motor operated by fluid discharged from said suction device, and means including suitable connect-ions for applying suction and vibrations caused by said device and motor.

2. In apparatus of the class described, fluid actuated means for creating avacuum, power devices actuated simultaneously by said fluid, apparatus in common whereby said vacuum is applied and power from said-devices is utilized in the form of vibrations, and flexible operative connections between sa1d apparatus and sa1d means and said suction devices.

5, In apparatus of the class described, fluid induced suction device, a motor operated by fluid discharged from said suction device, means including suitable connections for applying suction and vibrations caused by said device and motor, and means to cause said motor to be inoperative.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a fluid induced suction device, a motor oper-' ated by fluid discharged from said suction device,'means including suitable connections for applying suction and vibrations caused bysaid device and motor, means to vary the amount of suction, and means to cause said motor to be inoperative.

7. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a fluid actuated motor,

and fluid induced'suction device, a device for converting rotary motion of sa1d motor into vibratory waves in common with devices for conveying and applying said suction.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a casing including a suction chamber and a power chamber provided with means for attachment toa water-faucet, a motor in said powerI-chamber, a vibrator head, flexible con nect-ions between the casing and said head conveying in common rotary motion from said motor and suction from said suction chamber. I

9. Inapparatus of the class described, a tubular casing provided at one 'end with means for attachment to a water-faucet and at its opposite end with a power chamber having discharge openings therein, apertured partitions in said casing spaced apart to afforda suction chamber therebetween, a 'fluidactuated motor .insaid power chamber,-

a vibrator head, flexible connections between 1 said motor and said head, means in said head to convert rotary motion of said motor into vibrations, an applicator attachment to apa continuous passage therethrough, a flexible shaft rotatively connected tosaid motor and terminating within said head in an unbalanced arm, a covering for said shaft affording a continuous air-tight duct therethrough, and connections between said duct and the suction chamber. 11. In apparatus of the class described,a

casing provided with a means for attachmentto asourc'e of water supply under pressure atone end, a powerchamber provided with a discharge outlet at its other end, and an intermediate suction chamber, a fluid power motor in said power chamber, a brake upon said motor,'a vibrator head, an appli cator attachment mounted on said head, said head and applicator having a continuous passage therethrough, supplementary means to admit air within said passage, a flexible shaft rotatively connected to said motor and terminatingwithin said head in an unbalanced arm, a covering for said shaft affordsuction chamber.

ing a continuous air-tight duct therethrough, and connections between said duct and the 12. In apparatus of the classdescribed, a

casing provided with means for attachment with a source of water supply, a suction chamber, and a power chamber having dis charge openings therein, a fluid actuated motor in said power chamber, a vibrator head, flexible shaft connections between the motor and head, means connected to said shaft in the head to convert rotary motion into vibrations, an applicator detachably secured to said head, and a passageway between said applicator through the head and shaft to said suction chamber.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a casing provided with means for attachment with a source of water supply, a suction chamber and a power chamber having discharge openings therein, a fluid actuated inotor in said power chamber, abrake upon said 1 motor, a vibrator head, flexible shaft conneccasing provided with means for attachment with a source of water supply, a suction chamber, and a power chamber having discharge openings therein, a fluid actuated motor in said power chamber, a vibrator head, flexible shaft connections between the motor and head, means connected to said shaft in the head to convert rotary motion into vibrations, an applicator detachably secured to said head, a passageway between said applicator through the head and shaft to said suction chamber, and means to admit air into said passageway.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a

- casing provided with means for attachment witlr a source of. water supply, a suction chamber, and a power chamber having discharge openings therein, a fluid actuated motor in said power chamber, a brake upon said motor, a vibrator head, flexible shaft connectionsbet-ween the motor and head, means connected to said shaft in the head to con vort rotary motion into vibrations, an applicator detachably secured to said head, a passageway between said applicator through the head and shaft to said suction chamber, and means to admit air into said passageway.

JAMES BIRRELL. WILLIAM BIRRELL.

\Vitnesses H. BARNES,

E. PETERSON.

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