0/ £dw>oru e\hpeM> A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION PART IV (1899-1910) Thomas E. Jeffrey Lisa Gitelman Gregory Jankunis David W. Hutchings Leslie Fields Theresa M. Collins Gregory Field Aido E. Salerno Karen A. Detig Lorie Stock Robert Rosenberg Director and Editor Sponsors Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site New Jersey Historical Commission Smithsonian Institution University Publications of America Bethesda, MD 1999 Edison signature used with permission ofMcGraw-Edison Con Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers, The State University endorsed by National Historical Publications and Records Commission 18 June 1981 Copyright © 1999 by Rutgers, The State University All rights reserved. No part ol this publication including any portion of the guide and index or of the microfilm may be reproduced, stored hi a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means — graphic, electronic, mechanical, or chemical, includingphotocopying, recordingor taping, or information storage and retrieval systems— without written permission of Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The original documents in this edition are from the archives at the Edison National Historic Site at West Orange, New Jersey. ISBN 0-89093-703-6 THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS Robert A. Rosenberg Director ami Editor Thomas E. Jeffrey Associate Director and Coeditor Paul B. Israel Managing Editor, Book Edition Helen Endick Assistant Director for Administration Associate Editors Theresa M. Collins Lisa Gitelman Keith A. Nier Research Associates Gregory Jankunis Lorie Stock Assistant Editors Louis Carlat Aldo E. Salerno Secretary Grace Kurkowski Student Assistants Amy Cohen Bethany Jankunis Laura Konrad Vishal Nayak Jessica Rosenberg Stacey Saelg Wojtek Szymkowiak Matthew Wosniak BOARD OF SPONSORS Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Francis L. Lawrence Joseph J. Seneca Richard F. Foley David M. Oshinsky New Jersey Historical Commission Howard L. Green National Park Service John Maounis Maryanne Gerbauckas Roger Durham George Tselos Smithsonian Institution Bernard Finn Arthur P. Moiella EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Technology R. Frank Colson, University of Southampton Louis Galambos, Johns Hopkins University Susan Hockey, University of Alberta Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Peter Robinson, Oxford University Philip Scranton, Georgia Institute of Teclmology/Hagiey Museum and Library Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS Tlie Alfred P. 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In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research. r ^■/£> J-6 petition. Zo tbe Commissioner of [patents : your petitioneri THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park in the County of Ebbo* and State of New Jersey, whose post offloe addrecsis Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES IMPROVEMENT IN I SPECIFICATION. 0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 3e It known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of le United States, residing at Llewellyn Park in the County ’ Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain sw and useful IMPROVEMENT IN REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES !ase No. 1056), of which the following is a specification: My invention relates to improvements in reversible so-called storage batteries, and my object is to produce reversible galvanic cell of great permanency and of re- rkably light weight per unit of energy. In my application for Letters Patent filed October 3t., 1900, Serial No. 34,994, I describe an improved re- rsible galvanic cell wherein the metals cadmium and copper 3 employed as the elements in an alkaline electrolyte, and means of which I secured a very permanent cell, one srein the Initial and final states of the electrolyte are ! same, and finally one which was capable of storing a iater amount of energy per pound of cell than batteries imerc tally used before that time. My present invention is designed to further lighten weight of the cell in comparison to the stored energy, to deliver the energy to the exterior circuit at a high- rate . In the alkaline zincate type of battery as coramer- Lly used, so far as I know, copper oxide has heretofore i used exclusively as the oxygen-furnishing element when battery is discharged, the copper being reduced to the illio state. The only other elements which have been suggested and would be available as substitutes for copper in these batteries, have been those lower in the electro¬ lytic series, such as mercury and silver, but so far as I know, these metals have not been satisfactorily oricommer- cially utilized on account of the difficulties arising from their application in alkaline electrolytes as well as be¬ cause of their expense, especially in regard to silver, which metal possesses the further disadvantage of being quite soluble in the electrolyte, when subjected to oxida¬ tion. I have sought, by a great many experiments, for an element or compound capable of being used in an alkaline electrolyte, whose heat of formation of its oxide should be as low or lower than that of mercury, and in this I have been successful, the result being the discovery of an ele¬ ment for furnishing the oxygen to the oxidizable element on Es charge with even greater freedom than oxide of mercury, ile at the same time the new element is less expensive, of less weight, is of greater permanency, and finally is of greater insolubility in the electrolyte. I have also sought, by experiment, for an element superior to cadmium as the oxidizable element on discharge, with the objects in view of further reducing the weight and cost of thenell, and I have discovered an element for the purpose possessing these desirable characteristics. As a result, a reversi¬ ble galvanic cell equipped with the new elements is of great permanence, is relatively light and inexpensive, and is of great power. These elements are, as stated, preferably used in the same, cell, but obviously the oxygen-furnishing sleraent may be employed in connection with, other oxidizable elements , while the new oxidizable element may be employed in connection with other oxygen-furnishing elements. The elements are alsfl. .preferably oarried or support- Ied by hollow perforated plates, forming receptacles or pock¬ ets, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings form¬ ing part of this specification and in which figure 1 is a face view of one of the plates hawing three pockets or re¬ ceptacles, showing the front wall partly broken away; fig¬ ure 2 is a section on the line 2—2 of figure 1; figure 3 is a plan, showing two of the plates forming a single com¬ bination; and figure 4 an enlarged detailed section. In all of the above views, corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference. Each plate is formed with two walls 1 and 2 con¬ structed preferably of a single continuous sheet made pref¬ erably of very thin sheet nickel, say about .005 of an inch in thickness, and bent at its bottom around a horizontal frame 3 from which extend:, the vertical spacing frames 4, 4, to all of which frames the sheet is secured by means of nickel rivets, as shown, to form a strong, rigid, hollow plate with pockets or receptacles between the vertical frames 14, 4. The walls 1 and 2 of the plate, as shown, are per¬ forated with small holes arranged very closely together and each about .015 of an inch in diameter. I prefer to, use nickel in the construction of the plates, since that metal is not oxidizable by electric oxidation in an alkaline so¬ lution. Iron, on the other hand, is slightly oxidized un¬ der these conditions and is not so desirable, but if very carefully and perfectly plated with nickel, it may be used satisfactorily for the construction of either the plates or the frames. Obviously the frames 3 and 4 may be, and in some instances preferably are, constructed of hard rubber or other inert material, to which the perforated sheet is riveted, as explained. Secured to one or both of the sides of the plate are a number of insulated spacing blocks 5, 5, I to prevent adjacent plates from touching when immersed in the electrolyte. In the manufacture of my : r oxidizable element for use in a rever Bible galvanic cella r first preferably take monosulphide of iron and reduce it by a crushing operation until the particles thereof may be passed through a screen having about 40,000 openings per square inoh, and I inti¬ mately mix about eight parts by weight of the powdered mono¬ sulphide with about two parts by weight of flake graphite of a size considerably larger than the perforations in the wallB of the pockets or receptacles. Pinks graphite be¬ ing exceedingly thin and of large area gives. an extensive conducting surface in proportion to its bulk and weight. This mixture is then moistened with a twenty-percent solu¬ tion of potasslo hydroxide, and the dampened mass is paoked into the pockets or receptacles of the proper plates by a suitable tamping tool. Owing to the want of flexibility of the graphite, the mixture paokB to a hard porpue mass.' The effect of electrolytic gassing therefore does not dis¬ integrate the mass as a whole When properly compressed, x, ^After eaoh pocket or reoeptaole has been, tightly paoked with the mass almost to its top, a wad of, asbestos fiber 6 about a quarter of an inoh in thickness is introduced into- the pocket or reoeptaole above the mass, and on top of this packing is placed a strip of sheet niokel 7 entirely cover¬ ing the asbestos and filling the mouth of the pooket, which, atrip is permanently Beoured in position by niokel wireB 8 threaded through the openings near the top of the pooket, as shown particularly in figure 2. The element thus form¬ ed iS subjected to. electrolytic oxidization in a solution of potassio hydroxide, whereby sulphur will be set free/and combining with the alkali forms a sulphide of potassium:; which diffuses out of the mass, while the iron ie converted to a ferrous oxide thereof. This diffusion of the alka¬ line sulphide out of the plate is hastened and facilitated hy subjecting the contents of the plate to alternate oxidiza¬ tion and reduction by alternately reversing the oxidizing ourrent, and by several of these operations the whole of the Bulphur will be. eliminated and the element will be ready for use after the iron haB been reduced to the.metallio state. Since iron does not decompose water, there will obviously be no loool action between it and the graphite. The oxide formed from the sulphide increases in bulk, and being intermediately mixed with the graphite, produces oon? siderable pressure on the walls of the plate, which prevents any disturbance of the initial state of the mass even when it is subjected to strong gassing within the pores by over¬ charging the element electrioally. The object of using the monosulphide is to secure the greatest amount of iron oxide in the smallest space and in a form oapable of being reduced to the metallic state eleotrolytioally. My attempts to utilize iron as the oxidizable ele¬ ment in an alkaline reversible battery were for a long time-',; frustrated by the facts, determined only after., exhaustive1 experiments, that dried oxides of iron were not reducible to any extent by the ourrent; that spongy iron reduoed by hydrogen from different iron Balts was not oxidizable t0 considerable extent by the current; that the hydrates of iron were very bulky and difficult of use without drying, fJ which operation off eoted some obscure ohange therein to render them nearly inert in the presence of the reduo ing. current; that bulky ferric oxide was hot oapable of any considerable reduction by the ourrent; and finally that ferrous oxide though easily reducible was very diffiouli to^ “P- . ■ 'hM I I prepare on aooount of atmoBpherio oxidation. The formation of the ferrous oxide In the first inBtanoe within the pock- .e.tB_or._reoeptacleB did away with the objections due to the bulk of the hydrates, while the oxide thus formed is per¬ fectly reducible by the ourront. Instead of forming the oxide in this way by oxidizing the monosulphide in an alka¬ line solution, it v/ill be obvious that |salts of iron, like ferrous ohloride, may be paoked with the graphite and when plaoed in on alkaline solution form ohloride of the alkali and ferrous oxide of iron, the alkaline ohloride. diffusing out of the mass. The results, however, are not ed good os when the sulphide of iron is used, since the quantity of finely divided iron produoed thereby is considerably less' and is also less porous, offering therefore a reduced op¬ portunity for the solution to penetrate the maSB, and low- ering in oonsequenoe its current-conductingcapacity. Met¬ allic iron, even when finely divided as produoed by electro- lytio reduotion, does not of itself oxidize in solutions of the fixed aikalies, and the oxide of iron is not appreciably soluble. Compact, dense, or non-porous iron, i.. e. iron having relatively large partioles, when Bubjeoted to a powerful electrolytic oxidation, forms a soluble ferrate of the alkali and dissolves in the electrolyte. On the other hand, finely divided iron obtained as described, when sub¬ jected to eleotrolytio oxidation, does not form a soluble ferrate but 1b oonverted into the insoluble ferrous oxide. My improved oxidizable element is therefore absolutely per¬ manent, so that in the operation of the battery, the elec¬ trolyte is not ohanged at any stage of the working, and ab¬ solutely no deterioration of the iron element takes plaoe. / > Having described the advantages and characteristics of, and the preferred manner of making, the oxidizable ele- -6- ment, reference will now be made to the preferred oxygen- furniehing or storing element of the cell. I have discovered by experiment that the lower oxides of nickel and oobalt, when in contact with a conduct¬ or in an alkaline solution, oan be almost wholly raised from the lower to a higher stage of oxidation eleotrolyti- cally and that those, higher oxides revert to a lower stage by reduction with extreme 'case, and availing myself of this fact, I have constructed an oxygen-storing element capable of greater capacity, of less we ight , and of higher perma- nenoe than any electrode for the purpose which, so far as 1 know, has heretofore been applied. Neither the oxide of niokel nor of oobalt is appreciably soluble in an alkaline electrolyte, and both niokel and oobalt give nearly the some voltage in use, but slnoe nickel' is less expensive than co¬ balt, I prefer to use the former element for the purpose. The preferred process of making the oxygen-storing element consists in first preoipitatlng either the monoxide or black hydrated dioxide of the metal, say niokel, in the usual way, washing the preoipitate free from the products of the reaction, filtering off the liquid and drying the preoipltatqi The resulting dried hydrated oxide is then powdered very fine and is ready for use. Either oxide may be used with the same results. The process above outlined applies to cobalt as well as to niokel. About seven parts by weight of the finely powdered hydrate and three parts by weight of flake graphite are then intimately mixed, and moistened with a small quantity of a strong solution .of potass i'o hydroxide so as to dampen the mass, whioh is then Inserted in the pockets. or reooptaoles of the proper plates in small quantities at a time and thoroughly tamped at e&oh accession. Finally the mass : Is oovered with' a layer of '' -7-- ' V' asbestos, held in plaoe by a plate of nickel secured in position by niokel wires, as I have described in explaining the makeup of the oxidizable element. The plates, the pookets of whioh are thus supplied with the mixture of the hydrated oxide and graphite, are then immersed in a solu¬ tion of potasslo hydroxide in water and Bubjeated for a con¬ siderable time, to an oxidizing current of about fifty milam- peres per square inch of surface, during whioh the oxide is either raised to a higher stage of oxidation than the black oxide HigOg or else aots as an absorber of oxygen in some manner unknown to me. "Whatever the action may be, the oxide so treated acts as a most efficient oxygen-storing element for commercial use in a galvanic battery. The object of employing graphite, which iB not af¬ fected by electrolytic oxidation, is to offer a great ex¬ tent of surfaoe against whioh the whole of the oxide is in oontaot, a large conducting surface being necessary sinoe the eleotrolytic reduction and oxidation for praotioal pur¬ poses only extend a small distance from the conducting sur¬ faoe against whioh the oxide is in oontaot. This is ad¬ mirably effected by the use of graphite in its. mioaoeous fora, the proportions indicated being Buoh as to practical¬ ly insure that the eleotrolytic aotion need not penetrate a greater diBtanoe from the oontaot surfaoe than the thick¬ ness of a single particle of the powdered oxide. Further¬ more* there is no local aotion between the nickel or oobalt oxides and the graphite. The reason Why niokel hydrate is preferably used in¬ stead of other compounds of nickel, is that the metal itself, when finely divided (as obtained by reducing a niokel com¬ pound by hydrogen or electrolysis), is not oxidisable to any considerable extent when subjected to eleotrolytlo oxi- iation in an alkaline solution. The sulphide of nickel is not decomposed by eleotrolyBis under the conditions of bat¬ tery v/ortc, and the sulphide of cobalt only imperfectly; tienoe the hydrates are the moBt available compounds for use, aince they do not become inert to the same extent as hy¬ drates of the oxides of iron after drying, they are easily prepared, and by absorbing the solution they swell within the pooketB or receptaoles so as to insure Intimate contact and stability. During the charging of the cell, the ab¬ sorption of oxygen by the oxide of niokel or cobalt causes the oxide to further swell and bulge the pookets or recep¬ taoles outwardly, and on discharge a proportionate contrac¬ tion takes place. In order that the walls of tho pockets or receptacles my always maintain the desirable intimate contact with the active material, tho pookets are as stated made of some highly elastio metal, such as hard rolled Bhoet niokel, so that at eaoh contraction of the mass the pocket walls will by their elasticity keep in oontact therewith. I am aware that in British patent Ho. 15,370 of 1899 to Miohalowaky, the patentee suggestsiin a zino alkali storage battery, the use of the anhydrous black oxide of niokel (HigOj) as a depolarizer, and describes prooesses for making the same by heat reactions. I have ascertained by experiment that the prooeBses so suggested are inopera¬ tive, and that the oxide sought for, if obtained, would be ineffective for the purpose. The black oxide of niokel (HlgOg) obtained in any manner known to me does not of it¬ self act as a depolarizer to any extent with aino in a rever¬ sible galvanic battery using an alkaline solution, as the patentee state*; and when this oxide is formed by heat re¬ actions, X find that when subjected to ole otrloal oxidation to raise it to a higher state or to alter its oapooity for I assorting oxygen, it ie nearly inert, and does not absorb oxlr. gen to any practical extent like the- hydrated oxides. Having constructed the two elements of the battery as above explained, they are preferably utilized together in a solution of twenty-five percent of potassio hydroxide in water, and the ooll ie ready for ubo, the iron being in metallic fora and the niokel or cobalt oxide raised to its higher stage. Owing to several obsoure roaotlons which take plaoe when the battery is discharged, and also to a change of re- sistanoe within the electrodes, the voltage is Variable, but the average voltage over the whole disoharge is about 1 volt, rising as high as 1.32 volts and sometimes higher when freshly charged. Ify improved battery oan be over-charged, fully dis¬ charged, or even reversed and charged in the opposite direc¬ tion without any injury. Over-gassing does not disturb the initial state of the materials in the pookets, all the ingredients are insoluble, the supporting plates are unat- taoked by electrolytic oxidation, and the whole operation is independent of the strength of the solution, so that the battery is of great permanenoe, while at the same time more energy will be stored per unit of weight than with any per- nanent praotioal combination heretofore suggested. I have oonBtruoted a battery as above described tfiloh gives an available storage capacity of one horse power hour for 73 pounds weight, but it may be made lighter rithout destroying its permanent oharaoter. The specific magnetio metals are iron, niokel and >obalt. By- the express ion"oxide of a specific magnetic met- a other than iron" as employed in my olaias, I mean oxide- it niokel, oxide of cobalt or a combination of such, oxides. ly the use of that expression it is my purpose to embrace -10- and include ganerioally both of these utillzable oxides, but I shall also specifically elate oxide of nickel heroin, aud will specifically elate oxide of cobalt in a separate concurrent application. Having now described my invention, what I elate as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is us follows 1. An active element f or an alkaline reversible ft-' c iHsi. ' galvanic battery, comprising on-elcotrode and a hydrated oxide of & specific magnetic metal other than iron carried <■ by said electrode, substantially as set forth, 3. An active element for an alkalihe reversible, gal vail io battery, comprising an-eleotro'de, aT. hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said 5v^>-A- -eieotrode, and an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth, 3. An active element for on alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising aivlelectrofe, a' hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said e-leetrode, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 4. An RCtive element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising en-oiectrode and an oxide of nickel carried thereby having when charged nlootrolytioally more oxygen than Hi20a, substantially as set forth, 6. An active clement for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprieing ran-aleo$od#^an^oxide of niok- el carried thereby having when- oharged- olootrolytloaHy more oxygen than HigOg, and an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set fortji 6. An active eloment for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising ^-ele otrode/'^ox i de of niok- -11- el oarried thereby having when charged eleotrolytloally more oxygen than NigO^ ,and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as sot forth. ¥. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, oompr islng -an-eleotrode and a hydrated oxide of nickel carried thereby, substantially as set forth. 0. An aotive element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an-oleo-trode, a hydrated oxide of nickel carried thereby, and an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said hydrated oxide, substantially as set forth. 9. An aotive element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, o ompr is in g 'an -oleo-tr ode , a hydrated oxide of: nickel carried thereby, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. / 10. An aotive oxidizable element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an-eleo-trode and ei^cS rtf i tfii eleotrolytloally aotivs, finely divided iron carried thereby, substantially asset forth. , oitUTK . '■>* fs An element for /an alkaline reversible galvanic rrrr,i‘ »' •’> ■ ^ battery, con® rising an- electrode- and finely divided ferrous ■*£. rtf ■*. o oxide Carried thereby, substantially as ‘set forth. , . *4^ , . ' ' r\ 12. An aotive^ oxidizable element for an alkaline rovers iblo galvanic battery, comprising -an electrode- and an oxide of iron Carried thereby eleotrolytloally reducible to 1-U-faisA. the metallic state, substantially as set forth. i alkaline ‘ 13. In a reversible galvanic battery, electrolyte, -an-oleotrode carrying finely divided iron; whan charged, and another elootrede carrying an oxide of a spec¬ ific 'magnetic metal other than iron and- capable of furnish¬ ing oxygen > for the oxidation oft- the iron on, discharge, sub¬ stantially as set for th. •J4". In a reversible* galvanic 'battery, an alkaline electrolyte, au-elootrode carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, and another eiee^ed© carrying on ox- ide of a speciflo magnetic metal other than iron and capable of storing oxygen on charging, substantially as set forth, Jr5; In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline eleotrolyte, aa-eleotrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, another -eleo-trode oarrying an oxide of a specif io magnetic metal other than iron and capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, and an in ■ ert conducting material intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. ■£6. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, •en-eietrfcrode oarrying finely divided iron when is* charged, another -eletrfcrode- oarrying an oxide of a epeoif io magnetic metal other than iron and oapable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth, £7. In a reversible galvanio battery, an alkaline eleotrolyte, an-eleetrod« oarrying finely divided iron when charged, an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said finely divided iron, an o carrying an ox¬ ide of a speoifio magnetic metal other than iron oapable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, and an inert conducting material mixed with said, oxide, sub¬ stantially as set forth. /jiff. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline eleotrolyte, -an-ol-oetrode oarrying finely .divided iron when ohargedi flake graphite intimately mixed with said finely divided .iron, another •eOwfcMdjL oarrying ah ox¬ ide of a speoifio .magnetic metal other than iron oapable of -13- furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the Iron on discharge, and flake graphite mixed with 3aid oxide, substantially as set forth. . • -'j In u reversible galvanio battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an-ol-ootrodo carrying finely divided iron when charged, and another ©icetsode carrying oxide of nickel capa¬ ble of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on disoharge, substantially as set forth. / 20-. In a reversible galvanio battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an-deotroda carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, and another -oie-otrocUj carrying ah ox¬ ide of nickel, substantially as set forth. -21. In a reversible galvanio battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an-eiectrode oarrying finely divided iron when charged, and another electrode carrying oxide of nickel having when charged eleotrolytioaily more oxygen than tfigOg, substantially as set forth. -£$. In a reversible galvanio battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode oarrying finely divided iron when olmrged, and another oleotro3» oarrying a hydrated oxide of nickel, substantially as set forth. \> '■ , 23- In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an olooti-odo carrying finely divided iron when charged, another electrode oarrying oxide of nickel capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on dis¬ charge, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. ■ ' O 24; In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an-e loo tends carrying finely divided oxide of iron when diBoharged, another -e4ee4«^oarrying an oxide of nickel, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said ox- ids, substantially as set forth. -14- ■@8. In a reversible galvanio battery, an alka- Un© eleotrolyit, an- ©Retrod© carrying finely divided iron Clastio walls and an oxide of a Bpeoifio magnetic metal oth- ir than iron in Bald receptacle, said oxide being capable of burnishing oxygen eleotrolytioally upon diaoharge, substan- ;ially as set forth. v 29. An aotive element for an alkaline reversible ;alvan.io battery, comprising a perfor^ed'^reoeptaole having < lastio walls and an oxide of niokel carried thereby and. 'having vhen oharged eleotrolytioally more oxygen than Hi^Og, sub- i tantially as sat forth. 30. An aotive element for an alkaline reversible jalvanio battery, comprising a p erforated^ra'cep taole haying ilastio walls and a hydrated oxide of niokel carried by said •ecap taole and engaged by said walls with an olastio pres¬ sure, substantially as set forth. -15- |jol© otrolyte, an aotivo Material therein which in oharging discharging is alternately increased or decreased in Iulk, a perforated receptacle holding the material and hav- ng elastic mils which at all times engage the material, ith an elastio pressure, and ano th^r 'S^SIrede drying a ifferent active material, substantially an set forth. hattory> m alkaline sleotrolyte, -an-e±eojode carrying finely divided iron when harged, another -eleotrede 'hav ing" anTHf ox- ■ : de of a speoif ic magnetic metal other than iron carried rithin said receptacle and engaged hy the walls thereof with «n elastic pressure, said oxide being capable of furnishing ncygen f of the oxidation of the iron on discharge, substan- 1 ially as Bet forth. ’ - ' Sttlvauio battery, an alkaline electrolyte, aai-elec^rode carrying finely divided oxide of iron whan discharged, anoth^Tei^^^''ti^ising a recep¬ tacle having elastic walls, and an oxide of a speoif io mag- natid metal other than iron carried within said reoeptaolc * ld en«aS3d hy the walls with an elastio pressure and eapa- hLe of storing oxygen on oharging, suhstantially as set fprth. • Sd. ln;a reversible galvanic cell employing on al- kiline eleotrolyte, an active material therefor and flake glaphite intimately mixed therewith, substantially aB set .forth. -16- | Thi“ *>3?° oif ioab.lcn signed and wif | Witness^ X. )z£t State of County of ) : #J3. ) • 3 A. EDISON, the above named petitioner, being j duly awora, deposes and says that he Is a oitlaen of the Jnited States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park in the Coun- ty of Essex and State' of New Jersey; that he verily toeV lieves himself to he the' original, first and sole inventor Of tho IMPROVEMENT Xli REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERISS de- j oorihed and claimed in the .annexed speoifloatioto; that he does not know and does. not believe that the same was aver known or used before hia invention or discovery thereof; or patented or described' in any printed publication in the | United States of America or anyf’oreign country, before his invention or discovery thereof ».>f more than two years prior to '.this application} or in public uso or on sale, in the • | United States for more than two years prior to thiB appli- j cation, and that no application; .for foreign patent has 'tjfen filed by him or hia legal representatives or assigns in any foreign country, except aB follows: Great Britain, Prance, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Ipain, Belgium, Italy, Hun- || gary, Sweden and Russia, all filed Pebruary 5, 1901, but as yet none of said patents have issued, xJ 8 worn to and Bubscribedwbofore me this of Pebruary 1901, Notary Public. (Seal) 2—tiM. United States Patent Office, Apr. 2, 1901. Thoms A. Edison, Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, 31 Has sail St., *»*• !T- y- CA . no, -- NS* t K.*» '/ Plenee find below a eommunUmtim, from the EXAMINER in: charg^ofyour a,,/dieation. Ho. 49,453, filed Mar. 1, 1901, -"Reversible Galvanic Battery". F. I. Allen, It is suggested that the words conducting support be sub¬ stituted for "electrode" in claims TT~%, 3, 4, FT~S, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, U Claim 51 is objected to as being indistinct and functional in the words "a stable electrolyte^'An active material therein vhich in charging or discharging is alternately increased 6r decreased in bulk". The claims in this case are censidered to cover three in¬ dependent inventions: (1) an active element composed of an oxide of magnetic metal other than iron, covered by claims 1, 2, 3, 4, ,5’j 6:, 7-.j 8:j 9, 28, 29, 30; (2) an active element composed of finely divided iron, covered by claim 10; (3) a receptacle for containing active material, covered by claim 27. The claims ' which : include both active elements may be classed under either group 1 or 2. As to claims 11 and 12, in which finely divided ferrous oxide or an oxide of iron^electrolytically reducible to the metallic state is claimed? "These claims are either the same as claim 10 or they cover a different invention from that covered by claim 10. The active material should be specified in the same manner in each of these claims. The same criticism I 49,453 - 2. Claim 4 is rejected upon: BgjJii-sh-iafiP., -gfili _ 5, 1887, Abel, (Batt ., Sec .) ; ^ British 15,370, July 26, 1899, JIicholo7/sky, (Batt ., Sec .) . This -claim is considered to be broad enough to cover the use of 3Ti203 as the active agent tKXxxt since the words "when charged elect, roly tically" refer to only one condition of the battery if it is desired to cove'- the nickel oxide containing more oxygen than IH2 O3 it should be specifically so claimed. CJLaim 5 is rejected upon Abel, and Kicholowsky taken in connection withf / U. S. 274, ll(rf 20, 1883, DeLalande, (Batt ., 1-fl ., Zn. , Oxides) ; British 15, 880*rdund with a higher voltage than any known combination in alkaline solutions heretofore suggested, exclusive of suoh satteries where a plating out of the solution Is employed; and the pries per watt hour relative to the weight is lower than any combination now known. It seems therefore that >y the use of iron, with its cheapness and lightness, in j combination with nickel or cobalt, and particularly the for¬ mer, with its oho apneas, l.t china as and high voltage, a unique battery io produced possessing advantages never be¬ fore known. We believe therefore that the claims present an instance of a true combination of cooperating elements, and we hope that the Examiner will not insist upon his re¬ quirement for division. So far as claim 27 is concerned, the purpose of that claim tis only to cover the use of an active material in a reoeptaole having elastic walls in language which will em¬ brace the genus of applicant's invention. The Examiner does not object to suoh of the claims aB cover the employ¬ ment of a specific magnetic metal other than iron enclosed in a receptacle having elastic walls, so that W6 do not see the strict necessity of dividing on the lines of a claim ' which oovers the Bams invention in generic terms. With reference to claim 10, it is to ho observed that said olaim oovers as broadly, as possible "electrolyti- cally aotlve finely divided iron" as the oxidizable element of an alkaline storage battery, the claim aBBuming the ele¬ ment to be in a charged condition. Claim 11 covers "finely divided ferrous oxide", the assumption being that the element is in a discharged condi¬ tion. We do not know whether it is the practice to claim active elements both in their charged and discharged condi¬ tions, but we see no objection to suoh a practice, since it does not make the claims obscure, while the protection af¬ forded thereby would be increased. So far as tho 12th olaim is concerned, it is some¬ what broader than tho 11th in not being limited to ferrous oxide, and is designed to be commensurate with the 10th claim as covering any iron oxide which is "elaotrolytioally ' • I reducible to the metallic state upon charging". We have amended claims 4 and 8 by erasing the words "when oharged electrolytically", so that each of said olaims is now limited to "an oxide of nickel * * • having more oxygen than Ni203". In other words, each of these claims, covers the depolarizer in a charged condition. We under¬ stand the Scam iner intimates in Ms letter that the claims when thus amended will he allowed. In reference) to the British patent to Ah el, JJo.1862 of 1887, which the Examiner cites, the Invention thereof is a Lalande storage hattery using copper oxide as a dopolaris- er. The invention of the patent, as we understand it, con¬ sists in mixing an oxide which has several degrees of oxi¬ dation with copper oxide, and whioh hy parting with some of its Oxygen to the oopper, causes the latter to he raised tp a higher stage of oxidation, presumably OuOs. The patent recites a number of oxides whioh form lower and higher ox¬ ides and which may perform this aotion with oopper. The entire patent is full of misstatements and appears to be purely theoretical.. The patentee states that certain ox- ide« are insoluble in alkaline solutions, and among them mention is mode of oxide of bismuth (of whioh ijhera are five, though no one is specifically identified) and oxide of sil¬ ver, presumably AsfcO. Both of these oxides of these metals are so soluble in zinoate solutions of alkalies that it is praotically impossible to plate zinc from the solution in a coherent fora so as to be used in a storage battery. . Bismuth oxides of various kinds could be made ohemioally and used, but if made eleotrioally they reduce with suoh .dlf- . ficulty that the voltage would be lower than the common oop- per oxide of the lalande battery, and. their use therefore' , would be R positive detriment. Moreover, since bismuth' I oxide la not raised to the higher stage by current when in a solid state and in alkaline solutions, it could not possi¬ bly asa.lBt in giving off oxygen to the copper oxide to cause it to be raised to a higher stage. Peroxide of manganese, also referred to by the patentee, cannot be raised to a higher stage of oxidation chemically or by the current. It does not work at all in alkaline solutions. it is inert; In many oheraioal reactions peroxide of manganese passes its oxygen to assist in oxidations of other materials without itself changing. In this reBpeot it 1b like peroxide of oobalt, but in alkaline solutions under the conditions of a storage battery it does not so act. If protoxide of nickel is to be mixed with copper or teroxide of niokol is so used, neither aots as a transferrer of oxygen as the patentee states. The aame is true of protoxide of oobalt, although the peroxide of oobalt aots as suoh an agent but not in al¬ kaline solution. Thera are three oxides of copper, Ot^O, 3u0, and CuOg. The latter oxide is unstable, and although rery desirable as a depolarizer in an alkaline battery, it >annot be made by the ourrent nor be produced when mixed rith any of the above oxidizers. It is made chemically >y the action of peroxide of hydrogen, but it is bo unsta- ile that it decomposes at ordinary temperatures, and its 'Xis tenae is even denied by some chemists. Abel in his .atent states that on discharging from the battery, the: oxides revolt to a lower Btage of oxidation. This state¬ ment is entirely inoorreot, since silver, oopper and bis¬ muth, the oxides of whioh metals are all referred to;, re¬ vert to the metallic state. The. patentee also says that, oxide of lead oan be used in . the alkaline solution, where-; Upon lead will bo deposited in plaoe of zinc. Had the ex¬ periment boon tried, the patentee would have found that only filaments of lead ore formed under suoh conditions and; that I no coherent coating taken place, and that Instead of the oxides which are referred to being raised to a higher state Of oxidation, peroxide of lead would ho deposited on the positive pole out of the solution simultaneously with the deposition of lead on the negative pole and the various mixtures he recites would not he acted on at all. Finally, Abel in the patent wider consideration alleges that any oth¬ er metal than zino or lead can be used which will combine,, with the alkaline solution. Tills statement is also incor¬ rect, since aluminum combines oven better than zinc but can¬ not be plated back, and there are other raetal3 of the same character. It seems to us therefore that the Abel patent is purely theoretical, that most of its statements are en¬ tirely unsupported in fact, and that it should not be relied upon as a reference to a speoifio and valuable improvement,; based on actual experiments, no the Examiner knows. The Abel patent in question corresponds to German patent No. 38,383 of January 18, 1887, to Alfred Dun of Frankfort. This is tho patent that is specifically refer¬ red to by Mlohalowski in his German patent Ho. 118,351, which corresponds to the English patent in the same name, Ho. 15,370 of 1899. Tho German patent to Dun Is also re¬ ferred to by Mlohalowski in the latter's English patent¬ ee submit that if the Abel British patent or the correspond¬ ing Dun German patent offered any valuable suggestions for the use of oxide of niokel as a depolarizer for use irre¬ versible galvanic batteries, Mlohalowski, who followed Dun, would have availed himself of such suggestions. Yet the. fact is that Mlohalowski aooompllehed no more than did his, predecessor. All the statements made by Mlohalowski in liis patont have been investigated experimentally at the Ed¬ ison laboratory. It has been found that soaroely ^ single one has any foundation in fact, and the patent my be rt- • -8- gardod as entirely and hopelessly Inoperative. Mlohalowski etates tJiat KigOg acts as a depolarizer, "but this statement is untrue. ITigOj. when placed in contact with a conducting electrode in a zinc alkaline battery In inert, and that ox¬ ide when made by any of the methods described in the patent is inert. The oxide of nickel which acts as a depolarizer cannot he made by any of the processes recited in the Mi- ohalowski patent} neither can it be formed by taking the Ki20s an produced by the procesne# described by the patents*, even when subjected to electrolytic oxidation in an alka¬ line solution. The real depolarizer which applicant has discovered is a higher oxide than ITlgOg, made by electrolytic action in alkaline solution on nickel hydroxide and not on nickel oxide. It seetas to us that neither the bun patent ae de¬ scribed in the Ahel patent, nor the Kichalowski patent which the Examiner also refers to, can bo considered as throwing any light whatever on the particular work in which applicant is engaged, and we submit that suoh patents therefore should be withdrawn. In view of the manifest value of applicants depolarizer, it seems hardly possible that the prior invent¬ ors could have produced the same without discovering it* importance. We note that the Examiner rejects the claims on the electrolytioally active finely divided iron or electrolyti- cally reducible oxide of iron on the United states patent to Lalande. Although tho translation from the French of the Lalando specification is not all that. could be desired, it is clear that lalanda describes the employment of reduced : iron, palladium, platinum, and spongy platinum solely for : the purpose of absorbing hydrogen, which of itself acts as the oxidlzable element. .The reduced metal is, however, ab- -D- ' ' : solutely insert and 1b therefore not eleatrolytioally ac¬ tive, nor waa it expeoted that it would he, So far as the Hamilton patent is oonoerned, we fail to perceive its pertinence. All that it appears to show is a depolarising plate held in position hy a wire, whioh oannot in any sense of the term he considered the equivalent of a recap taole having elastic walls. Applicant has made an effort to fully and completely diBouBB all the references oitod hy the Examiner, and point out why in his opinion the requirement for division oueht not to he insisted upon. We hope that as now presented the ease my he al¬ lowed. Very respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, By _ _ Kis Attorneys . New York, April 15, 1901. -3©-: VI! s !i 3— 210. department of the interior. A.M.H. United States Patent Office. Thomas A. Edison, Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, 31 Hass an st . , Hew York, H. Y. ( m?j Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application. Ho. 49,453, filed Mar. 1, 1901, -"Reversible Galvanic Battery", Commissioner of A considSerenteent flle<1 Apr’ 18 * 1901’ has been entered aad nr.o«=TJ!e+PvrAi0n‘? shovm ln solid black i" ?i e. 2, should be tion! h tched’ since in this art solid black indicates insula- disttno t ?^^lth?T?aSe “T sti11 considered to cover two ot invent ioas. (l) an act ivejlerpgnt composed of an oxide of a magnetic metal other than iron?/ covered by claims 1, 2, ’ fj . 5* 7> 8» 2®» 29 and 30; (2) an active material com¬ posed of finely divided iron or finely divided ferrous oxide nnM«edfby olai“s 1°» 11 and 12. These active elements are ca- S?bfh» L«»?4na!?endentiy of each other> see bottom of pace 2 °5w specification, and neither modifies the action of the In advance of further action upon the merits the claims Should be limited to one invention. of it 7 and 8 are each rejected upon Abel, ^d cobalt which the Uf® °f hydrated oxides of nickel ^oxidath^hl 5 h t! o£ro?erty of Passlne to a hie her staCe or oxidation. See lines 20-25, pace 1 of Abel. record and ^ 10’ 11 12 &re each reJected upon Dalande, of German 107 i 727, Hov. 29, 1899, Poliak, (Batt . , Sec. ) . thaV applicant is mistaken in the statement that in the Dalande patent the reduced iron is solelv for the pur¬ pose of abuorbine hydroeen, as it is believed this is true only ! 4 49,455 - 2. of the palladium and platinum, the metals usually employed for this purpose. As the reduced iron and precipitated copper are readily oxidizable elements they would be alternately oxidized and reduced during discharging and charting of the Lalande cell. In the absence of evidence that the reduced iron merely acts to absorb hydrogen, it must be assumed that it acts as above stated Las' this appears to be the more probable explanation. Claims 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 32 and 33 ar^e each rejected upon lalande and Poliak taken in connection with Abel and Hichalowski, of record. These claims do not cover such a com¬ bination as will mee.t the legal tests precluding the joinder of references. Each tJf the active elements is capable of use with various other active elements and neither one of them modifies the action of the other. The Hichalowski patent is retained as a reference as the data upon which the statements are based that it is inoperative are not specified in this case. If this data be furnished the Hichalowski patent will be with¬ drawn as a reference. Claim 22 is rejected upon Lalande and Poliak taken in con¬ nection with Abel. Claim 27 is rejected upon Hamilton and lalande of record. In reply to the statement that all Hamilton appears to show is a depolarizing plate held in position by a wire attention is called to lines 48-52 and 60-63, page 2. In lines 52, 53, page 1 of Lalande it is stated that the oxide of copper may be held by a bag of iron, copper or brass gauze. Claims 28, 29 and 51 are each rejected upon Hamilton and Lalande taken in connection with Abel and Hichalowski. Claim 30 is rejected upon Hamilton and Lalande taken in connection with Abel. Ex'r'Div. 3, c THOMAS A. EDISON REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERY SIZED MARCH 1, 1901 SERIAL NO. 49,453 A P PEAL . HON. COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR: In the above-entitled application, we hereby appeal to the Board of Exarainera-inrOhief from the decision of the Pr.imary Examiner, who on May 7th, 1901, rejected for a second time and f inally claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 52 and 33, and we assign the following reas ons of appeal :- . 3- The Examiner erred in deciding that the patent to Abel of record dieolosee the equivalent of applicant's to- proved depolarizer.. The Examiner erred in deciding that the pat¬ ents to Lalande and to Poliak disclose the equivalent of. applicant's improved oxidizable element. 3- The Examiner erred in deciding that the refer¬ ences of record anticipate the terms of the rejected claims. -.V The Examiner erred in deciding that the refer¬ ences of reoord anticipate the substance of said claims. Jk_ The Examiner erred in rejecting said claims,. _ 6._ The Examiner erred in not allowing said claims. An oral hearing is- raBpeotfully requested. ROOM NO. 149. Respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, pew York, Kay 8, 1901. His Attorneys. Messrs. Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, New York City. Gentlemen: - Your favor of the 8th instant, enclosing two appeals in Edison Storage Battery cases, filed January 8, 1901, and March 1, 1901, No. 42,514 and No. 49,453, respectively, is at hand and contents noted. Mr. Byrnes refused to accept the appeal in the March case, as certain of the claims had not heen twice acted upon. He also was of the opinion that the case should be divided before, appeal. 1 telegraphed the result of the interview to you, and upon receiving your reply again saw Mr. Byrnes. He agreed to withdraw hi3 requirement for division until after the appeal is decided. At the same time, I have filed a request, for reconsideration. Both cases are set for Wednesday next, in the afternoon. The Examiner’s ' aireweiswill be ffirnished in time, . YoUrs. truly, IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFJICE, - 0O0 - - Thomas A. Edison : <. Reversible Galvanic Battery : Room No. 149. Piled March 1, 1901 : Serial No. 49,453 ! - $Oo - Honorable Commissioner of Patents, Sir:- In the above entitled application, it is re¬ quested that the requirement for division be waived un¬ til the appeal to be taken to the Board be disposed of. It is understood that it is the usual praotide to require that division be made prior to appeal, but in view of the peculiar ciroumstances of the case and the desire on the part of the applicant for immediate aotion, , it is requested that this requirement be postponed. Reconsideration of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 is requested. It i-s thought that -the Abel patent does not disclose the equivalent of applicant's improved de¬ polarizer. Reconsideration of daimB 10, 11 and 12 is requested, as it is thought that the references Lalande and Poliak do not disclose the equivalent of applicant's improved oxidizable element. Reconsideration of claims 13, 14, 16, 19, 2b, 21, 32 and 33, io requested, as it is thought that the references Abel and Michaelowski do not meet the terms of these claims. Reconsideration of claim 22 is requested for the reasons stated in connection with claims 10, 11 and 12. Reconsideration of claim 27 is requested, as it is thought that Hamilton and Lalande do not disclose the in¬ vention set forth in this claim. Reconsideration of olaims 23, 29 and 31, is requested, for the reason that the patents of Hamilton and Lalande taken in connection with those of Abel and Michaelov/ski, do not disolose the invention set forth in these claims. Reconsideration of claim 30 i 3 requested for the same reason. Respectfully submitted, Thomas A. Edison, by Washington, I). C., May 9, 19ol. his Attorneys. Waihlngton, D. C.» DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, N d HuurtieSi States ^patent | • , Washington, ffl. C., . iqo y/ \ 1 SM: " / — | 2 I have to acknowledge the receipt of the APPEAL in the .... 8 ■ ja. np * 3 the fee payable thereon. jj Of the result due advice will be given. . | • • Very respectfully, \ M. '14* • . fe - . r / tmissloner of Patents. 17924blm<-01 V in the United states patent office. THOMAS A. EDISON REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES FILED MARCH 1, 1901 SERIAL NO. 49,453 BRIEF FOR APPELLANT. The present invention relates to reversible galvanic or so-called •'storage'' batteries. A light, permanent and oheap storage battery iB a device for which many inventors have sought unsuooessfully for years. The problem was ta¬ ken up by Mr. Edison some time ago, and after almost count¬ less experiments a number of new cells have been produced. Of the several inventions which were made as a. result of these exp eriments , the combination of the present oase iff that whioh has been finally adopted as offering the most per¬ fect solution of all praotioal difficulties. The common lead aooumulator originally suggested by Plantd and improved by Faure, Brush and others, is at the present time praotioally the only storage battery in use, bu\ it .14 objectionable, on aooount of its great weight and enor¬ mous deterioration. Batteries of the alkaline zinoate type have also been suggested a,nd used,, and ; they ai’e of less weight than lead batteries, they have a greater deter¬ ioration, principally on aooount of the failure of previous experimenters to disoover a.raetal on which the aino oould be plated out of the solution in a sufficiently ooherent form as to -be practicable. In .applicant *& experiments , suol a metal has been discovered and is embodied in another appli- cation) but with, batteries of', the alkaline isinoate type the Before the Examiners-in-chief/ On Appeal. present oase hafl nothing to do. It my ho mentioned, how¬ ever, that alkaline zinoata batteries, although 'ii^tor than lead oello , must always be necessarily bulky, sinoe enough solution must he employed to take up the zino oxide on dis¬ charge. What applioant sought to do, therefore, was to pro- duoe a battery having ohemioal reactions whioh require noth¬ ing to he taken from or added to the solution in discharging or charging and henoe overoome the necessity of using a largo quantity of solution, as is necessary in the alkaline zino- ate and load batteries, and at the same time to employ an alkaline eleotrolyte and hence prevent the deterioration pro- duoed by acids, overoome the necessity of employing a great hulk of water in Whioh to carry the aoid, and also do ! away with the necessity of rapid absorption of some ingredi¬ ent from the liquid as to lead cells. Hence it was first I necessary to find some metal which oan be oxidized and re¬ duced in alkaline solutions and whose oxide is insoluble therein. In searching for suoh a metal, applicant's exper¬ iments carried him through the list of all the elements of sufficient oheapnesfi arid quantity to make their use possible in this aft. Metals whioh are prohibitively high in cost o • the supply of whioh ;is very low were not, of course, as ex¬ haustively examined as others. Many interesting facts were determined by 'these se^periments. It was fpund that magne¬ sium opuld not be. -used, , (although light, beoaupe its oxide is not reducible, while , of bourse, its great eagpenee would be further, obJeotionab^e. Aluminum* while cheap, and light, oannot be employed,; sitjoe its , oxide is soluble irt - the ialka- };ine solution, .and. furthermore ijroould not be plated back ai in an Alkaline ^einoate battery,; -even if its. oxide did’not ddssolwe. 'ManganeO!»;fiB/.also. edbnomidal • and‘ of light weight V v ' ■ : . :;v ’ . -r' ■v but it decomposes spontaneously in an alkaline solution, and hence is usalesB. Cadmium can be used, as applicant de¬ scribes and claims in pending applications, but the supply of this metal is quite restricted and its price is high. Nickel oxide oould not be reduced to the metallic state, al¬ though cheap and light, and even if it oould be used its voltage would be very low. The same is true of cobalt, ■which, however, is relatively expensive. Tin is out of the question, as its oxide is soluble. The oxides of antimony are also soluble, their atomic weight high, and even if such oxides oould be used the voltage derived therefrom would be prohibitively low. lead cannot be employed, since its ox¬ ide is soluble. Copper oan be used, but its voltage is very low. The only possible metals, therefore, whioh can be. used for the purpose are cadmium, iron and copper. The voltage derived from cadmium and iron is about the same, while that from oopper is very muoh lower. Having, therefore, by a process of exclusion, deter¬ mined upon these possible useful metals, applicant construct¬ ed oells employing cadmium as the active metal and using as a depolarizer oxide of oopper prepared in a special way so as to be entirely insoluble. That combination, as stated, is made the subject of other applications, and through the issue of foreign patents and publication in technical Jour¬ nals haB been made known to t be world. The utilisation of cadmium as the aotive element was very simple, since that metal is readily reduoed by the charging current and oxidised on discharge. With iron, how¬ ever, the problem presented great difficulty. Since none of the ohendoal books to which applicant had aooess referred tp. any iron pburpound whioh could be eleotrolytioally oxidise! arid reduced and whose oxide is insoluble in an aUdllin* so¬ lution, imoh a compound had to be discovered by independent -s- (experiment. The more prominent of the diffioulties which applicant met in hie eearoh for the right material are state 1 in the specification. Applicant says:- I "My attempts to utilize iron aB the oxidizable element in an alkaline reversible battery were for a lone time frustrated by the facts, determined only after exhaustive experiments, that dried oxides of iron were not reduo ible to any extent by the our- rent; that spongy iron reduced by hydrogen from different iron salts was not oxidizable to any con¬ siderable extent by the ourrantj that the hydrates of iron were very bulky and difficult of use without [drying, which operation effected some obBoure oharige therein to render them nearly inert in the presence of the reducing current; that bulky ferrio oxide was not capable of any considerable reduction by the current; and finally, that ferrous oxide, though easily reducible, was very difficult to prepare on acoount of atmospheric oxidation." All of these facts, as stated, are based on aotual experimental work, and the statements have been made only after their truth has been completely verified. The Exam- |.ner does not, nor will he, dispute the oorreotness of any ine of these allegations of fact, for the reason that in ap- 'lioant's prior case filed December 88, 1900 (sinoe aban- .oned and of which this is a continuation), the Examiner re¬ vested applicant to furnish evidence to substantiate these tatements, whereupon the Examiner was- invited to the Edison aboratory and the truth of each was demonstrated by aotual Having decided to use iron as the active element, having found that reduced spongy iron is not oxidizable, and that bulky ferrio oxide, dried ferrio oxides and dried ferrio hydrates are not reducible to any considerable extent, those materials had to be excluded, leaving ferrous oxide as the only material capable of use. As already stated, how- Eer, ferrous oxide la extremely difficult to prepare,., on count of atmospheric oxidation. At the time of the fil- g of the present application, the preferable process of I preparing ferrous oxide suitable for use none is tad in finely crushing iron monosulphide, mixing it with powdered flake graphite or other inert conducting material, paoking the mass in perforated pockets or receptacles made of nickel or nickel-plated steel so as not to ho affeoted by the elec¬ trolyte, and subjeotine the mass to alternate electrioal oxidation and reduction so as to eliminate the sulphur. This resulted in the production of what is supposed to be ferrous oxide, which was capable of being reduoed to the met¬ allic fora when subjected to the charging current and of be¬ ing oxidized to the ferrous condition during the discharging operation. More recent developments have produced improved processes for obtaining the right kind of oxide, which has the property of being acted on by the current. The oxide of iron employed by applicant, and which '• is eleotrolytioally reducible, has been generally referred t> as “ferrous oxide8, but later experiments have led applicant to suppose that possibly the oxide may be in a lower condi¬ tion of oxidation than the ferrous state and may have the formula IFegO. It is sufficient to say that it is of a low¬ er condition of oxidation than ferrio oxide, and if it is not ferrous oxide it very olpseiy approximates the chemical formula of the latter. Applioont describes the way by whidi the oxide is produced, so that it is, of course, unimportant to positively identify it by itB chemical formula. The production of ferrous oxide, or a new oxide if it be such, capable of electrolytic oxidation, was the result of pure discovery on applicant's parti In making the testB for.an operative iron compound, electrodes were made utilizing all known iron combinations, and these electrodes were opposed by an ordinary copper oxide depolarizer. It was found that : none of, them worked. When, however, the current was revem, id — - - - ■ — ■ ' - ■ . ft Set _ : _ - ■ ■ through the oells, It was discovered, upon again attempting to discharge, that the cell using the monosulphide combina¬ tion gave slight results. Applicant then found that hy. ox¬ idising and reducing the monosulphide in the alkaline elec¬ trolyte to eliminate the sulphur, a condition of oxidation was produoed whioh was operative for the purpose. Thus the Examiners-in-rChief will see the process by which the new active material was reached. In the first, place, objectionable types of batteries had to be exoluded, and a new and theoretically perfect typo devised. In the sepond plaoe, those metals which could not be used, for one reason or another, had to b8 eliminated, narrowing the field of utility to oadaium, iron and copper. Hext, of these three metals cadmium and oopper were exoluded, the first beoause of its expense and the seoond because of its low voltage; so that at last iron was settled upon. And finally, of the many iron compounds, the lower oxide alone was found to he suitable for the purpose, and that only by experimental discovery, as stated. Even with this discov¬ ery made, further experiments were necessary in order to ; get it in the proper form for use and prevent atmospheric oxidation, and also to obtain the maximum effect per unit of weight. Having settled upon iron as the oxidlssabla or active element of the cell, the next difficulty met in the devel¬ opment of the battery was the production of a depolarizer suitable for use therewith in an alkaline solution. Prior to applicant’s invention, oxide of copper and oxide of mer¬ cury were practically the only available depolarizers for the purpose. Copper oxide used as a depolarizer with iron develops only about .45 of .a volt, and although that oxide, is cheap and light, the low voltage necessitates a large ir- oreaB* of weight. furthermore it was impossible, prior to applicant fs experiments in the art, to prepare copper oxide in suoh a way as to be completely insoluble in the alkaline solution when subjected to electrolytic action. Merourio oxide employed as a depolarizer with iron develops from .85 to .90 of a volt, but its weight and expense are also high, neither of these available depolarizers when used with iron appeared to offer a complete solution of the storage battery problem, although applicant has filed applications describ¬ ing the employment of oxide of copper as a depolarizer, pre¬ pared in a new way so as to be entirely insoluble. In searching for a new depolarizer the heat of forma¬ tion of whose oxide should be as low or lower than that of meroury, applicant found after a large number of experi¬ ments that a certain oxide of nickel was the desirable ele¬ ment, on account of its cheapness and entire insolubility in an alkaline electrolyte; but the preparation of a nickel com¬ pound capable of operating successfully presented as great difficulties as were met with in the work on the iron ele¬ ment. It was found, in the first place, that the metal : itself, when finely divided (as obtained by reduoing a nick¬ el compound by hydrogen or electrolysis), is not oxldizablc to any considerable extent when subjected to eleotrolytio oxidation in an alkaline solution, whioh faot is stated in the specification (page 8). It was clear, therefore, that applicant could get no Information by analogy from the de- ?olari*ere previously used in alkaline solutions, beoause both merotiry and' copper in metallic form, when finely di- rided, are readily oxidizable elect w>lytioally and with equal facility revert to the metallic condition upon discharge. pinoe finely divided nickel oannot be oxidized aa‘ stated, the use of nickel in ways analogous to the employment of the 1 previous depolarizer* was a hopeless and, in fact, impossi¬ ble problem. In many forma of aoid batteries, as, for ex¬ ample, in the ordinary lead accumulator, the depolarizing oxides, instead of passing to the metallic state and vice versa. P&ss from a low condition of oxidation to a high or peroxide condition. Applicant was able to get no help even from this analogy, because it, was found that peroxide of niofeel (Nigtyj ) wan absolutely inert for depolarizing pur¬ pose*5 • After making a great many experiments in this line, during which the attempted use of nickel was given trp as hopeless and again referred to, it was found, purely as a result of discovery, that the hydrated lower oxide of nickel or the hydrated peroxide thereof, when subjected to electro¬ lytic oxidation in an alkaline solution, was either rais.ed to a higher state of oxidation than the peroxide condition or else acted as a meohanioal absorber of oxygen in some unknown manner, and that upon discharge it, , reverted to a lower s tate of oxidation. In other words, it was rt 1b covered that if nickel is to be used as a depolarizer in batteries of this type, it passes from a low to a super-peroxide state of oxi¬ dation, and not, like oopper and meroury, from the metallic state to an oxide and vioa versa, or, like the depolarizer* of lead batteries, from a lower oxide to the peroxide state. The discovery which applicant made and by which the new dcr polarizer was produced was brought to light only after prac¬ tically all the available nickel compounds were fully exper- riented with. It was found, as stated in the specification, that nickel sulphide is not decomposed by. eleotrclysi*. under the conditions of. battery work, as- the analogous iron sul*r; IphidCj. and further that even when the black nickel peroxide ) is produced by. he at re^otiotm, so aa to be anhydrous, f* 48 Poetically inert and does not absorb oxygen to any rrt practical extent, like the hydrated oxides, whert subjected tc eleotrolytid action. It may be stated that bo far as ap¬ plicant known, he is the first to suggest the possibility of using oxide of nickel as a depolarizer in a storage battery employing an alkaline solution and wherein during the charg¬ ing operation the oxide is raised to a condition of oxidation beyond the peroxide state ofc else acts as a raeohanioal absorb¬ er of oxygen. Having made the discovery in oonneotion with oxide of niokel, the close analogy to that element of cobalt led applioant to assume that oxides of oobalt would act in the same way, which surmise was verified by experiment. In his application, applioant describes a common way of producing the hydrated oxide, consisting, generally, in preoipitating either the monoxide or the black hydrated dir oxide of either niekel or oobalt, washing the precipitate free from the produo ts of the reaction, filtering off the liquid, and drying the precipitate, the resulting dried hy¬ drated oxide being then finely powdered. Briefly stated, then, applicant's improved storage battery is of the alkaline type, employing the liquid only as a conductor, its active or oxidizable element being fine¬ ly divided ferrous oxide, or else some unknown oxide lower in oxygen than the ferrous condition, and (employing as the; depolarizer or oxygen-furnishing element a hydrated oxide of niokel or cobalt capable of being raised to a higher or sup¬ er-peroxide state of oxidation on oharging. When in a dis¬ charged oondltioii, ' the negative eleotrode is in a condition of ferrous oxide and the positive eleotrode is in a condition of ordinary blabk hydrated oxide of nickel or oobalt. Ber¬ ing charging, tbie. ferrous oxide is reduoed to the metallio state and the . oxi^of : nickel or cobalt raised to a higher state of oxidation than the sesquioxids or, as it in some¬ times oalled, the peroxide state. In order that the current-conductive capacity of the active materials may ho sufficiently high, applicant mixes thorn with rooited proportionn of flake graphite or other inert conducting material. In practice, the finely divided particles of the active materials fora a thin coating or ; , layer upon the graphite scales. Tho blocks or compressed masses of the active materials are then received in perfor¬ ated pockets or receptaoles made of nickel or of iron or .; ■steel nickel-plated so as to he insoluble in the electro¬ lyte, thus completing the cells. It was found, with the nickel oxide particularly, that whan subjected to a charging current so as to be further oxidized, a considerable expan¬ sion in bulk took place, with a<: consequent contraction on discharge. It was, therefore, necessary to siipport the ac¬ tive materials in pockets or receptacles having elastic pallj, which maintained good electrical contact with «ie aotive ma¬ terials at all times, irrespective of bulk thereof. In order that generic claims might be made to the new depolarizer, the broad expression "a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron* is employed, the specification stating that by this expression is meant eith¬ er a hydrated oxide of nickel or of cobalt., or both. It, ip unnecessary for us to consider, tho claims in detail. Olaiw 1 and 2 cover broadly the new depolarizer, consisting of "a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetio metal other than iron*. Claim* 13, 14, 15, 28, 32 and 83 cover the depolar¬ izer,. defined as "an oxide of a specific magnetio metal oth- er than iron and capable of. furnishing oxygen for the oxida¬ tion of the iron on discharge'', however that limitation may be expressed. Claims 4, 5, 21 and 29 cover as the depolar- -10- lzer "an oxide of niokel * • * having when charged elac- trolytloally more oxygen than Ni^Og" (niakcl peroxide), how¬ ever that limitation my he expressed. Claims 7, 8, 28 and 30 are limited to "a hydrated oxide of nickel". Glaim 19 covers somewhat more broadly "oxide of niokel capable of . furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on dis¬ charge". Claim 10 covers broadly the new oxidizable ele¬ ment consisting of “electrolytloally active, finely divided iron * * * oapable of being oxidized on discharging",, i. e. , metallic iron eleotrolytioally reduced from the fer¬ rous oxide. Claim 11 oovers broadly "finely divided forrous oxide * * * capable of being’ deoxidized on charging".. Claim 12 covers broadly "an oxide of iron * * * electro- lytlcally reducible to the metallic state upon charging*. Claim 20 oovers broadly the combination, in an alkaline so¬ lution, of '"finely divided oxide of iron whan discharged" on one electrode, and "an Sxide of nickel" on another elec¬ trode. Claims 27 and 31 are not limited to the partloular active materials and are as followB:- "27. An active element for an alkaline rever¬ sible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated con¬ ducting receptacle having elastic walls and an active material therein engaged by said walls with an clas¬ tic pressure, substantially as set forth." “51. In a reversible galvanic battery, a suit-, able electrolyte, an active material therein which in charging or discharging is alternately increased dr decreased in bulk, a perforated oondueting receptacle holding the material and having elastic walls which at all times engage the material with an elastic pressure, and another conducting support carrying a different actiya material, substantially as set forth." These oomprise all the claims whioh have been re-.; jeoted. Of these claims, the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth cover individually the depolarizer ex-, pressed gonerioally and specifically; the tenth, eleventh and twelfth cover the oxidizable element generioally aiid.jsped- ■ ' -ilr. ' . , jfcj- ifically; and all the other claims exoept the twenty- seventh and thirty-first (which are quoted above) cover the combination of the n.lokel and iron. iPor the sake of convenience:, it is only necessary to determine, first, whether or not the prior art describes, with sufficient fullness to enable a skilled person without experiment to carry it into effect, the employment on the neg¬ ative side of ferrous oxide or other Iron oxide capable of being electrolytioally reduced to the metallic Btate, or, finely divided iron capable of being elootrolytioally oxi¬ dised upon discharge; second, whether the references of • record disclose with the same requisite fullness the employ¬ ment, aa a depolarizer, of a hydrated oxide of nickel or cobalt capable of being raised to a higher or super-peroxide state of oxidation, and that, such oxide was intended to be actually bo used; and third, whether the references of rec¬ ord diaolose with the same requisite fullness the employ-: : went in a storage cell of perforated conducting receptacles or pockets having elaBtio waIIb which at all times engage ' the active material with an elastic pressure. The Examiner rejeots the claims on the iron compound upon U. S. patent to Lalande, No. 274,110, and on German patent to Poliak, Bo. 107; 727; • he rejects the claims on the depolarizer on British patents to Abel, No. 1862 of 1887, and to Kiohalowski, No. 15,370- of- 1899;- and he rejeots the claims on the- alas tic pooket feature on the ha land e patent; U. 8. patent to Hamilton No. 619,885, and British patent to Jungnor No. 7892 of 1099. Those patents will be considered In thin order. IAT.ANDB. PATENT. ' The Lalands primary battery is of a wall-known type, and; in faot, for a number of year* Hr. Edison has been the _ _ -la- _ only manufacturer In this country of the "Ialande" or "Edi- eon-Ialande" battery, under a license from the patentees. If anyone in this country, therefore, understands the oper¬ ation of the Ialande oell, wa submit that the applicant is that person. The Ialande battery made use of oxide of copper as the depolarizer and a zino plate ap the oxidiaable element. On discharge, the copper oxide is reduced to the metallic state and the zino is oxidized, the oxide being dissolved in the electrolyte. The Ialande patent states that the piles in question "are reversible — that is to pay, oapable of being recharged by an eleotrio current of sufficient elec¬ tromotive force”. TOien subjected to a charging current, zino will be plated oui of the solution, as in the alkaline sinoate batteries, and the metallic copper again oxidized, but the sine plating wli: . be poor and non-coherent, so that as a. storage battery 1*e Islands cell has never been a commercial artiole. Ialande' s statement of the reversibility of his battery wob a reference only to a theoretical scientific fact, and, not to a com¬ mercial possibility. Although the Ialande battery is , and always has been a oopper-xino oell and the patent states that "we prefer generally zino, which give* the greater eleotromotive fo,rce" the patentee, as is usually the case, described other oxldl- zable elements. These substitute oxldizable elements are of two olasse*:- Eirst, active metals, such as tin and lead, and .second, hydrogen mechanically oarried by "palla¬ dium, platinum, spongy platinum, iron reduced, or, as well, copper obtained by precipitation or Sleotrochemioal reduc¬ tion". As we read the Ialande patent, the statement that ' -w- | "the active electrode of tho pile la constituted by a metal oapable of being attacked by the exciting liquid of the pile when the oirouit is cloned — .for example * • • a metal capable of fixing the hy¬ drogen ao • * » iron reduced", the olear meaning ie that reduced iron is employed solely for the purpose of mechanically absorbing or fixing the hy¬ drogen, which latter ie the element to be oxidised on dis¬ charge. The Examiner, however, argues that the olear. and undisputed meaning of the La lands patent is that reduced iron alone is described as a suitable oxldiaable element. We Bubmit that the Examiner's construction of the patent is not that which would be reached by a reading of the speci¬ fication, and that at best the specification is too obscure and doubtful on the point to constitute a reference. Furth¬ ermore, we call attention to the fact that applicant states in his specification "that spongy iron reduced by hydrogen from different iron salts was not oxidlsable to any considerable extent by the current", so that even if the Examiner's interpretation of the Lalande patent is correct, merely an inoperative and ineffective suggestion is made, and this has bean shown by experiment to the Examiner. It seems to us that it would be going too fax to say that the Lalande patent desoribee the specific iron compound which applicant has found is alone operative for the purpose, namely, farrouB oxide or iron reduced from SuOl an oxide eleotrolytioally. POLIAK PATENT. The Poliak patent ie one with which we were entirely familiar at the time it was cited by the Examiner, as it had previously been referred to by the German Patent Off loe in connection with applications pending before that bureau. The Poliak patent ie a remarkable instance of a theory which has absolutely no foundation in foot. The invention it. hopelessly inoperative in every direction. TWint Poliak sought to do was to oonstruot a storage battery using porous iron for both eleotrodes, one being oxidized and the other reduoed by the charging current, the reverse operations talcing place on discharge. If two plates of oonpresBed iron oxide, having been brought to a glow heal , as described by Poliak, are put in a solution of an alkali, one the positive and the other th® negative, and subjected 10 the current, absolutely ho effect takes plaoe, except that oxygen and hydrogen gas are given off from the eleotrodes supporting the plates. She current does not raise the oxi¬ dation of the iron oxide on one pole, and the oxide of iron used by the patentee is not reducible to metallic iron at the other pole. The plates when prepared by the process oJ heating suggested by Poliak will be formed of ferric oxide. and this when heated and subjected to the eleotrib current in alkaline solutions is, for either pole, as absolutely in-' ert as so much sand. Manifestly, if it would be possible to use ordinary ferric oxide as Poliak describes, Edison would not employ the roundabout prooeas of making ferrous oxide as he describes. So far as we know, it was absolutely new with Ed 1b on to employ finely divided iron in condition for use in a storage battery. 8uoh an iron oompound is certainly not suggested by Poliak, who describes ordinary anhydrous ferric oxide, which, ae stated in the specification and as has been demonstrated by the Examiner by aotual ex¬ periment, is utterly and hopelessly inert. So far, therefore, as the patents to La land* and Poliak are concerned, we submit that they do . not' show either ■eleotrolytioally active, finely divided iron * • » .,*a- pahl# of being oxidized on discharging", or “finely divided ferrous oxide -• • * capable of being deoxidised on chan;- ins" » or "an oJtt&w of iron * * ® eleotrolytlaally reduc¬ ible to the metallic state upon charging®, as is reoited in dlaimB 10, 11 and 12, and we think, therefore, that such olaima are clearly patentable. If these broad claims are allowed, the other olaias covering the iron compound are, we submit, alBO allowable. The Abel patent relates primarily to an alkaline z inoat e battery wherein aino from the solution is plated on¬ to a suitable electrode upon charging, and by means of a BUit able depolarizer is dissolved upon dieoharging. As before stated, the common depolarizers in use with alkaline solu¬ tions prior to applicant's invention were oxide of oopper and oxide of mercury, both of whioh revert to the metallic state ifloon discharge. Instead of referring particularly to those well-known depolarizers, the patentee states that he "a metallio oxide or peroxide insoluble in oaustio alkali solution, or hydrates of suoh oxides, which have the property of passing to a higher stage of oxidation by combining with oxygen" , and as suitable materials for the purpose he refers to oxides of silver, oxides of oopper, peroxide of manganese, protox¬ ide of niokel, teroxlde of nlokel, protoxide of oobalt, and oxide of bismuth. Of all the compounds referred to by the patentee, the only ones whioh oan be used as a depolarizer in the way applicant describes are the hydrated oxide of niokel and the hydrated oxide of cobalt. It seems dear, however, that Abel did not Intend or expeot .to employ a depolarizer as applioant does, and to raise, the niokel oxide to. a super-peroxide condition. .It is incredible that if suoh was hi» intention he should have failed to mention the very remarkable fact that nickel or Cobalt could 'be rained beyond the peroxide state. As we read the Abel patent, it describes nothing new. He says that he may use as a depolarizer either an insoluble metallic oxide, or an insoluble metallio peroxide, or the "hydrates I of euoh oxides, whioh have the property of passing to a high¬ er stage of oxidation by combining with oxygen". That many oxideB and their hydrates can pasB to higher Btages of oxi¬ dation was well known long before Abel, and, in faot, such a reaction takes place in the ordinary lead accumulator, whore- • in lead peroxide is fomed upon charging. In the next par¬ agraph of his patent, Abel refers to the employment of oxide of copper as an addition to niokel protoxids (HJfiO), be¬ cause lie says the oopper "as peroxide or acid * • • ae- slats and accelerates the higher oxidation of the other bod¬ ies by its readineflB to part with oxygon". Here Abel re¬ fers specifically to the lower oxide of niokel, and not to the peroxide. He does, not make it Clear that the raising of the lower oxide to a higher or peroxide state wae ex¬ pected to be performed by the current, but he apparently us¬ es oxide of oopper to effeot that result. The raising of a hydrated oxide of niokel beyond the peroxide condition can¬ not be effected by the employment of any oxidising means other than an eleotrie current, so that we have a further reason for the statement that Abel did not expeot to raise the oxide of niokel to d super-peroxide state. In describ¬ ing the operation of his cell, Abel states that — . , ar* in consequence hereof converted into the higher combinations with oxygen * • • . *n die charging. the operation is reversedi ■gfitt* high- ®r “^SCn «ombinatlons previously formod beoomlhg I It seems to us that if Abel had. made the disoovery that ox- ddd of niokel could be raised to a higher state of oxidation than the peroxide form, he would have so stated in his pat- ent, and would not have made a statement which applies di~ redtly to analogous operations occurring in ordinary lead aooumulatora . Unices the oxide of niokel is raised to a higher state of oxidation than the peroxide form, it is.sn- Itirely inort as a depolarizer and cannot he used as such. Applicant so states in hie application (page 9}:- 1 "®he black oxide of nickel (Ni203) obtained in' any manner known to me does not of itself aot as * depolarizer to any extent with zinc in a reversible galvanic battery using an alkaline solution*. This f aot has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Examiner. In Watts* Dictionary, three forms of oxide of silver are referred tp. Eour oxides of copper and five oxides of bismuth are known. Erom this It will be seen that Abel refers to at least fifteen different oxides, whioh number . will be doubled when the question of hydrates is considered. Viewing the Abel reference in the aspect most unfa¬ vorable to applicant, it can only be said to refer to the two compounds employed by applicant in a category including at least twenty-eight others, all of which are entirely un¬ suitable for the purpose. Oxides of biBmuth and of silver are so soluble in ainoa^e solutions of alkalies that it, is practically impossible to plate zinc from the solution in a coherent form so as to be used in a storage battery. Bi«r muth oxides of various kinds can be made ohemioally and uaed, but- if made eleotrioally they roduoe with auoh diffi¬ culty that the voltage would be lower than when the common copper oxide depolarizer of the Lalande battalia used, and their employment, therefore, would be a positive' detriments Moreover, neither bismuth oxides nor silver oxides can .baS, raised to a higher state of oxidation by the - current when. .in a solid state and in alkaline solutions. ,, ?ero?cide of manga¬ nese cannot be raised to' a higher state of oxidation ohemi- daily or by the current. It Is, In fact, absolutely Inert In an alkaline solution. In many chemical reactions perox¬ ide of manganese parts with its oxygen to assist in oxidation of other materials, without Itself changing, in which re¬ spect it is like peroxide of oobalt, but in alkaline solu¬ tions wider the conditions of a storage battery it does not BO aot. If protoxide of niokel is to be mixed with oopper or teroxide of nickel is to be so used, neither aote as a transferrer of oxygen, as the patentee states. She same is true of protoxide of oobalt, although peroxide of oobalt acts as such an aeent, but not in alkaline solutions. The ox¬ ides of copper are reduced to the metallio state by the cur¬ rent, and not from lower to: higher forma of oxidation. So far a* we have considered the Abol patent, it ap¬ pears that of the thirty combinations referred to only two are oapable of use, viewing the patent in the aspoot most unfavorable to applicant; but the true interpretation of the Abel specification, as we view it, is still less favorable to, the Examiner's contention, because it seams to have been the aim of the patentee to raise the depolarizing: oxide only to a peroxide state, not by electrolytic oxidation, but by the employment of an additional oxidizing moauB, suOh as ox¬ ide of copper, which oould not be done in alkaline solution. In many other respects the Abel patent is ambiguous, misleading and mistaken. Eor instance, thi patentee states that on discharging from the battery the oxides revert to • lower stage of oxidation. This statement is entirely in¬ correct, sinoe silver, copper and bismuth, the oxides of which metals are all referred to, revert to the metallio (State- The patent also says that instead of using zinc in the. .electrolyte oxide of lead oan be es^loyed, whldhwill . plate out on the eleotrode. Rad the e^erimient been tried, -19c ' ' • the patentee would have found that only filaments of lea* are formed under such. conditions, that no coherent coating takes place, and that instead of tho oxides which are re¬ ferred to being raised to a higher state of oxidation, per¬ oxide of lead would be deposited ort the positive pole out of, the solution simultaneously with the deposition of lead on the negative pole, while tho various so-called depolarizers referred to would not be acted on at all. Abel also says . In hia patent that— “instead of using asino or lead, any other metal may¬ be used Which will combine with the alkaline solution on closing the circuit, such as tin in the form of stannate of potash or soda.* This statement is also inoorreot, since aluminum, for exam¬ ple, combines even better than sine, hut it cannot bo plated back, and there are many other metals of the same character. In order that the Abel patent can be regarded as a reference to the claims, it will be necessary, first, to discard from consideration all but two of the thirty depolar¬ ising materials referred to, and to regard the patent as es¬ pecially calling attention to hydrated oxides of niokel arid cobalt; second, it must be definitely determined that the depolarizers so used are eleotrolytically oxidized, although the more probable explanation seems to be that the intention was to use oxide of copper to effect this result; third, it must be f ound that Abel describes the raising of oxide of nickel or cobalt to a super-peroxide state, and Intended to accomplish that result; aril finally, the many errors, in¬ sufficiencies and ambiguities of the patent must be passed over as of no importance. Vo submit that under all the au¬ thorities a patent of this vague and indefinite character , ought not to be successfully relied upon in anticipation of a specific definite and important invention. -SO- AUTHORITIES ON BUCTIOIENCY OJ DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR PATENTS OR PUBLICATIONS. In the leading authority, Seymour v, Osborne. (11 Wall. 316), the Supreme Court atated the rule of law In the following language (p. 355): "Patented Inventions oannot he superseded by the mere introduction of a foreign publication of the kind, though of prior date, unless the description and draw- 00n^?in exhibit a substantial representation of the patentodimprovement, in suoh full, clear, and exact terms eb to enable any porson skilled in the art or^soienoe to which it appertains, to make, construct, i and practice the invention to the same praotioal extent as they would be enabled to do if .the information was ' derived from a prior patent. Mere vague and general representations will not support such a defence, as the! knowledge supposed to be derived from the publication ™ must be suffioient to enable those skilled in the art or science to understand the nature and operation of tee invention, and to oarry it into praotioal use. Whatever may be the particular .circumstances under which the publication takes plaoe, the account pub¬ lished, to be of any effect to support suoh a defence, must be an aooount of a complete and operative inven¬ tion capable of being put into praotioal operation." The rule thus established by the Supreme Court has been tee standard by whioh the Courts have universally measured the sufficiency of prior patents and publications as anticipa¬ tions. The reports are full of opinions applying this rule, and it is therefore lmpraotioablo to refer to more I than a few oases. The rule has been explained and ampli¬ fied in various ways; as for instanoe, in some oases the Courts have said that the prior description must be suffi¬ cient to enable the result to be reached "without experiment''} in other oases, and referring particularly to a foreign pat¬ ent or foreign publication, the Courts have said that the description oannot be supplemented by local knowledge or the looal art as it existed in the foreign country} in other oases tee Courts have said teat the prior description must be suffioient to enable the result to be reached "without -31- I aid from the patent in auitnj in other oases the Courts have called attention to the faot that if any uncertainty exists as to what the prior description means, the doubt must be solved in favor of the patent in suit; and as an¬ other way of stating the same proposition, the Courts in other oases have said that the prior description must be such that the deBired result "can be oertalnly arrived at“ by following that description. These liberal rules, or liberal statements of the oommon rule, have usually been applied in oases of patents which have really created some¬ thing which the art as practiced did not before possess. The Courts reoognize the faot that after a practical result has once been attained and prior descriptions are read with that result in mind, the most striking resemblances are dis¬ covered, although the art never saw the desired thing in those descriptions prior to the date of the patent which is sought to be defeated. Hence they have refused to give such prior descriptions the effect of anticipations unless they are entirely definite and certain and show that the prior experimenter had beyond doubt reaohed the goal. As Judge Putnam said in Chase v. Pillebrown (88 P.R. 374, 378) : „ one wh° has worthily revived something useful by his own original genius merely beoause it has beoome practically lost in some foreign and forgotten publication, is sufficiently hard without extending the i®* «?fli4as th® I!!111® S®?011*1 ita Proper construction. Rev. St. 8eos. 4886, 4920, excluding inventions and discoveries whioh have appeared in foreign and other publications or patents, relate only to improvements patented or desorlbed' . ThiB phraseology ifc not ordinarily met by showing that the subjeot-matter of the new patent was merely embraced or hidden away in what is claimed to have anticipated it." ?he description is not sufficient if the result under oon- ilderation is merely "ambraoed or hidden away" in the prior leBoriptlon, or if it is simply inoluded by general language -22- In a eohedule made up largely of things which are valueless, heoause a prior experiment er may have an absolutely worth¬ less idea and may follow the description of that worthless idea by a schedule of numerous other things which he has never tried and which may be found, when the successful re¬ sult is aooomplished, to inolude that suooessful result by general statement. The art is not furnished by such a de¬ scription with the successful thing, but must oontinue itB investigations and experiments until the goal is reached. In Amerloan Oraphophone Co. v, Leeds <87 E.R. 873) the Bell & Tainter patent was in suit, oovering the wax phonograph record and the loosely mounted or gravity repro¬ ducer. An English patent granted to Edison was set up among other defences, and this deSoribed, with reference to the wax record, the employment of "paraffine or other hydro¬ carbons, waxes, gums, or. lacs" for the reoording surfaoe, and also suoh material covered with thin metal foil. The patent also referred to various metals and metallic composi¬ tions for the Bame purpose, but .it was not regarded as a good anticipation for the definite invention of sound record formed in wax or waxlike material. On the point of the loosely-mounted or gravity reproducer, the Edison English patent contained numerous illustrations of reproducers, some of which, although not so specifically desorlbed, might bo regarded as operating on the same principle as the Bell $ Tainter device. The Court (Shipman, C.J. ) said: "This patent contained some of the suggestions and sketohes of various sorts and kinds which Mr. Edison had thought of or had made during his experiments upon a subject novel, intricate and scientific, which re-

* (p. 5, line 16 et sefrD • |We submit that the statements quoted can have no other’ mean, irig than that the actiVe materials are made to adhere to. -the enclosing, metallio net l)y BOtte suitable binding material: which does not affect the.,poroBity of the aotive material. Kiis being so* there is, of Course, no necessity of using "ion -• elastio walled receptacle, since the receptacle and the.ac- material will adhere together and cannot separate under y ^ offset,, of expansion and contraction. A net madeibff|| • l l‘^kel or copper wire wotOA ^ertainly be almost devoid of.;.'. ; daBtloity and any considerable: variation in bulk of the/atf- ! ;'ive material would be highly objectionable, unless* ast^e : latent states, a binding. material ia employed to pane#. W' •qtive Substance- to adh»r» to the.nieJcal or copper wires;’-/', "n rt»**n* l*sht the Jungner' patent may be regarded, we/ba- 4*** it oaraiqt be. considered a good reference to , the; ^ ' • • 34- ‘ ' ' " ' I . specific language of the claima against which it, hao been particularly oited. OONChTBIOHS. V/e have shown that Edison has produced a battery of a new type and have pointed out the principal difficulties •which were encountered by him in its development. It has been explained how, as a roault of experimental discovery, a i oleo troly t ioally active iron oompownd was at, laBt found which oould be usrsd as the oxidizable element of a reveraibli coll employing an alkaline solution} that, iron oompound is either ferrous oxide or some oxide of iron closely analogous , thereto. We have indicated how, as a result also of discov ery, it was found that the hydrated oxide of nickel or oo- bait could be raised to a condition of oxidation actually, be¬ yond its peroxide state, and when in that condition possosso. valuable depolarising properties , not possessed by nickel or ooba.lt iii previously known forms. Such a result, we be¬ lieve, was an entirely now discovery in chemistry} it was certainly a new discovery In the art with which we are deal¬ ing. In considering the halande patent we pointed out that the "reduced iron" described by him was unquestionably used only as a mechanical carrier for the hydrogen, the lat¬ ter metal being oxidized on discharge. Even if such an. assumption is not the correct one , we have explained that suoh reduoed iron cannot be; oxidized eleotrolyt ioally, and that faot was demonstrated by experiment to the satisfaction of the Examiner. Bo far as the German patent of Poliak ie concerned, we have pointed out that the cell described by the patentee is hopelessly inoperative and have shown why no useful rosull oeuld be obtained therefrom. It has also been explain*® that tfte ferrio oxide oleotrodoa described by Poliak are ab¬ solutely inert to elootrioal action in an alkaline solution, •which. fact has also been demount rated to the Examiner. We then took up the English patent of Abel and pointed out its many errors of fact; we explained that of the thirty depolarising materials desoribed by him only two could be used; we called attention to th9 fact that In no instance did the patentee seek to carry the oxidation of a depolarizer beyond the peroxide state, nor did he- apparently recognize the possibility of doing so, and we finally Bhowed that Abel's apparent intention was not to oxidize the depo¬ larizer eleotrolytically, but to effect that result by the addition of a separate oxidizing material. Regarding Miohalowski, . we hare pointed out the rela¬ tion between that patentee and Abel, who preceded. him, and hare drawn the conclusion that if anyone ought, to have at¬ tained success from Abel’s work Miohalowski was that person. We showed further, and the fact has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Examiner, that Miohalowski did not attain success, although he specifically recognised the theoretical value of niokel oxide as a depolarizer. Our criticisms of the Miohalowski patent were that the black nickel peroxide obtained by him could not of itself apt as * depolarizer whan opposed to a zinc plate; and second, that suok nickel peroxide oould not be raised to a super-peroxld* state because, as described by Miohalowski, it is anhydrous, and, therefore, praotioally inert. In considering the Hamilton patent we pointed out that it relates to a primary battery, wherein the ftepolariasr could not undergo an expansion in bulk; that a reoeptaOl* of oopper wire or sheet copper is employed ih which th* I granular topper oxide is placed, and that in discharging 3 7 / V the metallic copper particlee would simply gravitate to the ■bottom of the receptacle, so that there would he no necessi¬ ty of making the latter with elastic walls. Finally, in our consideration of the Jungnar patent, we explained that, both of the active materials of the patentee are oavwed to adhere by a separate; binding substance to nickel or copper nets,, so that no possiblo separation between the two could, take place however much the active materials might expand or .contract. Ve submit, therefore, that the case stands on a footing of absolute, novelty, that the claims are not met, - either in terras or in.:, substance, and that the references 'of record are as foreign to. the actual invention whioh appli¬ cant has made as if they had boen taken out of another art. We believe, therefore, that the case should be allowed and that the decision of the Examiner should be reversed. SffcCUAstl. *T ~ Of Counsel. Hew York, May 14, 1901. Room No.-ldjw ' 1.ui|cn( 3 of mine, an department of the interior. United States Patent Office, Washington, e Thomas A. Edison, Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, IT. J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application. 1-To. 49,453, filed Mar. 1, 1901, -"Reversible Galvanic Battery". Commissioner of Pa The letter filed May 7th, 1901, and argument filed May 9th, 1901, have been entered and considered. ' Claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 are finally rejected upon the references of record for the reasons set forth in last of¬ fice letter. In response to applicant's request, the requirement of division is postponed until after the decision upon appeal. The Examiner's statement to the appeal which was filed May 9th, 1901, will be sent forward shortly. OHITEB BTATEB PATENT OFEIOE. In re Application of Thoms A. Edison, Piled March 1, 1901, Ser. Ho. 49,453, "Reversible Oalvanio Battery". : Before the : Examiners-in-Chief : ! On Appeal . i ■ . + Biv. 3, Kay IP, 1901 Examiner’s Statement. Appeal is taken from the rejection of the following claims 1. Ah active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising; a conducting; support and a hydrated oxide- of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said support, substantially as set forth. 9., An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a conducting support, a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said sup¬ port, and an inert conducting- material intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 4. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a conducting support and an oxide of nickel carried thereby having more oxygen than Hi2<>3, substantially as set forth. 5. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanfte battery, comprising a conducting support, an oxide of nickel carried thereby having more oxygen than Hi2 ."$/■ "13. In a reversible galvanic batt.ory, an alkaline oleotrd- }/' lyto, a conducting support carrying finely divided iron when charg¬ ed, and another conducting support carrying an oxide of a specific ra (7i otic metal other than iron and ccpablo of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, substantially as set forth. "14. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged and another conducting support carrying an oxide of a specific magnetic metal othor than iron and capable of storing oxygon on charging, substantially as sot forth. "16. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided iron wh on charg¬ ed, another conducting support carrying an oxide of a specific mag¬ netic metal other than iron and capable Of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, an an inert conducting ma¬ terial intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as sat forth "19. In a reversible galvanic baitery, on alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided iron when charg¬ ed, and another conducting support carrying oxido of nickol capable of furnishing oxygon for th c oxidation of the iron on discharge, substantially as sot forth. "HO. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, and another conducting support carrying an oxide of nickel, substantially as sat forth. "21. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline eluctro- lytu, a conducting support carrying finely divided iron when charg¬ ed, and another conducting support carrying oxide of nickel having when chargod ole otrolytically more oxygon than JTi^Og, substantially as set forth. "22. In a reversible galvanic battery, ar. alkaline oloctro- lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided iron when ohat'g- ad, and another conducting support carrying a hydrated oxido of nickol, substantially as set forth. "2S. An aptivo element for an alkallno reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated conducting receptacle having elas¬ tic walls and an active material therein ongagod by said walls with an elastic pressure, substanti ally as set forth. "215. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated conducting receptacle having elas¬ tic walls and an oxide of a spoclfio magnetic metal othor. thata iron in said receptacle, said oxide being capable of furnishing oxygen electrolytically upon discharge, substantially as set forth. "29, An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated conducting receptacle having elas¬ tic walls and ah oxide of nickel carried thoroby and having when 3 char® d elect.rolytin ally more oxyam than IIi203 substantially as sot forth. "30. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated conducting recuptaclo having elas¬ tic vc alls and a hydratod oxido of nickel carried by said receptacle and engaged by said walls with an elastic pressure, substantially as sot forth. "31. A reversible galvanic battery, a suitable electrolyte, • an activo material therein which in char Ring or discharging is al¬ ternately increased or decreased in bulk, a perforated conducting ’roceptaclo holding the Material and having elastic walls which at all times engage the material v;ith an elastic pressure, raid another conducting support carrying a different activo material, substan¬ tially as set forth. "32. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support, carrying finely divided iron when charg¬ ed, another conducting support comprising a receptacle having clas¬ tic walls, end an oxide of a specific magnetic, metal other than iroji carried within said receptacle ana engaged by the walls there¬ of with an elastic pressure, said oxido being capablo of furnishing oxygon for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, sub stantiallv as sot forth. * ' "33. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electro¬ lyte, a conducting support carrying finely divided oxido of iron whun discharged, another conducting support comprising a receptacle having elastic walls, mid an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried within said receptacle and engagod by tho walls with .an elastic pressure and capable of storing oxygon on charging, substantially as set forth." file references aro patents to'1' Do Inland a, March 20, 1883, TTo.274,110; Hamilton, February 21, 1099, Ho. 019,00b; British Patent a Mob. 1,862 of 1807 to Abel;, 16,370 of 1899 to Michalowski; Oorman Patent ITO.107,727 of 1899 to Poliak. 77o agruo with tho Ex minor 1 a rejection of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 0 as anticipated by the British patent to Abel. This patent clearly describes an active element for an alktlino reversible galvanic batt cry_^bn®^fSTh^>avcon«iiad't'i'ijg .-supfasc’ port (p. 4, lines 36-30) and a hydratod oxide of nickel or cobalt carried by said support (see p.4, linos 20-26) , and an inart con¬ ducting material intimately mixed with said oxido (p.4, line 32). The patent further states: "Tho depolarizing substance consists of a metallic oxide or peroxide insoluble in caustic alkali solution, or hydratos of such oxides, which have tho property of passing to a higher stats of oxidation by comb ini nr; with oxygon. in particular- . , , protox¬ ide, (,f) or oxide of nickel, protoxide of cobrdt, etc." Tills British patent to Abel is a communication from tv/o Germans , and the two principal prides of nickel aru in German re¬ ferred to as JTiekol monoxid (nickcloxydul) HiO, and nickel oxyd, l!ia05 (soe Peklinc'a Hundv/Ortcnbuch der Chimio), so that the oxides of nickel referred to aro AfiO, and ITiaOv,. (This is verified by tho statements in German Patent No. 30,303 referred to in tho British patent. No. 16,370 of 11399) Hydratos of both these oxides of nickel are well known. It is also known that there are higher oxides of nickel than Hia03, Hehl'ing's Piet, above reforrod to alludes to one having the formula 111407. Platt’s Ttictiorary of Ckomiotry, 1(392, Vol.lII, p.50.2 also states that there are indications of an oxide containing more oxy¬ gon' than HijjCj^i Wi tli this knowledge in tho art, it seems to us that, the applicant is not entitled to any of this group of claims. With the information given by this Abel patent at his disposal and what was known in the art, no invention was roquired to produce tho ele¬ ment claimed. as By following the directions of tho patent. to-.usoAan elec¬ trode a hydrated oxide of nickol mixed with carbon on a metal sup¬ port, tho claimed element, is necessarily produced. This group of claims is lacking in novolty. Hone of the oases cited by the appellant, authorize a con¬ trary holding. In Seymour v. Osborne, 11 Wall., 555, tho Court said . . "throe oxport v/itnessoB oxomlnod by tho complainants toe- tify that neither the description nor the drawings of the sane, as exhibited in that magazine, show anything wh i c.h is embodied in the complainant's patent, and the court is of the same opinion". And it was an ouch holding that the language cited in the appel¬ lant's brio? is based. In the case before us wo find a disclosure of that which the appellant, in claiming, and the question is whether because oth¬ er things are described which may not be so useful for the purposo stated, the description of that which is useful ia not an anticipa¬ tion. V/c know of no case v/arranting an affirmative answer to the question. In $ho ease of Welling v. Crane, Id Fed. Rep., 571 (cited by appellant) instead of supporting tho appellant's position, seems to be against it. In that case the Court said:- "It may be gathered from tho foregoing reference to pat¬ ents antedating and anticipating the complainant's patent, that there is no novelty in tho alleged invention of Willing, unless it is novel and patentable to select two or thgeo from the largo num¬ ber of ingredients, any of which Westondarr (a prior patentee) says nay bo used in tho manufacture of artificial ivory." Ho in the ce.se before us, tho applicant's claim to inven¬ tion Teats upon the selection from a number of ingredients of cer¬ tain specified ones and using thorn in tho manner specified by the patentee. When so used, they noceasarily produce the result Claim- Claims 10, 11 and 12 are reject od upon t.ho patents to de I.alande and to Poliak. Tho statement in tho de Lalandc patent re¬ lied upon by tho Ex ceil nor is as follows: "The active electrode of the pile is constituted by a met¬ al capable of be ing- -attacked by tho exo4 ting-, liquid of t.ho pile when the circuit is closod - for example, zinc, tin, lead, or a met' al capable of fixing tho hydrogen, as palladium platinum, spongy platinum, iron reduced, or, aB well, coppor obtained by precipita¬ tion or electro-chemical reduction. Those piloa are reversible - that is to, say, capable of being recharged by an electric current of sufficient electro-motive force." As to this disclosure, tho applicant urges that the moan- inn its that the "reduced iron is employee! solely for th u purpose of fixing the hydrogen, which latter is the element to bo oxidized on discharge" ; that "at best the specification is too obscure and doubtful on the point to constitute a reference? and that further, as a matter of fact, that spongy iron reduced by hydro non from dif¬ ferent salts is not oxidisablo to any considerable extent by the current. With those contentions we agree, and they are sufficient to dispose of this patent as an anticipatory reference. As t.o the Poliak patent, the applicant asserts that it discloses an absolutely . inoperative device, for t.iio reason that plates of '.ferric oxide prepared in the manner described by Poliak can neither ho oxidized nor reduced by tko electrolytic action and that no result is obtained, except that oxygen and hydrogen arc given off at tho respective electrodes. The applicant prepares his finely divided iron by a par¬ ticular process which results in a product which can be eloctrolyt- ioully oxidized, and dooxidized. Wo do not find in either of tho patents cited a sufficient anticipation of Claims 10, 11 and 12. Claims 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, am' 22 claim tho battery as a whole comprising the finoly divided iron or iron oxide as one electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, and as tho othor oloctrode tho more or loss oxidized nickel oxide. In view of the statements as to the great improvements in tho art which results from the use of this navi iron electrode with the old electrolyte and old dooxydizing electrode, we regard those claims as allowable. Claims 27, 2 B, 29, 30 and 31 are anticipated for the rea¬ sons stated by the Jixaninor, ; Claims 32 and 33, though of doubtful patentability, may be allowed for the reason that they include one new element, to-wit the iron - iron oxirJe eleotrode. The decision of the Bxarcinor is affirmed as to claims 1, 2, 4, £>, 7, B, 37, 20, 39, 30 and 81 and reversed us to claims 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, lb, 19, 20, 21, 22, 32 and 33. 5b: cm i n or s- i n -C h i o f . Case Ho. 1056 Abandoned Piled Mar oil 1st, 1901. IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES. Claims . 1. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode and a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said electrode, substantially as set forth. 2. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said electrode, and an inert conducting material inyi- mately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 3. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, a hydrated oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried by said electrode, and flake graphite intimately mixedwith said oxide, substantially as set forth. 4. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode and an oxide of nickel carried thereby having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Ni203, substantially as set forth. 5. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, an oxide of ni- kel carried thereby having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Ni203, and an inert oonduoting material intimately mixed with said oxide, substanially as set forth 6. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, an oxide of ni¬ ckel carried thereby having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Ni203, and flake graphite intimately mix¬ ed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. An active element for annalkaline reversible , forth, 8. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, a hydrated ox¬ ide of nickel carried thereby, and an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said hydrated oxide, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 9. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode, a hydrated ox¬ ide of nickel carried thereby, and flake graphite intimate¬ ly mixed with said oxide^ substantially as set forth. 10. An active oxidizable element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode and electrolytically active, finely divided iron carried there¬ by, substantially as set forth. 11. An element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode and finely divided ferrous oxide carried thereby, substantially as set forth. 12. An active oxidizable element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising an electrode and an oxide of iron carried thereby electrolytically reducible to the metallic state, substantially as set forth. 13. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline e- lectrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, and another electrode carrying an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron and capable of fur¬ nishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, substantially as set forth. 14. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, and another electrode carrying an oxide of/specific magnetic .metal , other than iron capable on charging of storing oxygen, /substantially' as set forth. 15. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided iron when 3 - charged, another electrode carrying an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron and capable of furnishing oxygen for 'the oxidation of the iron oh discharge, and an inert conducting material' intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 16. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided iron when, charged , another electrode car ring an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron and capable of fur¬ nishing oxygen for the . oxidation of the iron on discharge, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 17. In a reversible galvanic battery,' an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode"! - carrying finely divided iron when charged, an inert conducting material intimately mixed with said finely divided iron, another electrode car¬ rying an oxide of a specific -magnetic metal other than iroi. capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, and an inert conducting material mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 18. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an'electrode carrying finely divided iron whe n charged, flake graphite intimately mixed with said' f inely divided iron, another electrode carrying an< oxide of a specific magnetic metal other tjian iron capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on dis¬ charge and flake- graphite mixed with said oxide, substan^i tially as set forth. 19. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, and electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, and another electrode carrying oxide of nic¬ kel capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, substantially as set forth. 20. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, and another electrode carrying an oxide if nickel, substantially as set forth. 21. In a reversible galvanic battery, and alkaline electrolyte, an. electrode carrying finely divide^ iron when charged , and another electrode carrying oxide of nicked having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Hi203, substantially as set forth. 22. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrblyte , an electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, and another electrode carrying a hydrated oxide of nickel, substantially as set forth. 23. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, and electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, another electrode carrying oxide of nickel capable of furnishing oxygen for the oxidation of the iron on discharge, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 24. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carring finely divided oxide of iron when discharged, another electrode carrying an oxide of nickel, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 25. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided:' icon when charged, another electrode carrying oxide of nickel having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Ni203, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide, substan¬ tially as set forth. 26. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, another electrode carrying a hydrated oxide of nickel, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said oxide substantially as set forth. 27. An actiVe element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated receptacle hav¬ ing elastic walls and an active material therein engaged by said walls with an elastic pressure, substantially as set forth. 28. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated receptacle having elastic walls and an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron in said receptacle, said oxide being capable of furnishing oxygen electrolytically upon discharge, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 29. An active element for an alkaline reversible galvanic battery, comprising a perforated receptacle hav¬ ing elastic walls and an oxide of nickel carried thereby and having when charged electrolytically more oxygen than Hi203, substantially as set forth. 30. An active element for an Itlkaline reversible gal¬ vanic battery, comprising a perforated receptacle hav¬ ing elastic walls arid a hydrated oxide of nickel carried by said receptacle and engaged by said walls with an elastic pressure, substantially as set forth. 31. In a reversible galvanic battery, a stable elec¬ trolyte, and active material therein which in cliarging or discharging is alternately increased or decreased in bulk, a perforated receptacle holding the material and having elastic walls which at all times engage the material with an elastic pressure, and another electrode carrying a dif¬ ferent active material, substantially as set forth. 32. In a reversible galvanic battery, an alkaline electrolyte, an electrode carrying finely divided iron when charged, another electrode having elastic walls, and an oxide of a specific magnetic metal other than iron carried petition DYER, EDMONDS & DYER. Patents ant) patent Causes, Co tbe Commissioner of patents : your petitioner, '.THOMAS A. EDISON, u citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, whose post offioe address is Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE BSPROVEKENT IN ELECTRODES EOR GALVANIC BATTERIES SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION ; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER, EDMONDS AND DYER (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERA¬ TIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE BPBOIPIOATION. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Bo it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Bark in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRODES EOR GALVANIC BAT- /or? TERIES (oaso No. 1057), of whioh the following is a de¬ scription: My invention relates to improvements in electrodes for galvanic batteries, and particularly reversible or so- callad storage batteries; and the improvements are es¬ pecially designed for use with batteries wherein the active material is subject to changes in bulk, either due to ab¬ sorption of the electrolyte or to other causes during Charg¬ ing or discharging. In an application for Letters Patent filed 1901, Serial No. W ^3i> j have described an improved re¬ versible galvanic battery employing oxide of niokel or of oobalt as the aotivo material, contained in perforated highly-elastio metallio pockets undor pressure, whereby an expansion or Contraction in bulk of the active material re¬ sults in a consequent bulging or retraction of the pooket walls to always maintain the desired intimate contact be¬ tween the active material and suoh walls. ( I find that by corrugating the walls of the pockets or receptacles, they may be made sufficiently rigid to withstand the pressure due to any tendency of the aotive material to expand, while at the same time the thioknessof metal used in their con¬ struction may bo aotually reduced. By means of this im- provanent I do away with the necessity of making the pockets • 1 of highly-elaotio material, and also overcome the possibi¬ lity of poor oontaot between the walla and the active mate¬ rial. My ohjeot then la to provide an improved oonstrue- tion of pocket or receptacle for the active material, where¬ in any tendency of the walla thereof to buckle outwardly will be overcome, while at the same time the thickness of jsuoh walla need not be increased. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention ia directed to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in whloh figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a grid showing pooket 8 or re- oeptaoles in place} figure 3 a seotion on the line 3—2 of figure lj and figure 3 a seotion on the line 3—3 of fig¬ ure 3. In all of the above views like parts are represented by corresponding numerals. The grid 1 is made of a suitable sheet metal not affected by the eleotrolyte, as for example sheet nickel or nickel-plated sheet steel or iron in the case of a bat¬ tery using ah alkaline solution. The grid is formed with openings 2 therein, preferably rootangular in shape, and fitted and secured in eaoh opening is a reoeptaale or pookot 3 having perforated. walls. Eaoh pocket or reoeptacle 3 is made of two aeotions 4 and 8 fitted together. ^ After tho aotive material 6 is introduced in the smallei^seotion 4, ■ Jjujs y. • j. * ' tho^ seotion B is fitted like a box cover over it, and the pooket as a whole im introduced into one of the openings 2 and seoured permanently In position ’'by the applioat ion of pressure near Its edges, whioh, are oriiqped or burred ever around the edge of the opening, as shown. ^ Tho novelty of the present ingirovement is the provision Of eof- rua^tions or flutes in the pooket walls as Illustrated, and 1 - r whloh may be formed in any suitable way. The Be corruga¬ tions preferably extend crosswise of the pooketa or horison- tally from aide to side as I show, but obviously they may run longitudinally or end to end, or obliquely from one side to the other. | I find by aotual praotioe that with : pockets oorrugated or fluted as explained, the walls are so stiff that there is no appreciable or at least objectionable j bulging, even when the pockets oontain active material which I tends to increase in bulk during charging, like oxide of nickel; and that this advantageous result is scoured when / the metal of the pookots is even thinner than may be effeo- i til rely used without the corrugations but with a highly* elastic metal. . . . . . . . . . Having now described my invention, what I, claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is as fol¬ lows.* 1. An electrode for a galvamio battery, oompris- ing a support, a pocket or receptacle carried thereby and having oorrugated walls, and an aotlve material In Said poOket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. S. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a support, a pooket or reooptaole carried thereby and hav¬ ing horizontally oorrugated walls, and an aotlve material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. 3. An electrode for a galvanlo battery comprising a grid having an opening therein, a pooket or reoeptaole seoured in said opening and having corrugated walls, and an active material in said pocket or reooptaole, substantially oa set forth. 4. An electrode for a galvanio battery comprising a grid having an opening therein, a pocket or receptacle 8 . . . ' ' I secured in said opening and having horlaontally corrugated walls, and an active material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. 8* An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a grid having a plurality of openings therein, a pookot or receptacle secured in each opening and having oorrugated walls, and an aotive material in said pockets or reoeptaolea substantially as set forth!. 6. An electrode for a galvanio battery comprising a support, a sectional pooket or receptacle carried thereby and having oorrugated walls, and an aotive material in said pooket or reoeptaole, substantially as set forth, 7. An electrode for a galvanio battery Comprising a support, a pocket or receptacle having corrugated walls and secured at its edges to said support, and an aotive ma¬ terial in. said pouket or reoeptaole, substantially as set forth. t - - ©atb* State ol (Eount? THOMAS A. BDISOH _ THE above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A OitiSBlI OF THE United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park in the County of Essex and Btato of Hew Jersey; THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR op THE IMPROVEMENT IN 3XECTR0K53 50R GALVANIC BATTERIES 3 CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEAHS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED I ASSIGNS IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY. A OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE I nr. E THIS ^^"Cay" of wo / y&Ls/'tfe. _ _ NOTARY PUBLIC. 3-101. I have to acknowledge the receipt of the petition, specification, oath, and ~ drawing of yonny, alleged Improvement in . . _ _ _ .1 _ with Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. Jj The papers are duly filed, and your application for a patent will be taken I up for examination in its order _ _ 2 United States Patent Office, Is Thomas A. Edison, 3 1 1 % Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dye | § 31 ITassau St . , t, %, ms The serial number of the application referred to, line 15, page 1, should be specified. The statement in line 11, paGe 2 that figure 1 is a plan of a grid shov/inc two pockets, is incorrect, as only one pocket is shown. Claim 6 is indistinct in the words "sectional pocketi the word "sectional" is not sufficiently definite to distinguish applicant's structure from that disclosed by the references. Claims 1, 2, 6 are each rejected upon: U... 5. 509.270, ITov ■ 21, 1893, Usher, (Bat t . , Sec . ) : Rooney, The vessel in which the pocKe’ts of Usher are retained may be termed a support. Ex'r Div. 3, oil thnt the printed copies enumerated below are exhausted. As the appro- jprint all exhausted copies, only such bb aro indispensable will bo reproduced, other you will await their reproduction, or whether their cost, .JO . 0 chi, ■ - Q - ^ 9 -&2JI \s THOMAS A. EDISON ) ) ELECTRODES FOR GALVANIC BATTER IBS. ) ) ROOM 3.49. PILED MARCH 86th, 1901. ) ) SERIAL NO. 52,986. ) HON. COJfctlSSIONBR OP PATENTS. S I R: I hereby abandon the above entitled application (without waiving any rights in or to the invention described therein) in favor of an applibation (Edison No. 1069) execu¬ ted on even date herewith and having the s;ane title. Respectfully, Signed May 10, 1901. In presence of: Case No. 15-1057, Abandoned. Improvements in Elect rods s for Galvanic Batteri es . C la i m s. 1. An electrode for a galvanic battery, comprising a support, a pocket or receptacle carried thereby and hav¬ ing corrugated vails, and an active material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. 2. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a support, a pocket or rec.eptaele carried thereby and hav¬ ing horizontally corrugated walls, and an active material in said pocket or recrtpta.de, substantially as set forth. 3. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a grid having an opening therein, a pocket or receptacle secured in said opening and having corrugated walls, and an active material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. 4. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a grid having an opening therein, a pocket or receptacle, secured in said opening and having horizontally corrugated walls, and an active naterial in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. 5. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a grid having a plurality of openings therein, a pocket or receptacle secured in each opening and having corrugated vfalls, and an active material in said pockets or receptacle 3 substantially as set forth. 6. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a support, a sectional pocket or receptacle carried thereby and having corrugated walls, and an active material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. -1- 7. An electrode for a galvanic battery comprising a support, a pocket or receptacle having corrugated walls and secured at its edges to said support, and an active material in said pocket or receptacle, substantially as set forth. '* ^ *tt^ lw,t^XEToL" Oyj ^Gg '*^ kef. /*- *p=* "“x) V^rtc ,w y w~. f— t ~*r~:~ tfcu£ ■■Vyduara- u «.<*— *1 - * oL*.—rr~ ot-« *> r~^_ ( a 2. ^XXT fc-C^-fr ^ Vf? <4 «r~***- 1) ^ . Jk -'je K“t~s££±r i. »*'' ’">'. r -7J — 75 /io .ciu^e ^ *0 \| . v 0 'Sto£ — -VC— A >* .0 . • o ±- '*x&acr^ ° . . (~T<^ E^^ tf . A>''fcja fi r^f7^ «^%^e t££g &-(£/ ^~‘N Uh <$jy 1 ■£■■'& * ^ <5wA k*_U L~y4«mn/ ux TXIT* dZi.a-Q^'Zj 1C * s7> ... '~isr™~u‘ o. [ )/ ofo-w $>V< t I . Ou^.X^'CaJ^^ «*(% ^Z££ZZ -jjp 0 (sj.. aaT** ,<3-oy :,OVV- LAW OFFICES DYER. EDMONDS & DYER. patents mis patent Causes, Petition. TEo the Commissioner of patents : YOUR PETITIONER THOMAS ALVA EDISON, A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, RESIDING AT LLEWELLYN PARK, IN ORANGE, ESSEX COUNTY, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND WHOSE POST-OFFICE ADDRESS IS ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT may be granted to him for the IMPROVEMENT IN DEPOLARIZERS POH RE¬ VERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION J AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER, EDMONDS AND DYER (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERA¬ TIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTED THEREWITH : AND HE REQUESTS THAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS RESPECTING THIS APPLICATION BE .'ADDRESSED TO HIS ATTORNEYS, AT THE EDISON LABORATORY, ORANGE, NEW JER8EY. I I SPECIFICATION. TO WHOM IT HAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN DEPOLARIZERS FOR REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES (case No. 1058), of which the following is a description: In an application for patent filed Maroh 1, 1901, Serial No. 49,483, I describe an improved reversible gal- vanio battery utilizing niokel hydroxide as the aotive de¬ polarizing material. This nickel hydroxide was mixed with flakelike or micaceous graphite and paoked in metallic re¬ ceptacles having perforated walls. When subjected to a charging current , the niokel hydroxide is raised to a high¬ er state of oxidation so as to operate as a depolarizer, the advantages and value of which were fully explained in said application. The green hydroxide of niokel made by the usual methods of precipitating a soluble niokel salt by the solu¬ ble alkalies, such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxidi ■ is oo^loifdal in form. %t is very bulky, requires hours to Bottle when thrown into a large quantity of water, is very difficult to wash and make oheaply, dries to a hard glassy mass, and when placed in the pookets of the electrodes swells to such an extent that the pockets must be made very and of comparatively thick metal to withstand the pressure. If the hydrated peroxide is produced by preoipitating a niokel salt by hypoahlorite of potassium or hypoohlorito of sodium, it has the same objectionable colloidal properties, 1 whlla if the hydrated peroxide ia formed by dry chlorina¬ tion it is always imperfect, difficult to purify, and swells ©bjeotionably in the pockets of the electrodes. My present invention relates to the production of nickel hydroxide suitable for use as a depolarizer, its phy¬ sical Btate being such that when placed In the pockets of the electrode it will not unduly expand when subjected to I the Joint action of the electrolyte and the charging cur¬ rent to weaken or disrupt the metal forming the pockets or to affect the proper eleotrloal contact with the metal of the pockets during the charging and discharging operations, and v/hich depolarizer is al3o of a character easily manufac¬ tured and purified, of groat sensitiveness to electrolytic oxidation, and 'which dries to a powder, all of whioh are properties enhancing its value for use in this art. In carrying the invention into effect, I proceed as follows: To a boiling solution of nitrate of nickel- is : add- ed a suffiolent quantity of magnesium hydroxide to precipi¬ tate the whole of the nickel as niokel hydroxide (HiO)j tho whole is thrown into water; it settles almost immediately; by decanting the water and adding fresh water six or eight times and decanting after each addition, the hydroxide is obtained veiy free of impurities; afterwards the excess of water is filtered off and the hydroxide is then dried. Cal¬ cium or strontium hydroxide can be used in place of magne¬ sium hydroxide, but the latter produces superior results. The green niokel hydroxide thus produced can be used in the pockets of the eleotrode without any further manipulation* but the action of ,the alkaline solution causes it to swell materially, and this imposes an objectionable pressure upon the walls of the pockets. It is therefore desirable that this tendency to swell should be reduced as far as possible; I have found that if the green hydroxide is oxidized Btill further to the hydrated peroxide, the swelling notion is so reduced as to he included within the elastic limits of the walls of the pockets of the electrode. To furthor oxidize the green hydroxide I pass dry chlorine gas through a re¬ ceptacle filled with the dried hydroxide; tho notion of the ohlorine on the hydrate oxidizes the latter and pro¬ duces hydroohlorio aoid, which combines with a portion of the hydroxide and forms ohloride of nickel, whioh is washed out by percolation and used again to give fresh hydrate; finally, the hydrated peroxide is dried and is ready for use. It is then mixed with flake graphite in the propor¬ tions of six parts of the peroxide to four parts of graphite the mixture is then slightly moistened with water or a solu¬ tion of potassio hydroxide and spread out on a glass plate, and by means of a glass or porcelain roller pressed into a thin sheet; by means of a spatula, the sheet is detaohed from the glass and broken up and rolled again; this opera¬ tion is repeated a number of times, until the finely divided oxide oovers nearly the whole surface of the graphite parti¬ cles. The mass is then air-dried on a steam-heated plate. The object of rolling the compound instead of grind¬ ing the same is to preserve the size of the graphite parti- oles and not break them up into smaller sizes whioh would be small enough to pass through the perforations in the pockets, and also to obtain the thinnest possible layer of oxide upon the surface of eaoh particle of graphite, so that the ourrent is not compelled to pass from partiole to parti- ole through a greater thiokness Of aotive material than is absolutely necessary. The large proportion of graphite re¬ latively to the peroxide is used beoause the latter in no stage of tho operation becomes a oonduotor, except possibly 3 I I to a very slight extent, so that it is desirable that a thin layer of tho oxide should ho distributed over oaoh graphite partiole to render the aotiro material as sensltire as pos¬ sible to the action of the ourrent. The mixture of the nickel hydroxide and graphite is molded into blocks under pressure and inserted in perforated metallic receptacles or pookets secured in any suitable way to proper supporting plates or grids, whioh electrodes thus formed are employed in an alkaline eleotrolyte with any suitable active oxidlzable material, but preferably an iron compound capable of being reduced to the metallic state when subjected to the charging ourrent, as I desoribe in my said application. Having now described my invention, what I olaim bb new and desire to seoure by letters Patent 1b as fol¬ lows : 1. A depolarizing material for reversible galvanic batteries, consisting of the hydrated oxide of nickel in non-oolloidal form, substantially as set forth. 2. A depolarizing material for reversible galvanic Cltvif Cfrrct**- uCo^r , batteries, consisting of powdered hydrated oxide of nickel, substantially as set forth. 3. Por use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for reversible galvanic batteries, a mixture of non- oolloidal hydrated oxide of nickel, and a flakelike conduc¬ ting material, substantially as set forth. iw-V. 4. Pop use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for reversible galvanic batteries, a mixture of non- oolloidal hydrated oxide of niokel, and flake graphite, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 15. For use in the manufacture of electrodes for reversible galvanio batteries, an active material in finely divided powdered form applied in a thin layer to the parti- oles of a flakelike conducting material, substantially as set forth. 6. For use in the manufacture of electrodes for reversible galvanic batteries, an active material in finely divided powdered form applied in a thin layer to the parti¬ cles of flake graphite, substantially as set forth. 7. For use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for reversible galvanio batteries, dried hydrated oxide of niokel in non-colloidal powdered form applied in a thin layer to the particles of a flakelike conducting mate¬ rial, substantially as set forth. 6. For use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for reversible galvanio batterieB, dried hydrated oxide of niokel in non-oolloldal powdered form applied in a thin layer to the particles of flake graphite, substantially as set forth. 9. 'For use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for reversible galvanio batteries, a oompressed mix¬ ture of non-colloidal hydrated oxide of niokel, and a flake¬ like oonduoting material, substantially as set forth. 10. For use in the manufacture of positive elec¬ trodes for raversiblevgalvanio batteries, a compressed mix¬ ture of non-oolloidal. hydrated oxide of niokel, and flake graphite, substantially as Bet forth. Department A.M.H. United States Patent Office, Thomas A. Edison, Washington, d. C„ Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, 31 Nas sail St., New York, N. Y, Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application. No. 59,512, filed Hay 9, 1901 ,- "Depolarizer for Reversible Galvanic Batteries" . The formula for nickel hydroxide given in line 19, page 3, is incorrect; the formula given is that of a nickel oxide. The word negat lve should be substituted for the word "pos¬ itive" in claims 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Claims 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are objected to as being indistinct in the words "non-colloidal" ; it has not been set forth in the description just what is meant by applicant's hy¬ drated oxide of nickel being non-colloidal, nor is it so called in the description. It is suggested that the word dry be inserted before "powder", line 2, claim 2. Claims 1 and 2 are considered to be the same in scope since. it-da&tated in the description that the hydroxide of nickel made by applicant will be in a powdered form when dry. Claims 1 and 2 are each rejected upon: British 14,508, Nov. 3, 1884, Reed, (Batt . , Sec . ) ; British 1862, Neb. 5, 1887, Abel, " Ex>r Div. 3. 1 KUL1!j7'*' I.U °^Cri* nmendmont t1ie cxacfc word or -words to he strioken out or inserted in the application must be specified separate from the papers previously filed, and written on but one side of the paper. .TJIQHAS A. BRXSOV MEOLARXZER 1’OR REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BAT SERIES EIIED MAY 9, 1901 SERIAL HO. 59, 512 ROOM HO. 149. HOST. COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR: We amend -the above-entitled application as fol¬ lows Page 1, line SI, after "colloidal", insert - - or gelatinous or slimy - . Page 2, line 19, erase "(JTiO)", and substitute - - - ,_i. e., Hi (OH)g - . Page 4, line 1?., after the word "application" in¬ sert - By the expression "non-colloidal", as used by me in my claims, as applied to the hydrated oxide of nickel, I mean the oxide in granular form which dries to a powder, as distinguished from the oxide in the colloidal, gelatinous or slimy condition, as now produced, which dries to a hard glassy mass, with the disadvantages before indicated _ — - Claim 2, line 2, before "powdered", insert — -dry--. Claims 5, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10, line 1 of each, erase "positive" and substitute - -negative - . Reconsideration of the case as now presented is re¬ spectfully requested. The expression "non-oolloidal", at used in the claims, has been explained. With reforonae to the Examiner's objection that the first and second olalms both cover the name invention, we direct hio attention to the fact that the second claim is limited to the hydrate in dry powdered form, and hence is more definite than the first claim, whiah would cover the hydrate in its wet condition. It seems obvious that the Reed and Abel patents, do not meet the terms of the first two claims, since neither reference makes any statement whatever to show the physical characteristics of the hy¬ drates employed. Very respectfully, THOMAS A. THIS OH', Hew York, June 13, 1901. 1.1 °\0)' Room No.149.- United States Patent Office, July B, 1901. Thomas A. Rdison, Care Dyer, Rdmonds & Dyer, 31 Has sail St., Hew York, H. Y. it' the. EXAMINE H i. $' J. (2 ti,- p Amendment filed July 2, 1901, has been entered. The word "non-colloidal" is again objected to in the claims*, since, as defined by the above amendment, non-colloidal means in a granular form, it is suggested that granular be sub¬ stituted. It is requested that a specimen of the oxide employed by applicant be furnished. Claims 1 and 2 are again rejected upon Reed and Abel, of record. In the absence of : showing that Reed and Abel do not disclose an oxide having the same^form ef applicant's, the claims are still.-held to be met. Ex'r Div. 3. 0 application must be specified THOMAS A. EDISON s depolarizer tor reversible galvanic batteries: : ROOM NO. 149. FILED FAT 9, 1901 : SERIAL NO. 59,512 • HON. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, SIR: Please amend as follows : - Page 2, line 14, Before "dries" insert - , Being non-colloldal in fora,—— - . Claim 2, line 2, after "powdered" insert — granu¬ lar - . Vo note that the Examiner still objects to the ex¬ pression "non-colloidal" in the claims, But we suBmit that his objection should Be withdrawn, particularly in view of the above amendment. In describing the nickel hydroxide made By usual methods, applicant says (p. 1, line 21) that it "is colloidal or gelatinous or slimy in form", and he points out the several practical objections thereto. Re-_ forring to his present hydroxide, he says (page 2, line 14) that it is "non-colloidal in fora" and "dries to a powder", and the advantages of that characteristic are fully explained. At the close of the specification, applicant explains just what he moans By the expression "non-colloidal, aB used By me in my claims”, namely, "the oxide in granular form which dries to a powder, as distinguished from the oxide in tho colloidal, gelatinous or slimy condition, as now produced, which drieB to a hard glassy mass". Ho one reading the claims could Be misled as -to what they cover, and when claims can Be subjected to that test ,it is submitted that they are u.urioBjeetiona'ble. We note the Examiner's suggestion that the expression "granular ) Iiorm" 'he used, hut we submit that that expression would not he apt aa applied to the wet or undried oxide, which the claims should ho broad enough to cover. In repeating the first two claims on the references of record, we note that the Examiner says:- "In the absence of showing that Reed mid Abel do not disclose an oxide having the same physical form as applicant's, the claims are still held to oe inetys In this ruling, we submit tho Examiner has mistaken the rule of law to be followed. A reference to be good should dis- olose the olaimed invention olearly and unmiBtakeably; if there As doubt on the point, it should be waived in an ap¬ plicant's favor. It is incumbent upon the applicant to distinguish from a reference only when the Examiner has ap¬ parently successfully applied it.- In the present case, both Abel and Reed are Bilent as to the character of oxide used, so that it cannot be said that the claimed invention is olearly disclosed. If the Examiner still is of the view that these claims are met, wa ask him to point out whore the references describe a hydrated oxide in non-oolloidal or granular foraj or even indioate that such an oxide is desoribed. In accordance with the Examiner's request, wa will furnish a specimen of applicant’s oxide. Very respectfully, SHOHAS A. KDISOH, His Attorneys. Orange, H.J., July 16, 1901. | | DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Thomas A. Edison, c/o Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, 31 Nassau St . , New York City. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application. Ser. No. 59,512, Ailed May 9, 1901. "Depolarizer for Reversible Galvanic Batteries". The amendment and argument filed July 17, 1901 has been entered and considered. The specimen refered to in the above amendment has not yet been received; further action upon the merits of the claims is suspended until such specimen is received. 61/TT& — Examiner Div.3, Case Ho. E-1058, Abandoned, Piled May 9,1901. Improvements in Depolarizers for Reversible Galvanic Batteries. Claims. 1. A depolarizing material for reversible galvanic batteries, consisting of the hydrated oxide of nickel in non-colloidal form, substantially as set forth. 2. A depolarizing material for reversible galvanic batteries, consisting of powdered hydrated oxide of nickel, substantially as set forth. 3. For use in the manufacture of positive electrodes for reversible galvanic batteries, a mixture of non-colloi- cal hydrated oxide of nickel, and a flakelike conducting 'material, substantially as set forth. 4. For use in the manuf ac “,ure of positive electrodes for reversible galvanic batteries, a mixture Sf non-colloi¬ dal hydrated oxide of nickel , and flake graphite , substan¬ tially as set forth. 5. For use in the nanufscture of electrodes for reversible galvanic batteries, an active material in finely divided powdered form applied in a thin layer to the parti¬ cles of a flakelike conducting naterial, substantially as set forth. 6. For use in the manufacture of electrodes for re¬ versible galvanic batteries, an active material in’ finely divided powdered form applied in a thin layer to the parti¬ cles of flake graphite, substantially as set forth. 7. For use in the manufac ture of positive electrodes for reversible galvanic batteries, dried hydrated oxide of ckel in non-colloidal powdered form applied in a thin yor to the particles of a flakelik-e conducting material bstantiaL ly as set forth. 8. For use in the manufacture of positive electrode r reversible galvanic batteries, dried hydrated oxide niclcel in non-colloidal powdered form applied in a thi yer to the particles of j'fl'dc e.lgraphite , substantially a t forth. 9. For use in the manufacture of positive electrode r reversible galvanic batteries, a compressed mixture o i-colloidal hydrated oxide of nickel, and a flakelike nduoting material, substantially as set forth. 10 For use in the manufacture of positive electrode • W-AW/sr. 'r/HJMnm,/.*. it.&yrn Thomas A. Edison, Orange, few. C^/v January 10, 1902. Dear Sir,- Your application (E. Ho. 1063) for Reversible Gal¬ vanic Batteries employing the combination of cadmium and oxide of nickel, was allowed August 21st 1901 and the final fee requires to be paid before February 21st next. On tak¬ ing up the case to see if there was any reason why the fee should not be paid, we note that the prooess described in the specification for making the niokel is the so-called non-colloidal process of precipitating niokel hydrate by means of magnesium hydroxide. We understand that there was some defect in this process and that it is not now used by you. Of course if the prooess described makes an operative nickel hydroxide, whether non-oolloidal or not, there would be a sufficient basis for the olaims; but if the process is inoperative, we think the patent ought not to issue in its present form. Please advise ub whether the process refer¬ red to is sufficiently operative to be practical. -ffyr'T "a-U-T^ LAW OFFICES OYER, EDMONDS & DYER. patents ana patent Causes. Petition. fto the (Commissioner of TPatents : your petitioner , 2K0KAR A. 35DXSOH, a citizen of the United StateB, residing and having his post office address at- Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, Hew Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE XiiPROVRD PRO¬ CESS OF KAKIHG KraCTROLYTI CAILY-ACTIVE FIUShY IDIVIIM) IR01T SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION i AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS OYER, EDMONDS AND DYER, REGISTRATION NO. 2686 (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTED THEREWITH. Ispeoipioation. TO WXM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a oertain new and useful IMPROVED PROCESS OP MAKING EKECTRO- LYTICALLY- ACTIVE PINELY DIVIDED IRON (case No. 1069), of whioh the following is a description: My invention relates to an improved prooess or methoi of making eleotrolytically-aotive finely divided iron suita¬ ble for use with my improved storage battery employing niok- el hydrate as the depolarizer, but capable of use in connec¬ tion with any reversible galvanic cell having an alkaline eleotrolyte and wherein on discharge an oxidation of one of the active materials is effeoted. My objeot is to provide a prooess by whioh finely divided iron, eleotrolytically active to a practical and useful extent, can be obtained at low cost, in commercial quantity, and in suoh form that it may be stored and handled without objectionable deterioration of its eleotrolytically- aotive properties. In effecting this object, I obtain an eleotrolyti- cally-active iron oxide by roducing a suitable compound of iron, preferably ferric oxide (Pe203) , by means of hydrogen gas in the presence of heat maintained at suoh a temperature as to make the reduced oxide eleotrolytioally aotive in al¬ kaline solutions, and I subject the latter oxide to further treatment to make it non-pyrophorio, so that it may be stor¬ ed and handled without objectionable deterioration. i I A preferable way to oarry out my improved method is the following : Oxalate of iron la first ignited in the air, so as to burn to ferric oxide, or the latter oxide is obtained by other approved methods. The ferric oxide is then charged in a chamber or retort closely sealed againBt atmospheric air, and hydrogen is introduced within the cham¬ ber or retort to displace the air therein, and the passage of hydrogen is maintained during the heating and oooling of the charge. The chamber or retort is now subjected to a gradually increasing heat until a final temperature of about degrees Fahrenheit is readied, for about twenty hours, after which the charge is allowed to oool, while Btill BUbjeoted to the reducing gas, with the exclusion of atmospherio air or other oxidising influence. If after I cooling, air were admitted to the ohamber or retort, there would be danger of the oxide being spontaneously ignited and reconverted to the ferrio state. I therefore prefer to flood the chamber or retort with water after the cooling [has been ef footed, so as to mix thoroughly with the reduced oxide, forming a pasty mass whioh is non-pyrophorio, and whioh in that condition oan he stored indefinitely and hand¬ led without deterioration. The effeot of the reducing hy¬ drogen gas and heat on the ferrio oxide in the method, is to reduce such oxide in part at least to a lower condition of oxidation, making it eleotrolytioally active in alkalino solutions. While a definite ohemioai analysis of the material as finally secured has not been made, owing to its com¬ plexity and apparent unstability in the presence of ohemi¬ oai testa, it seems quite probable that the material is a [lixture of oxides, namely ferrio oxide (FegOg), ferrous xide (FeO), and a lower oxide (FeOg), the existence of _ 2 _ _ I which has been suspected by ohemists, though bo far as I know, it has never been praotioally produced, at least as active material for a storage battery. The active mate¬ rial obtained by my process is capable of being electrolyti- eally reduced in an alkaline solution durine the charging operation, and of being electrolytioally oxidised when op¬ posed by a suitable depolarizer, and being insoluble in such solutions, it is especially fitted for use in batteries of the type suggested by me wherein permanence is obtained by employing insoluble active materials carried by nickel or niokelplated supports. The degree of temperature and time of reduction necessary to properly carry out the process, depend upon the quality or condition of the ferric oxide. A lower reducing temperature can be employed, and the pro¬ cess oan be carried out in less time, when the ferrio oxide is in extremely finely divided oondition, than would other¬ wise be possible. I Having now described my invention, what I claim is: 1. The process of making electro lytically-aotivo finely divided iron, which oonsiBts in reduoing an iron com¬ pound by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an eleotro- lytioally-active oxide is obtained, substantially as set forth. 3. The prooess of making eleotrolytloally-aotive finely divided iron, whioh consists in reduoing an iron com¬ pound by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an eleotro- lytically-active oxide is obtained, and in oooling the oxide v/hile still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion of oxidizing influences, substantially as set forth. 3. The process of making eleotrolytically-aotive finely divided iron, whioh consists in reduoing an iron oon- 3 I pound by hydrogen in the presenoe of heat until an aleotro- lytioally-active oxide is obtained, and in finally floodinc the oxide so obtained with water, with the exclusion of oxi¬ dizing influences, substantially as set forth. 4. The process of making eleotrolytioally-aotire finely divided iron, whioh aonsiBts in reduoing an iron com¬ pound by hydrogen in the presenoe of heat until an eleotro- lytioally-active oxide is obtained, in oooling the oxide while still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion of oxidizing influences, and in flooding the oxide with water, substantially as set forth. 5. The process of making electrolytioally-aotivo finely divided iron, which consists in reduoing ferric o±ido by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an eleotrolytical- ly-aotive oxide is obtained, substantially as set forth. 6. The prooesa of making eleotrolytically-aotivo finely divided iron, which consists in reduoing ferric oxide by hydrogen in the presenoe of heat until an eleotrolytioal- ly-aotive oxide is obtained, and in cooling the oxide so ob- ttained while still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion f oxidizing influences, substantially as set forth. 7. The prooess of making eleotrolytioally-aotivo inely divided iron, whioh consists in reduoing ferrio oxide by hydrogen in the presenoe of heat until an eleotrolytical- ly-active oxide is obtained, and in finally flooding the oxide so obtained with water, with the exclusion of oxidi¬ sing influences, substantially as set forth. 8. The process of making elsctrolytioally-aotivo finely divided iron, whioh consists in reducing ferrio oxide >y hydrogen in the presenoe of heat until an electrolytioal- Ly-aotive oxide is obtained, in oooling the oxide while still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion of oxidizing SiSrS's^rthf10"41”6 *h8 wlth «*«■< 4 L SPECIFICATION SIGNED AND WITNESSED *1 Oath. THQKA £5 A. EDISON n of the Uni tod States, and a resident of Llewellyn Part, Orance, in the County of Us a ox and State of New Jersey} IMPROVED PROCESS OP MAKING KTJSCTROLYTICALLY-AOTIVE PINEEIT RE THAN TWO YEAR8 PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION t FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HI.S LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR Case No. 13-1069, Not filed. Improved process of Making Nlectrolytically Active Finely Divided Iron. C 1 i i m 1. The process of making electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which consists in reducing an iron compound by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an electrolyti- c ally- active oxide is pbtained , substantially as set forth] 2. The process of making electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which consists in reducing an iron compound by hydrogen in the presence of heat rmtil an and in cooling the oxide while still subjected to hyjdrcgen electrolytically-active oxide is obtained, /with the ex- elusion of oxidizing influences, substantially as set forth. 3. The process of rnakiig electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which sonsssts in reducing an iron compound by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an electrolytically-active oxide is obtained, and in finally flooding the oxide so obtained with water, with the ex¬ clusion of oxidizing influences, substantially as set forth. 4. The process of making eleotrolytically-ac.tive finely divided iron, which consists in reducing an iron compound by hydrogen in the presence of heat until mn electrolytically-active oxide is obtained, in cooling the oxide while still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion] of oxidizing influences, and in flooding the oxide with water, substantially as set forth. 5. The process of making electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which consists in reducing ferric oxide Toy hydrogen in the? presence of heat until an eleptrolytically-active oxide is obtained, subsia ntiallj as 3et forth. 6. The process of making electrolytically-active finely-divided iron, which consists in reducing ferric oxide by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an elec- trolytibally-aotive oxide is obtained, and in cooling the oxide so obtained while still subjected to hydrogen, with the exclusion of oxidizing influences, substantia' as set forth. 7. The process of making electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which consists in reducing ferric oxide by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an alactrielytically-active oxide is obtained, and in final flooding the oxide so obtained with water, with the ex¬ clusion of oxidizing influences, substantially as set forth. 3. The process of making electrolytically-active finely divided iron, which consists in reducing ferric oxide by hydrogen in the presence of heat until an elec- trolytically-actlve oxide is obtained, in cooling the oxide while still subjected .to hydrogen, v/ith the exclu¬ sion of oxidizing influences, and in flooding the oxide with water, substantially as set forth. Serial , ic t . Filed — r(D yf ?sS J? . Examiner's Room No ....?■»£ C_ | j 62^Xc . . £ 3 with Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. Jj ? The papers are duly filed, and your application for a patent will he taken I > S * ap for examination in its order _ _ _ g You loill he duly advised of the examination. Very respectfully, &.J. iUst d-4 f J I Commissioner of Patents. | 'J?/' 7/? t V II application fora patent, tlie inventor is by law required to famish his petition, specification, “ admito of drawings) and to pay tho required fee. nor con any official action be bad thereon, until all its parts, os hero specified, are I rowings (where tho iu plication is considered i w required to famish his petition, i 0 ^ Paper IT • .1. . DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, B.J5.J4, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c Thomas A. Btli Soft, Co Dyer, Bdmonds A Dyer, 31 Nassau Street., New York City. Please, find below a communication, from the EXAMINER in for “Nickel-plated Articles," filed April 9, 1902, Serial No. 102,109. charge of jaasaft^ R J. , The claims seek to distinguish from an ordinary nickel-plated article by the introduction of a step of the method, viz, the welding, which is objectionable, and are unpatentable thereover for i'Mi reason. The novelty, if any, lies in the method. The article could not be distinguish by inspection from nickel- plated articles made by another process and when the method is intro¬ duced into the claims in an attempt to distinguish the article' from one made by another process, the claim is for the same invention a‘s the method claims and isAthe wrong form. The following references are cited as tending to show that "weided" coatings are old: - British patent to Clark, 3122 of 1882; U.s. patent to Pleltmann, 242.194^Jfay 3lVi681: (both lh’ class 206, Compound Ingots for Plate). The claims are rejeoted. ' Case No..A£..Pap$ ho,./ . C LICENSE. WHEREAS, I, THOMAS A. EDISOH, of Llewellyn Park, Es¬ sex County, New Jersey, have invented an IMPROVEMENT IK NICKED PLATED ARTICLES, for whioh an application for Lettern Patent of the United States was filed May 12, 1902, Serial Ho. 102,109; and WHEREAS, EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, a corpora¬ tion organised under the laws of the State of Hew Jersey anti having its principal place of business at Orange, Essex County, said State, is desirous of securing a license under the patent whioh may issue upon the aforesaid application for use in connection with the manufacture of storage bat¬ teries and for no other purpose; HOW, THEREFORE, To all whom it may concern, be it known that for and in consideration of the sum of One Dol¬ lar to me in hand paid, rooeipt of whioh is hereby acknow¬ ledged, and of other good and valuable consideration, I, th^ said Thomas A. Edison, do hereby license and empower the said Edison Storage Battery Company and its successors in business to use the said invention as fully as the same is set forth in the application referred to or the patent whioljt may issue upon said application, within the territory of the United States, and in connection with the manufacture of storage batteries and for no other purpose. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this A/ day of November^ 1902, Signed, Bealed and delivered : in the presence of, — • State of Hew Jersey,! :bs: County of Essex, : On this / ^'day of November, 1902, before me, I THOMAS A. EDISON N I OKELPLATED ARTICLES PILED APRIL 9, 1902 SERIAL NO. 102,109 ROOM NO. 251 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR : - In view of the Examiner' b oritioism of the olaima, we amend by erasing the claims and substi¬ tuting the following: — *" — h- — l.c _As a./neW\manuf aoture , steely or iron articles having a nickel'''f ilm intimately associated with the Burfa^oo thereoXand free of any oondition of tension, ^suTpiatant tally as set fort^/ p* y{. As a new manufacture, steel or iron articles • having a niokel film intimately associated with the surfaoe thereof and free of any condition of tension, the joint be¬ tween the metals being free of oxide of either metal, sub¬ stantially aB Bet forth. - Applicant has now limited his claims in such a way as to overoome the objection urged by the Examiner. The new niokelplated articles are distinguished in a physical sense from ordinary niokelplated articles in the reBpeot that the nickel coating is free of any condition of tension, and in a ohemioal sense from the fact that in the joint be¬ tween the metals there is no oxide of either metal. So far as the references to Clark and to Pleitmann are concerned, we oall the Examiner's attention to the faot that neither patent shows a niokelplated artiole, but in each case a sheet of nickel is welded to a sheet of some other metal. Applicant distinguishes from these oon- Case No... A£. Paper Nc struotions toy limiting his olaimB to artioles having nickel films. -,:;v We hope the oaBe as now presented may toe allowed. Very respootfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, By _ Attorneys. New York, January 28, 1903. Case No..,idz...Paper No,...sk" S ^ Room No. — Woshington, D. C." United States Patent Office, Thomas A, Edison, Care, Dyer, Edmonds ft Dyer, 31 Nassau Street, | ^EBllJ9 03 ] New York City. J Please find, below a communication from the" EXAMINER in charge oPySnF^^aHo. for "Nickel-Plated Articles," filed Apr. 9, 1902, Serial No. The claims presented by amendment filed Jan. 30, 1903, are anticipated by and rejected on the patent to Adams, 154,435, Aug. 25, 1874. Case No, /’...Paper No,.\,£„ UNITED STATES PATENT OPPICE. Thomas A, Edison, Nickel plated Articles, Piled April 9,1902, Serial No. 102, 109. Room No. 251. Hon. Commissioner of Patents, Sir:- 1 amend by erasing Claim 1 and the numeral of the second. Reconsideration is requested. With applicant's article the joint between the niokel and iron or steel is absolutely free of oxid of either metal, and this result becomes possible only when the welding is effected in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. With the Adams patent . the welding would inevitably be accompanied by oxida¬ tion, and in faot the patent says that a low red heat is used,,to the best advantage, the niokel oxidizing too rapid¬ ly at a higher temperature". This certainly would indi¬ cate that the patentee knew that some oxidation takes plaoe even at a low red heat, which is of oourse a faot. Although the difference between the two articles may be refined, it is important and useful, and it is hoped therefore that the Claim may be allowed. Very respectfully, Thos. A. Edison, By Orange, N.J. December 3,1903. Case Paper No,. His Attorney, 2—2(10. Room No— 329.. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. United States Patent Office, Washington, o. c., Deo. 31 , Thomas A. Edison, Care, Prank Li Dyer, Edison Labratory, Orange, N.J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER ii for "Nickel -Plated Articles, filed April 9, 1902, Serial No. 108,109. _ _ , _ _ Commissioner of Patents. Responding to amendment filed Deo.- 4, 1903: In accordance with the rulings of the'pOmmissiorier , “Case should be eliminated No. 1070, “^from the first paragraph, page 1. Since the application referred to on page 1 has resulted in a patent the number and date of the patent should be substituted for the number and date of the application. The article defined in the claim can differ from those aka disclosed in the references of record only in degree and not in kind. Every one skilled in the art of welding is aware that it is desirable to have the surfaces to come in contact iggfc the welding operation free of oxide, and attempts in welding are always made to produce this result. There is no invention in the conception of an article consisting of two plates welded together free of oxide in the joint. If any invention exists in the disclosure of this application,, it is held to be in the method of procedure by which the article may be produced and not in the article. The claim is therefore a second ], time rejected. ' .-,-7-;-.- 7 JAN \0 , \ I8O1 '%:r; Folio No. M Serial No. //C: ul^L . O: . di Examiner’s Room No 1 . /?<\ 4—fc <*(■<<<- — t*y. jJ&C ; rjs 1 6... . . v.' . . , /;, > J 7 . \ . . &***’.. . ^ ZJh c> J 9 . . V^f T&rrTd.W?! . . . . . - 7 StTlfll ^d/'W, d(v~'y. //?rd groove, presenting preferably in cross-section the arc of ?. circle, and whioh is aoourately representative of the original sounds, and which record can be used for direct re¬ duction or as a master from which a matrix can be formed ’or producing duplicates. I have embodied claims on this lew reoord in an application filed on even date herewith. The present invention resides principally in the ■ormation of the sinuous reoord groove by cleanly outting he material coincident therewith, so as to thereby remove ore or less continuous shavings or.ohips of the material, 0 distinguished from the operations now performed, wherein material is merely compressed or orowded to one side or the- other of the normal or medial line of the recording stylus, i. e. , the line which the recording stylus would traverse if uninfluenced by the vibratory movements of the diaphragm. The invention also preferably further resides in the pre¬ liminary formation in the recording surface of a Bhallow spiral groove formed by the action of a grooving tool which precedes the recording stylus, She spiral groove in ques¬ tion being of less depth and width than the record -when formed, '.thereby the amount of material which requires to be removed by the recording stylus is. somewhat reduced, to thereby render the latter more accurately responsive to the ribrations of the diaphragm and to thus secure a record that is more nearly graphically representative of the sound ribrations. This feature of the prooess may, however, be imitted. Any suitable apparatus for carrying the process into offset nay be employed, but I preferably males use of sound recording apparatus of the type described and claimed in my application for patent filed November 8th, 1901t Serial No. 81,534, of which the present case is a division. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings,' forming a part of this specification, and in whioh Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, illus¬ trating a portion of a recording apparatus of the type de¬ scribed in said application; Figure 2, a plan view of the same; Figure 3, an enlarged sectional view through a rec¬ ord, illustrating the grooving tool and the preferred form of recording stylus; Figure 4, a longitudinal seotional view of the re- jording stylus shown in figure 3; -3- Figure 5, an enlarged plan of the preliminary groove and record groove respectively, formed by the groov¬ ing and recording tools shown in figure 3; Figure 6, a saotion on the line 6—6 of figure 5; Figure 7, a section on the line 7—7 of figure 5; on< Figure 8, a cross-sectional view, illustrating the preferred construction of reproducer for engagement with the reoord groove. In all of the above views, corresponding parts are represented by the same minerals of reference. A suitable rotating platen 1, mounted on a vertical shaft 3, carries a flat disklike record 3 made preferably of the usual waxlike recording material with a thiokness of say one-fourth inch, and which reoord is clamped to the platen by means of the thumbscrew 4. A frame 6 connects it one end with the usual feed-screw (not shown), and is sup- 3 or ted at the other end on the usual traveler-bar 6, a latch 7 being employed to elevate the frame from the reoord when desired. The frame 5 is formed with an eye 8 therein, in whioh is mounted the casing 9 of the recorder. This casing is pivoted at 10, and its weight is partly counteracted by a spring 11, the tension of whioh oan be regulated by an ad¬ justing screw 12. The casing 9 Carries the usual diaphragm 13, above which is mounted the disk 14 provided with a fun¬ nel 16, the parts being held in position by the usual claus¬ ing ring 16. The speaking tube (not shown) is carried with¬ in a tubular heok 17, which projects within the funnel 18 md is supported by a bracket 18 from the frame 5, wbe reby the recorder as a whole will be free to partake of move- aent independently of the speaking ti&e. Extending downwardly from the oasing 9 is an arm L9 carrying a spring 20. Connecting the diaphragm 13 with laid spring Is a bell-crank lever 21 and links 22. The spring 20 is normally under tension, so as to exert stress upon the diaphraga 13, to thereby prevent lOBt motion in the connections between the diaphragm and said spring. At the free end of the spring 20 is a socket 23 arranged pref¬ erably at an angle to the surface of the record 3, as shown in figure 3, and said socket receives the shank of the re¬ cording tool 24. The preferable form of recording tool 1b that il¬ lustrated, the tool being provided with a curved cutting edge 25, with a reduced ne.ok 26 behind the cutting edge and with a concaved forward edge 27, which increases the sharp¬ ness of the cutting edge. 'J?he cutting edge 25 Bhould at least extend coincidently with tho bottom and sides of the recording tool, and preferably said outting edge extends completely around the forward extremity of the outting tool, in order that the latter my be turned when worn to present new outting surfaces. Shis recording tool may be made of the usual sapphire or other jewel, or of hardened steel. The preferred apparatus for carrying my process into effect also contemplates a socket 28 oarried by the casing 9 of the recorder, which socket sustains a grooving tool 29 similar to an ordinary phonographic reoord- sr and which forms a relatively shallow and narrow groove Ln advance of the recorder, in order that the material which aust be removed by the latter will be reduoed to a minimum, [his grooving tool 29 forms a groove in the reoording sur- Ehoe 3 corresponding with the medial or normal line of out >f the reoording devioe, so that tho latter -in v Jvibrating rill remove the material by a outting action to one side )r* the other of said groove. In operation, the reoording surface 3 is rotated md the reoording stylus and grooving tool 29 (if used) are : loved radially with respect to said surface, so that said -5- tools will out a spiral groove therein. If, now, the dia¬ phragm 13 is vibrated by sound waves , the cutting recorder will be vibrated to cleanly cut the material to the proper depth and on either side of the shallow and narrow groove preliminarily formed by the grooving tool 29. This eff eot is very clearly illustrated in figure 5, in which 30 repre¬ sents the groove formed by the grooving tool and 31 repre¬ sents the record groove whioh is oleariLy cut by the out- ting recorder. Reference to figures 6 and ? respectively indicates the relative depth and width of these groove's. After the record is formed, it may be engaged by a spherical reproducing device 32, preferably of the type which I de¬ scribe and claim in my application for Letters Patent f iled November 8th, 1901, and numbered serially 81,535, or said record may be used as a master from which a matrix oan be made by known prooesseB and duplioate records secured there¬ from in any suitable way. In practioe, the weight of the recording devices oompriBing the partB sustained from the pivot 10 causes the cutting reoorder to engage always to the proper depth in the reoording material, so that any variations in the verti¬ cal thiokness of that material, due to imperfections in its manufacture or to warping or distortion arising from any causa, will not affect the depth of the out, since the re¬ corder will be free to rise and fall, to thereby accommodate such variations. By thus making a record as explained, the friction resisting the vibration of the reoorder is reduced to a minimum, first, beoause the recorder is not required to he engaged entirely through the reoording material, as with the processes now in vogue for making these reoords, and second, beoause the reoorder is provided with a outting edge whioh oleanly outs the waxlike material of the record, instead of srowding or aompreosing it to one side, a3 with apparatus of the type at present in use. Having now described ray invention, what I claim as lew and desire to secure hy letters Patent is os follows :- 1. The process of making a graphic record repre¬ sentative of sounds, which consists in engaging a cutting bool with a record surface, in subjecting the cutting tool to the influence of sound -waves, whereby it will be caused to be vibrated in a plane parallel to and within said sur¬ face, and in effecting a relative movement of the surfaoe with respeot to said cutting tool, whereby a sinuous record groove will be oleanly out in said surfaoe and the material will be completely removed by the cutting tool in the line of its path, substantially as and for the purpose Bet forth. 2. The process of making a graphic record repre¬ sentative of sounds, which oonsists in engaging a outting tool partially within but not through a record surface, in subjecting the cutting tool to the influence of sound waves, whereby it will be caused to be vibrated in a plane parallel to and within said surfaoe, and in effecting a relative move¬ ment of the surface with respect to said outting tool, where¬ by a sinuouB record groove will be oleanly cut in said sur¬ faoe and the material will be completely removed by the cut¬ ting tool in the line of its path, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 3. The process of making a graphic record represen tatlve of sounds, which consists in oleanly outting in a waxlike blank a sinuous sound wave, substantially as set forth. 4. The prooess of making a graphic record repre¬ sentative of sounds , which oonsists in oleanly outting in a waxlike blank a sinuous sound wave -presenting. : a aurved -7- oross-Beotiori and of uniform depth and width throughout, substantially as Bet forth. of making a graphio record repre¬ blank aiid in forming in lino with said groove a deeper sinu- oub record groove, substantially as set forth. jT^ Jit The process of making a graphio record repre¬ sentative of sounds, consisting in cutting a groove in a blank and in outting in line with said groove a deeper sin¬ uous reoord groove, substantially as set forth. 4 JK The process of making a graphio reoord repre¬ sentative of sounds, which oonBietB in engaging a grooving tool within a recording surface, in engaging a recording stylus with said surface in line with said grooving tool but to a grsater depth and width than said tool, in subject¬ ing the recording stylus to the effeot of Bound waves, whereby it will be vibrated in a plane parallel to the re¬ oord surface, and in effecting s slative movement of said surface with respect to said grooving tool and recording stylus, whereby the grooving tool will out a shallow and narrow groove in said surface in advance of the recording stylus, substantially as set forth. 3 SPECIFICATION SIGNED AND WITNESSED THIS Oath. State of £011111? of T H 0 M A B A. 3 B I S 0 N , the above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A OltiSSOn OF THE United States and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange , In the County of Bsbox and State of Hew Jersey j THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR OF THE iJiPROVmara IN PROCESSES OS’ MAKING SOUND RECORDS DESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BEFORE ' HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ; • , ■ LL^_ Jtsr*4' (&v / & 9J . ~'*~ ' CC Sxjy* '* -' ■ 7lwi#t*> ) - - , . ■ (w _ / V ; ia->. L t^^y C-iUui i:^L fX? /^Wl- ,%“~\ ' / y, ^ «*«*.* f,|/' ' a '•;.'^rr* - : *«.** ^ _, 4 ^ - «"* i ~ V- - ~rL7r \-^a^- J'i , &c~t- ^ V';- “ ‘ "*' ■■ eu~ eu -Ji ,0^^ • " 'tuisi** — I't^t-tl 3 I -S’ - '-’r^o ^ .■■£*■ A &*«, '-— — r- - - — / nu. •*-*: -/- T/L, "> ^ ~ /4-r- " ^ ^ /X— 7 ■/•^— ^ __ .,r~~ . 3 ?- */. tv.^uu-1 ■*.**-■ ^ *■■■ y , ^ ^ ^ a. ~~Cv-*'- «W,..^.> *.. *~nC. ^ ~6r <*. c«i^( ^ *-® A~ *''— I ‘HO^t4 *■> Ar-H^t , iU'~.*>* '"* "■ *■ *; *■*<;* ^ 'A.? irfrA^ vJ - «-n-' » ::^ . > ^ v ; iu/^^-o ~ *° *“ <_ ; ?C_ -■yy “A*" ^ -; ^IZZ^M^. ii *'*• >-/■ '*> "“’ ~~ . ;| '•/£- v. .' -f- •*_•*-. 4 -.;| l 4^ ~ ~ — I ^ ^-^3^ ; js 4«^w !':/,. J'-^x W^ ~ y y. ,, ,., _ x. /w. /*'.**. • ‘•/^ w«~ A- ~— ^ \jJc~m~J4 ~M- h *~T5~. : > x _ J. S .. . ,t W< : ’T^UV'*- j: iCi**-' £-U'^w //w-w^x. ( /. 7 ■ - j — .'■'■ ' *•- •/ i w /-•'A ; :oL*h*~~ , A: *A~ ^ ^ — ~~.-i ^ *c^fj*~: *> N^'i iiAVs^v .x, X - /id- *-tf~u-'£- /> 1 , € , ^6 - ij .— ""* * *'*^'*1, Ufi.$.*A*. ( , £■— ^ ^ — .:••• J5u~~ ^ Lviwj **~> ^■;rru^^ "" 1-5- '*aCfc . ? ^ ^ - 3 * ^ ^ |>i. ^ ^ i <*» *-<4+- «-*- ^-.•*-^— ^»-! c^£r-t-c.c <5-^ *~o-c*~~-~*p — /4L«> * *— /5c^tH) ' f 1/ , ft-*-** , ; to-ri^d -7L^u*-a "^O i1 ^ . ... *>u^ a SH-ui iL~r'tn«~~ /- />.?■£. V£ - v xv. . _ . , ^ With regard to, claims 3 to 7 It may be stated that both Berliner and Hey singer have fonaed preliminary grooves In order to lessen the work of the' recording stylus. Applloant simply ax- tkds the idea in Hey singer and Berliner, and while Hey singer has a prepared groove of less depth than the record groove, and Bor- ^ase Na.y^Paper ' V page 2 of Edisoni liner haa a prepared groove of less width than the record groove , appliotmt haa a prepared groove of leee depth and less width than the after made record groove. It is held that this change made by applicant does not constitute invention in view of the patent e cited « and claime 5 to 7 are again rejected. Case Ho,„. Paper No.^?.. ibrOMAS A. EDISON 'ROOESS 03? MAKING SOUND RECORDS [(PILED ,TUN.E 4, 1902 SERIAL NO. 110,159 ROOM NO. 219. !I[ON. COMMISSIONER OE PATENTS, SIR: Please amend by erasing claim 5 and y renumbering the remaining claims. V/e note that the Examiner still rejects the first our claims on the British patent to Adams -Randall, and sup- orts his contention that this patent describes a "cutVecord eferences to page 9 of the specification thereof. Concerning this patent, we contend:- E.irst, that jit describes and illustrates mere details relating to the old Edison indenting tin-foil phonograph; second, that it does not describe or illustrate the cutting of a phonograph record in 'the sense that the formation of these records is ow understood; third, that it does not describe the outting f a sinuous -groove record, nor does it describe or show pparatus which could possibly be used for that purpose; and ourth, that it is blind, obscure and totally lacking in any isclosure which by any possible straining of language can e regarded as the equivalent of applicant's invention. In describing the first, and probably preferred form >f apparatus, Bhown in figures 1 and 9, the specification of .he patent refers to the "recording pen or style 23" (p. 5 ..ine 1). With this apparatus, a phonographic record would 1 e formed, since the pen or style vibrates up and down with regard to the recording surfaoe, and the apparatus could not 3 ossibly be used to make a record with a Binuous groove. ■ k0 specification then describes the modified form of appara- Casc No./<£lPaper i tun shown in figures 10 and 11, and refers to "a suitable recording or reproducing device, — similar to that shown in Fig. S3, or Fig. 35, or Fig. 36". These recording or re¬ producing devices are shown on sheet 4, and in every case a pointed stylus is illustrated, identically like the indent¬ ing needle of the old tin-foil phonograph. Such a pointed stylus is in no sense a cutting tool, nor .is it capable of performing a cutting operation. A stylus of that kind obvi¬ ously could not be employed for cutting a sinuous record groove, as applicant describes. So far as the modifica¬ tion Shown in figures 12 and 13 is concerned, no reference whatever is made in the specification to the form of record¬ ing stylus used. With all the modifications illustrated on sheet 3, no reference in the specification is made to the recorder except to say that the latter is provided with guid¬ ing rollers 53, but in figures 21 and 22 the recorder is clearly shorn as a needle or wire, as with the old tin-foil phonograph. _ Concerning the modifications shown in figure 31 (sheet 2) and in figures 32 to 41 (sheet 5), no reference whatever is made to the form of recorder used. In desoribl the modification illustrated in figures 45 and 46 (sheet 6), the specification refers, generally, to a recorder, but tho drawing very clearly illustrates this recorder as a needle or wire. The specification in describing the operation of this device says that "a record is made in a spiral line" (p. 7, line 13). Obviously, the waking of a reoord is a very much broader expression than the cutting of a record. Seme light is thrown on the construction of the re¬ corder on page 7 of the specification, in describing the de¬ vices shown in figures 32 to 37. Here the recorder is de¬ scribed as "a light rod 80". The specification says:- "When luted as a recorder, motion la given to the diaphragm ng * * * , and tills motion Is Imparted to the rod, In suoh manner that a record of the vibrations of 87 (the dia¬ phragm) can he recorded in suitable material. When used as a reproducer, the device is passed over the record in the recording mat erica and motion is thereby given to the rod or pen which is imparted to the diaphragm" (p. 7, lines 35—41). It is thus clear that the stylus is used both for recording and reproducing, exactly like the needle of the old tin-foil phonograph. The rodlike stylus cannot, therefore, be provided with cutting edges, beoRuse if it were it could not be used for reproducing. Furthermore, it is not described as being provided with cutting edges, and its operation is not referred to as a cutting action. Fi¬ nally, in the drawings it 1b clearly shown as a needle or sire. The"reoording pen or style 112" (p. 8, line 2) shown in figure 3B (Bheet 4) is also a needle, and in line 3 i't is referred to as a “rod, pen or style". In describing the modification shown in figure 42 (sheet 5), the specification refers to the "tracer or trav¬ eller 23" (p. 8, line 19), and further on (line 25) to "the recording p_olntH. This is clearly not a cutting tool, nor me capable of performing a cutting operation. All of the devices so far referred to in the Adams - Sandal 1 patent are obviously phonographic apparatus, wherein the stylus is vibrated up and down with respect to the sur¬ face. They have no bearing whatever on the present oase, mt have been referred to in order to show that even with -hat type of devtoe a cutting reoorder 1b not employed, tie only phonautographic or sinuous -groove apparatus is shown .n figures 43 and 44, in descrlbiig whioh the stylus is re- : 'erred to as "a recording or reproducing tracer or traveller" p. 8, lines 35 — 36), whioh is later on specifically descried I - an a "rod 141" (line 37). j After referring to various forms of recording sur- faoes for use with "this form of recording apparatus, by which the sound vibrations are graphically recorded", the patentee describes the reoord as being "graphically traced, at a minimus resistance” (p. 9, line 8). In describing the operation of the several devices illustrated in his patent, Adams -Randall states that "sound! made or uttered at the mouthpiece are reoorded by means of the style or pen, in the recording material by a line of in¬ dentations or graphically, as and in the manners well known" (p. 9, lines 16 — 18). In reproducing, "the reoording nen or traveller, following in_the lines of the reoord, is vi¬ brated" (p. 9, lines 36, 37), "thus converting the recorder into a reproducer" (lines 39, 30). Thus it will be seen that the patentee distinguishes the two types of apparatus described in his patent, as those adapted, first, to fom a or "graphically" (phonautographically) reoord by "a line of .indentations" ' (phonographically) * b£t the making of these records is referred to as being well- known. Apparently Adams -Randall, at the time of taking out his patent, knew only of the original tin-foil phonograph, as a noedlolike reo order is always shown, and that recorder is described as being used as a reproducer for securing re¬ productions. The reoorder oannot be provided with cutting edges, because in that case it could not be used as a repro¬ ducer. It is true that in describing the devioe shown in figure 35, on page 9, the specification states that "the reo¬ ord will be more positively, and deeply out, engraved or made In the material" (lines 36, 37), and this we understand is one of the statements on which the Kjceminer baseB his opinion that Adaras-Randall describes a "out" reoord. It is to he observed, however, that the reoorder of figure 35 ie •4- previously referred to in the specif ication rb a rod, and no outting edges are desorlbed. Apparently, the patentee usod the terms "cutting ", "engraving " and "making" synonymously. At any rate, even considering that a cutting action is re¬ ferred to and admitting that the specification describes and the drawings show a true cutter, the reference world still not he pertinent, sinoB the recorder of figure 35 is a phono- graphic. devioe,and :not a- phonautoreraphic or ninuous-groove device. In other words, so far rb this reference is con¬ cerned, the Adams-Handall patent would not he as pertinent as any patent showing an ordinary phonographio outting tool. Further on the specification says that good repro¬ ductions can he obtained from the reverse side of the ^in¬ dentations or lines of the record" (p. 9, lines 45—49), and this is especially true "if a flat, thin, sharp recording pen or style having a knife edge and much more width than thickness — a miniature ohisel — iB employed" (p. 9, lineB 50, 51). This statement we understand offers the Examiner additional basis for his opinion that Adams-Han¬ dall describes a "out" record. Chisel-like recorders were, however, known long prior to Adams-Handall, and are described, for example, in the origins. Bell and Tainter patent. The reference to a chisel-like recorder is made, it will be ob¬ served, only in connection with records formed of "indenta¬ tions or lines", and is not made in connection with graphic orrphonautographio records. It would be probttoly easy to reproduce from the reverse side of an original Edison tin- foil record having indentations, but it would be impossible without the exercise of invention to reproduce from the re¬ verse side of a graphi'h orphonautographic- record. Adams- Handall apparently recognised this, because he limits his reference to a chisel-like recorder to an apparatus of the -8- phonographic type* Sven, however, if we admit that Adams-Randall de- Isorlbes the employment of a chisel-like recorder for foming a sinuous-groove record, it is obvious that suoh a. recorder would not perform a cutting action, since it is not provided with side outting edges. In fact, for the formation of sutf a reoord, a chisel-like recorder would he inferior to a needle reoorder. When the Adams-Rnndall patent in, therefore, taken as a whole, we submit that it has no bearing whatever on the present case, and relates, in fact, to an entirely different type of apparatus. It certainly cannot be argued that the patent describes a cutting tool especially adapted for form¬ ing a cleanly out sinuous reoord groove, or describes the formation of such a reoord groove as applicant specifically Iolaims. In the absence of a definite reference, to the in¬ vention which applicant is claiming, we submit that the pat¬ ent should be withdrawn. The original fifth claim has been erased on the theo¬ ry that as it wae broad, enough to cover the formation of the record by a needlelike reoorder, it was probably not sufficiently distinguished from the Berliner patent of reo¬ ord. So far as the present fifth and sixth claims are con¬ cerned, they are both limited to the outting of the reoord groove, ar.d are, therefore, subordinate to the first four olaims. If the first four claims are patentable, and we submit with all earnestness that they are, then the last two claims should, we believe, be allowed with them, Very resp.eotf.ully, THOMAS A . EDISON, By _ HewYork, August 38, 1903. Ills Attorneys* 2-200. Room No. _ ?J-7f commmifcof'oni timid bt'addreiicdff f H» D« DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c. 8ept. 9,19O2.^'^£0g>vs Thomas A. JOdicon, Care Dyer, JMtaonda ft Dyer, 31 Nassau Stroot, Now Vork,N.Y. D. S. PATENT OFFICE, SEP 9 1902 M AILED. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your applicati for Process of Making Sound-Records ,f lied June 4,1902, serial number 110,169. This aotion is in response to tho amendment filed the 29th ult too. It seems clear from a reading of the file in t J» patent of Jones citod that the step of “cutting or engraving*. the record groove referred to' therelnr-contemplates a cutting out or removal of' the cut materlta by ‘the^ late ml .vibration of the style,, Tiho first four claims are again;rej)octed'in- view of the patents of-; Jones and AdamS-Randall cited. Claims 5 and 6 are rejected in view of Jones, Adaras- Randall, Berliner and Hey8lnger,citod. Case Paper No,...Y^t.... THOMAS A. EDISON PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS I'll®) JUNE 4, 1903 SERIAL NO. 110,159 ROOM NO. 319 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OR PATENTS, SIR : - We note that the Examiner, In again rejecting the olaims, still adheres to the British patent to Adams-Randall. In our last argument we oarefully analy¬ zed this reference, and hoped at the time that we had con¬ vinced the Examiner of its entire irrelevanoy. We oan add nothing to what we have already said in regard to the pat¬ ent, and we request, therefore, that the Examiner will again he kind enough to oonsider it in the light of our argument. Wfe repeat, concerning this reference, that it relates only to the old indenting method, and does not even show a out- ting tool for making a phonograph record. It oertainly does not show such a tool for making a sinuous groove reoord. Concerning the patent to Jones, we submit the fol¬ lowing: 1. A oareful reading of the file of the Jones pat¬ ent does not disclose any positive and definite statement to the effect that, in the making of his master reoord, Jones employs a true outting operation in whioh the material is aotually removed. Jones, in faot, states that his method is that of the Bell and Tainter graphophone (patent No. 341,- 214, May 4, 1886), in whioh the formation of the reoord is referred to as "cutting or engraving". This method is re¬ ferred to by Jones in the prosecution of his case as the "engraving method". Edison patent No. 398,967 of May 4th -."’I"' 1 Use No../^fpaper No, 1888 fully distinguishes the engraving method of the Bell and Tainter patent from a true outting operation. In that patent Edison said: “Heretofore the recording point used has been oon- struoted so that in forming the groove it removed the material by a soraping action. This was due to the fact that the advancing edge of the recording style used was perpendicular to the recording surf&oe or re- . ceded from the perpendicular, the result being a screw¬ ing rather than a true outting of the material. The soraping action I have found to be productive of false vibrations which become part of the rooord and whioh , are audible as soratohing and other foreign noises when s°u«ds are reproduced. I have found that this difficulty is overoome by employing a recording point made as a true outting tool with a outting edge in ad¬ vance of the stook of the tool.” This distinction between an engraving and a outting opera¬ tion was regarded by the Office as sufficient in character to warrant the allowance of a generic claim on the latter method. The first claim of the Edison patent in (jtuestion is as follows: "The method of recording sounds for reproduction, consisting in impressing sound vibrations upon a cut¬ ting recording point and thereby outting in the reoord- ing surface the record corresponding to the sound waves in contradistinction to the formation of such' sound records by a scraping aotion. " If, therefore, the method suggested by Jones in the proseou- tion of his case is the Bell and Tainter method as he says, that method is distinguished from applicant's method, in whioh a true outting operation is performed. Making this assumption, the Jones method corresponds with the Bell and Tainter patent, and applicant's method corresponds with his former patent. If a true outting operation for the forma¬ tion of a phonograph reoord was patentably distinguished from a soraping operation, then, we submit, a true outting operation for the formation of a sinuous groove reoord should be similarly distinguished. 2. After all, the only statement in the Jones pat¬ ent whioh has any bearing whatever on the present oase is 2 Case Paper that the reoord groove is "out or engraved" . This state¬ ment however, as we have before pointed out, ia prooeded by the statement that the reoord is made "in a well known man¬ ner". The only known method of making sinuous grooved records at the date of Jones's application was by means of a traoing point, aB suggested by Berliner. It was not new to make suoh a reoord by either a scraping or a outting operation, so that so far aB the patent itself is concern¬ ed, it is dear that it cannot relate to anything other thanl the Berliner needlelike reoorder. It seems very probable, in view of the proseoution of his oase, that Jones may have contemplated the soraping or engraving method of the Bell and Tainter patent, but if that is the oase, the specifica¬ tion of his own patent is misleading in stating that the reoord is formed "in a well known manner". So far as we can Judge, the only point of distinction that Jones had in mind between his process and that of Berliner was that with the latter a traoing operation through a film on an etohing ground was performed, while with his prooess the engraving tool (undesoribed and unillustratad) worked within the sur¬ face of the recording material. In fact, if the arguments presented by Jones during the proseoution of his oase are to be reconciled with the statement of his patent that his reoords are formed "in a well known manner", it will have to be assumed that this was the only distinction which Jones sought to present between his prooess and Berliner's. 3. Even if it should be admitted that Jones, either in his patent or in his arguments before the Patent Offioe, had a clear conoeption of the possibility of forming a sinu¬ ous reoord groove by a true outting operation, the fact that suoh a possibility is stated in his patent would not make the patent a good reference. Edison, in addition to per- Cacc No,./^J5aper No . oeiving the possibility of making a record in this way, has invented a new apparatus for its production, and therefore must he presumed to he the first to actually secure the re¬ sult. Long prior to the invention of the Bell telephone, Bourseul had suggested the possibility of transmitting speech electrically, and he even had a vague dream of the means by which that could he done. In sustaining the Bell patent, the Supreme Court regarded these vague suggestions aB being of so little importance in the way of anticipation as not to require any special consideration by them. We do not see how in the present case the equally vague suggestions of .Tones oon have any weight in anticipating claims drawn on a specific process carried out by the use of new and ori¬ ginal apparatus. We hope, therefore, that upon reconsideration the claims may be allowed, but if this oannot be done, then we request that final action be taken. Very respectfully, I A. EDISON, Attorneys. New York, September 17, 1902. Case No.../^paper No . .£ United States Patent Office, Thomas A. Edison , Oar o By or, Edmonds & Dyer, #31 llasaau Street, Hew York,!I.y. n jujf C^rJ)/ )g*J October 9ipJj9OP,*$s0y' U. S. PA7EBT OFFICE, OCT 9 1902 MAILED. nicaUon from Hut EXAMINER in cha for Process of Making Sound-Records, f.llod June 4,1908, serial number serial 110,159. This action is in response to the amendment filed the 18th ultimo. In the first place it must be held that the Boll and Tainter procoss of making an original record was a true cutting process. In the patent of Bell and Tainter, May 4,1886, #341,814, page 3, linos 70-73, the patenteo states that "This leaves sharp cutting edges on both sides of the tapering point. Those edges remove the material in chips or shavings like a plane or turning tool". Then on page 6, lines 76 to 74, the patentee states -"The term cutting is herein employed to indicate an action in which the material is removed in chips, shavings, or small pieces, a3 in engraving, turning and the like, and not merely displaced. 11 Those statements seam to establish the fact that the stylus was a true cutting stylus and that the recording process involved a true cutting action and not a scraping action as held by applicant. This was the well known Oraphophono "system". The action of the examiner in granting patent #393,967 to the present applicant notwithstanding the prior patent to Bell and Tainter, is not controlling in this case whatever may have been the reasons of the Examiner that caused him to decide that the matter claimed in applicant* e patent was patentable as stated. It having boon estalxL ished that Bell and Tainter's prooess was a true cutting process, it now remains to construe tho meaning of tho term "cutting or engraving" in the patent of Jones cited. Tho expres¬ sion "forming in a well known manner" in the patent, does not negative the holding that tho record is formed by Jones by a true cutting out or 3having process, for Bell and Taintor's process and applicant's patented process wero both true cutting processes and these were the wall known ways of forming graphophono records for several years prior to tho application of Jones and in fact tho only way known to tho Examiner in which up and down or grapho- phone sound records had been made for years prior to the Jones application. This Bell and Taint or process was a part of the well known "graphophone systoin" referred to by Jono3,p. 1, line 56 to line 68 and Jones states therein that his process differs therefrom by cutting a lateral record wherein the resistance to the stylus is uniform, wh areas in said patented process the resistance to the stylus increases with the depth of the cut, etc. This cutting out process was therefore doubtless the "well known" cutting out or shaving prooess. Not only is this doubtless true from the evidence of surrounding c Ire instances, and from statements in the Jones patent/ but what Jones said in his argument in the patented file, connected with the prosecution of tho case clearly shows that so far as the cutting feature of his process was concerned that it was the cutting out process of Boll and Tainter applied to cut laterally in the plane of tho surfaoe of the record instead of vertically in a plane at angles to the surface of the record. Claims 1 to 4 are finally rejeoted in view of the patents of Jones & AdamB-Randall cited and claims 5 and 6 are finally rejected in view of the patents cited. ‘ Cues No,/^^.Paper THOMAS A. EDISON PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS PILED JUNE 4, 1902 SERIAL NO. 110,159 ROOM NO. 219 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR : - In the above entitled application, we hereby appeal from the decision of the Primary Examiner, who on Ootober 9th 1903, rejected for a second time and finally all of applicant's claims, and we submit the following rea¬ sons of appeal: 1. The Examiner erred in deciding that the refer¬ ences of record anticipate the terms of applicant's claims. 2. He erred in deciding that the referenoeB meet the substance of those claims. 3. He erred in rejecting the olaims. An oral hearing is respectfully requested. The appeal fee of §10 is sent herewith. Respectfully, Attorneys for Edison. New York, December 29, 1902. Case No../&^Paper No,.../.?... J.H.D. t ) 1 in THr3 UHITfJD 8TATBS PAIJ8HT OFFIOB. Ootiy sent Applicant Beford" the Hon. Board of Bxaminor8-in-Chiof. 4 S.- PA-TEST OFFICE, ; JAN 9 1903 ; Wi -A 1 L E-.P . \axaminer»s Statement ■ £?/.' ' . .... ., •• •.. . " Tho claims appealed are tvs foilowsi V,. _ ^ X* Thai probass of waking a graphic raoord representative of sounds, vrtiioh oonaiste.in engaging a cutting tool with a raoord •urfaoe, in subjecting the outtinc tool to tho lnfluanoa of sound wyyps,' pheyeby it will, be caused to. bo vibratod in a plana parallel 'to., and- within bald surfaoe,:.ahd. ..in., effecting .a relative Movement 9f thb fliirfabe .iifdth p.eapbot. to .aaid , cutting tbolr yttbrbftir a einu'bua rbbord groove will be cleanly out. in aaid surface ancl tho ij4topla|. tf^i^be o.ettplotely rbmpyod by tho outting-tool in the line orHilie.pathv. substantial,^, as and. for ,the. purpose set forth. p. The process of making ft graphic reoord representative of sounds, which consists in engaging a cutting tool partially Within but not through a record surface, in subjeoting the butting tool to -th e inf 1 nonce- of -sound waves , whereby • it wll 1 bo oaueed to b'e, vibratod’ in a plana parallel to and within. said surface, and in effeoting a relative hbyonent-., of the surf aos; with roepoot to aaid butting tool, whereby a sinuous reoord groove will be oloenly not out in aaid surface f^nd , the :J«yterial will bo oomplotply removed by the cutting tool in the line of its path, substantially aa and for tho purpose# aot.f prfc!»». .. v ; • 5. Tho process of making a graphic rooord roproaontative of aounda, which ooioiats in. cleanly outting in a waxlike blank a sinuous sound wave, substantially as bet forth* 4. Tho proeees. of .oakins , ft graphic; rooord representative 1 of sounds, which consists in cleanly butting in a waxliko blank a sinuous, sound nave pr esonting a ouTWsd 'oroas-seotion and of uni¬ form depth and width throughout, Substantially as eot forth# 8. Tho process of making a graphio reoord representative of eouhds, consisting in cutting1 a groove in a blank and in butting in line with said groove a deeper einuoue reoord groove, substan¬ tially as sot forth. . t :■ .. i •••' ; 6. . The proeees, of, making a. -graphic, record repr eaentative- ;. . , : Case No.. ,/^Paper Application of ’ ■ ) Thomas A. Edison, for ) procss o of Making Sound-Records, ) Bilod June 4,1908, ' ) Bor. number ^10,169, V ) Attys:Dypr,2dmoncla & Byer ) #110,159 - -~X£. of sottnds, which consists in engaging a grooving tool within a raoonUng surface, in engaging a reoording stylus with said surface in line with said grooving tool but to a greater depth and widtfi than said tool, in subjecting the reoording stylus to the effect Of sound w^vob, whereby it will be vibrated in a plane paraiie^to the record surface, and in effecting a relative move¬ ment of /'said surface with respect to said grooving tool and cording stylus, whereby tho grooving tool will out a shallow fund narrow groov* in Bald surface in advance of the recording stylus substantially as sot forth. ^ The reforonoee relied upon are ae followsi Jones, Dec. 10, 1901 ,#588, 739, Oraphophone Tablets, Duplicating Devices; - i Heyslnger,JTov. 11,1890, #440,155, Oraphophone s; . -j, . . Berliner, December 17,1901, #689,350, Oraphophones,Tab« J . Adaas-Randall' s English Patent #1068 of 1889; Boll and Tainter, Hay 4,1886, #941, 814, Graph., Disk!" • • In considering the pertinency of the patents cited as reforonoes, it must be established that at -least one of them discloses'4'"' *• dearly cat' lateral or gramophone record. The patent of Jones must be considered ift connect i cm with this matter, and therein reference is made to "cutting or engraving a record groove of uniform depth and having lateral Uhdulati scran ine-aati on as ap plicant has hold. Asldo from this Ground of rejection, thepatoit of ^.dam^-R^idall discloses a description of a out lateral sound record formod by the vibration of a stylus ha vine knife odees. Attention is oalled in this connection to this patentee's Ficures 45 and 44. The. above erounds of rejection are those that have been aseienod in bar of olaims 1, 3 and 4. Claims 6 and 6 have been rejected in view of the patents above cited and explained, and the patents of Berliner and Hey singer. Borliner discloses a previously formed plain spiral • Groove arid a sound'' record formed in the wills of said Groove by a latorally vibrating stylus'. Heysineor discloses a plain out groove and a record formed in th o' bottom of the croovS. Ranson‘,s JSng. Pat. #7685 Of 1888, (not sited) discloses a :cut ,nla.i^^b»b and a jjU.re«ord Groove in the previously formr ..ed' #110,169 - - r if f It is held that in -view of tho patents of Jonas, Adams- Raudall and Boll and Tain or, disclosing out ting systems, and tho patents Of Berlin or, Hey singer and Ranson disclosing plain pre¬ viously fornud .pilain grooves and records thoreinrafter made in several different ways, 'that the subjects matter of claims 6 and 6 do hot involve the exercise of patentable invention. Respectfully submitted! Examiner, Division XXIII. January 9,1905. Case Paper No,...£L 2-201. Room No. 242. - - ■Th^c„mmi..i,r.r.f_p.i.ni., Department of the Interior, &JuU)< Gl <$o£o0oru , $o£cAC^c£(&t^-~ JJL _ pis appeal from the decision of the Examiner in the case of.. . - - .... - far a patent for an improvement inCx . 0 ylfruc&o filed 4^. . , lOOSf, Serial JV'o...J./.(P,./.S^f^., will he heard by the Examiners-in- Chief, JV^^CC^ S5^ _ If appellant, or his attorney, shall not appear at that time the hearing will be regarded as waived, and the case will be decided upon the record. Very respectfully, jf Commissioner of Patents. IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. THOMAS A. EDISON PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS EIDED JUNE 4, 1902 SERIAL NO. 110,199 BEFORE THE EXAMINERS IN CHIEF ON APPEAL. BRIEF FOR APPELLANT. The present lnrentlon relates to the process of making zigzag or sinuous groove or so-oalled gramophone sound records in which the record groove is of uniform depth and width, as distinguished from ordinary phonograph reoords in which the record groove is of varying depth and width. The improved process oontemplates the use of a cutting tool held at an single to the recording surfaoe and having Bottom and side outting edges whereby a sinuous reoord groove will be oleanly out in the recording material and will present a ourved oross-section throughout. In order to reduce the labor of the recording devioo a grooving tool is employed, working in advance of the recorder and outting in the re¬ cording material a ourved groove of less depth and width than the reoord groove, whereby the groove bo preliminarily formed will be obliterated by the reoord groove- Before appellant's invention, gramophone reoords had been made with a .needlelike reoordor whioh merely traced a reoord groove in the recording material and formed the undulations in the reoord largely by crowding or displacing the material to one side or the other of the normal medial line. .Of course even with a needlelike reoordor as heretofore used, a part of the material of the record groove would be removed, al¬ though to a great extent the reoord groove was formed by this crowding or sidewise displacing of the material. The claims are all limited to the putting of a zigzag reoord groove, and the last two olaime are additionally limited to the preliminary formation of a shallow groove for the purpose of reducing the load imposed on the reoorder. By employing a recorder having true outting edges, friotional resistance between the reoorder and the material is so much reduced as to make the resulting records more nearly repre¬ sentative of the original sounds. The olaims are principally rejeoted by the Examiner on the patent to JoneB No. 688739 of Deoember 10th 1901, in »hioh reference is made to the "outting or engraving of a record groove by the lateral movement of the stylus". In this Jones patent the invention is distinguished from _ "the well known graphophone system in that the resis¬ tance offered the stylus of a graphophone in outting downward to produce the vertioal irregularities charac¬ teristic of that system varies practically as the oube of the length of the vibrations of the diaphragm and stylus, whereaB in producing my original reoords the resistance encountered by my recording stylus is- exact¬ ly equal to the length of the vibrations." in order to show what the "graphophone system" 1b, the Ex¬ aminer refers to the patent to Bell & Tainter No. 341214 < .ated May 4, 1886, whioh he states discloses a true outting pperation in connection with the formation of phonograph •eoords. The position of the Examiner is — "that if Bell & Tainter discloses a outting out action of the outting stylus, that Jones1 patent also dis doses suoh action of the stylus , for Jones haB stated, as ] above, that the difference that exists between his sys¬ tem and Bell & Tainter is only in 'the, direction of the cut , and not in itB other Characteristics. " 7 j t is to bo observed, in the first place, that the Jones latent doeB not state tha.t the invention thereof differs from the suggestion of Bell & Tainter "only in the direction < f the out and not in its other characteristics", for the leason that Jones doeB not refer to the Bell & Tainter pat- 2 oat, nor does ho say that the only characteristic difference between his invention and the graphophone system is in the direction of the cut. The bald reference in the Jones patent to the "cut¬ ting or engraving of a reoord groove by the lateral movement of the stylus" is not, in our opinion, a sufficiently dear and comprehensive disclosure of appellant's Invention as to fairly anticipate the claims. Appellant has invented a new recorder having side and bottom cutting edges by means of which a zigzag reoord may be truly out in the recording ma¬ terial. Jones does not illustrate nor does he describe his recorder with sufficient particularity aB to enable it to be determined with certainty that it is of a form by whioh a zigzag record may be truly out, as distinguished from a mere displacement of the material by a needlelike reoorder. . It seems to us that if the olaims are to be considered as an¬ ticipated, Jones's patent should disolose their subjeot- matter with sufficient particularity as to enable anyone skilled in the art to oarry the invention into effect. It is perfectly dear that Jones doeB not lay any stress on the "outting or engraving" of the material, as distinguished from a mere displacement of the material by a needlolike reoorder. In hiB patent he states that "heretofore reoords of this oharaoter" have been formed by traoing in a fatty film covering an etohlng surface eto. (page 1 lines 17 — 28). This is the well known Berliner needlelike reoorder. In describing his own invention he refers first to the kind of tablet used (page 1 lines 44—50), and sayB that a reoord groove is formed on this tablet "by the use of a sound re¬ cording maohine in a well known manner". Since the only well known manner of recording these sinuous reoord grooves was by means of a needlelike reoorder, and as this is admit- 3 tad in the patent itself, we do not eee how it oan he argued that the reoording machine referred to possesses any speoial oharaoteristios whioh distinguish it from the Berliner re¬ corder. Apparently all that Jones did was to use an ordi¬ nary Berlin or reoording needle for tracing a reoord direotly in a wax surface, as distinguished from the traoing of the reoord through a protecting film. Jones evidently refers to suoh traoing operation as "outting or engraving''. It is quite Immaterial what words JoneB may have UBed in his patent so long as the idea is different from that oovered hy the appealed claims. We submit with oonfidenoe that no one, however skilled in the art, would he able to take the Jones patent and from the instructions contained therein produoe a reoorder having true outting edges and in that way carry out the process of the appealed claims. Even if the Examiner* s position were correot, and if we admit that the Bell & Tainter patent of reoord may he considered as supplementing the disclosure oontained in the Jones patent, we still insist that the appealed claims are not antioipated. In the first plaoe, a reoorder for making a sinuous reoord groove is so totally different from a re¬ oorder for making an ordinary phonograph reoord groove that a reference to a patent on a phonograph is not, in the na¬ ture of things, an anticipation of a gramophone reoorder. However skilled a person might he in the making of phono¬ graph records, his knowledge of the art would not be suffi¬ ciently extensive as to enable him to proceed with certainty in the making of sinuous reoord grooves. The Examiner does not pretend, nor does anyone pretend, that the speoial pho¬ nograph reoorder of the Bell & Tainter patent is capable of uso in the making of a gramophone reoord, and if the Bell & Tainter patent is to be regarded as a reference at all, it 4 oan only bo to the extent of showing that out phonograph reoordo wero well known. We insist, however, and urge, in the second plaoe, that Bell & Tainter do not, in their pat¬ ent, describe even a out phonograph record in the Bense in whioh the term is used in the appealed claims. Thus the specification states (page 2 et sag. ) that the invention "resides principally in the formation of the sinuous record groove by oleanly cutting the material coinci¬ dent therewith, so as to thereby remove more or less continuous shavings or ohips of the material, as dis¬ tinguished from the operations now performed, wherein material is merely compressed or crowded to one side or the other of the normal or medial line of the re¬ cording stylus." With the Bell & Tainter patent (see figure 4) the recording stylus is maintained truly perpendicular to the flat record¬ ing surface, so that the vibrations of the diaphragm merely cause the recorder to engage to a greater or less depth in the material, and as the reoording Burfaoe moves laterally with rospect to the stylus, the material is merely removed by a scraping operation. This is not a true cutting opera¬ tion. If, for instance, in a wood- turning lathe the out- ting tool were held diametrically to the object, material would be removed by a soraping operation, but the resulting surfaoe would be obviously rough and the tool would be al¬ most sure to chatter. Edison recognized these defects in Bell & Tainter' s suggestion, and therefore suggested (in his patent Ho. 393967 of Deoember 4, 1888) a true cutting tool maintained at an angle to the diameter of the record. In that patent (see figure 1) Edison illustrates the Bell & Tainter reoorder, and points out the objections to a sorap¬ ing notion. furthermore,, in the patent in question the Of- fioe allowed Edison a broad olaim on - "outting in the reoording surfaoe the reoord correspon¬ ding to the sound waves in oontradistinotion to the formation of suoh sound reoords by a soraping notion." In the present case the reoorder is maintained at an angle S to the reoording surface, so that a true outting operation is performed in exaotly the same sense as in the production of phonograph reoords, as suggested in Edison's previous patent No. 393967 above referred to. Even, therefore, if it he admitted that in the Jones patent the suggestion is clearly apparent of following the ideas outlined by Bell & Tainter, that patent is just as fully distinguished from the present invention as was the invention of Edison's previous patent distinguished from the Bell & Tainter patent. It seems to us, however, that any speculations of this kind are quite out of place in the consideration of this case, for the reason that the Jones patent of itBelf is plainly insuf¬ ficient as an anticipation. It does not dearly describe the formation of a sinuous reoord groove by a true outting operation, it does not show or describe a outting recorder for this purpose, and the reference in the patent to the use "of a sound recording maohine in a well known manner" makes it quite dear that Jones had in mind only the ordinary gramophone needle, whose operation is fully distinguished In his answer the Examiner also says that - "the patent of Adams-Randall disdoses a description of a cut lateral sound reoord formed by the vibration of a stylus having knife edges. Attention is called in this connection to this patentee's figures 43 and 44." We submit that this statement of the Examiner is not well founded, and we will show that although Adams-Randall does, In fact, refer to "a stylus having knife edges", the refer- Bnoe to that form of stylus is only made in connection with the production of an Indented tinfoil reoord exaotly like the original Edison phonograph. Of the many forms of de- rices shown in thie Adams-Randall patent, the only one show¬ ing the sinuous groove or gramophonio devioe is to be found In figures 43 and 44. This device is described on page 8, where the reoorder in referred to as a "rod 141". A "rod" is certainly not a cutting recorder, hut in the ordinary ac¬ ceptation of the term is nothing more than a needle. Not a word is to he found in this patent referring to "a out lateral sound record", so that in this statement the Exami¬ ner is plainly inoorreot. The only reference in the patent to the use of a reoorder "having knife edges" 1b found on page 9 (line 46 et seq. ) as follows: "I have found that as good, if not better, results are obtained in reproducing sounds from reoords, by using the reverse side of the record, in lieu of the side upon whioh the reoord is made, the indentations or lines of the reoord seemingly being more sharply defined and distinot, and the sounds reproduced there¬ from louder and more natural. Especially is this true if a flat, thin, sharp recording pen or style having a knife edge and much more width than thiokneBS - a miniature chisel - is employed, using a thin reversi¬ ble recording material, such as thin, fine blotting pa¬ per, or very thin goldleaf, or tinfoil, or other simi¬ lar yielding tenaoious material arranged upon a grooved tablet carrier. " It 1b perfectly clear what this meanB, and the reference was intended only to be made to the ordinary Edison tinfoil pho¬ nograph. As a matter of fact, with the old tinfoil phono¬ graph the reoorder was chisellike, so that in this respeot there Is nothing new in the patentee's suggestion. While it might be possible to seoure reproductions from the re¬ verse side of an indented phonograph! o reoord made in a me¬ tallic foil sinoe such reoords would present merely projec¬ tions or protuberances with which a reproducer oould effec¬ tively engage, that would not be readily possible with a sinuous groove record, for the reason that in reverse, Buoh a record would present a zigzag ridge whioh oould not be ef¬ fectively engaged by a reproducer. So far as the first four olaims are concerned there¬ fore, we submit that neither J ones nor Adams-Randall dis¬ closes a prooesB of making a gramophone reoord by cleanly outting in recording material a Binuous reoord groove, nor 7 does either of said patents give a suffioient basis to en¬ able anyone shilled in the art to carry that process into effect • Furthermore, neither of these references illus¬ trates nor describes a suitable reoorder for making these reoord grooves, and we believe that invention would unques¬ tionably be required if the attempt wore made to oarry out the prooesB of the appealed olaims in connection with the suggestion of either of the previous patentees. We regard the first four olaims, therefore, as being allowable. Concerning the 5th and 6th olaims, it 1b to be noted that each is limited to the cutting of a sinuous reoord groove, so that in this respect alone we believe the olaims are fully distinguished from the references of reoord. How¬ ever, so far as the additional limitation in these claims to the formation of a preliminary groove is oonoerned, we think the patents to Berliner and to Heysinger of reoord are entirely insufficient. Berliner's idea (patent 689350) was to make a tablet whioh should be capable of receiving a reoord in an ordinary gramophone. As is well known, these gramophones are used for reproduction solely, and are not provided with indepen¬ dent feed mechanism, but the feed of the reproducer is ef¬ fected by the reoord itself. In order that suoh a gramo¬ phone might be used for making reoords, Berliner suggests the idea of first making the tablet with a spiral groove formed therein, and selling these tablets to the publio. When a reoord is to be made therefore, all that a gramophone user has to do is to put one of these speoially prepared tab¬ lets in his maohine and talk into it, the preliminarily form¬ ed groove serving solely to guide the reproducer, whioh in this oase becomes the reoorder. So far as we know, this idea has never been put in praotioe. Berliner's idea 1b 8 essentially different from appellant's, inasmuoh as the smooth groove is completely formed before any of the record groove is made, whereas with appellant's invention the smooth groove is formed immediately in advance of the record groove. Furthermore, with the Berliner scheme the smooth groove is always deeper than the record groove, which seems to us would result in the production of a poor reoord and prevent aocurate reproduction therefrom, since extraneous sounds would certainly he produced by the reproducer vibrating back and forth over the smooth groove in the bottom of the reoord groove (see figure 2). Furthermore, there seems to be no¬ thing to prevent the reproducer from engaging the smooth groove and not vibrating at all. If, on the other hand, Berliner attempted to cut the reoord groove deeper than the smooth groove, then the smooth groove would not guide the reproducer or recorder, and hence the proper feed of the latter would be prevented. Appellant's idea is one that possesses speoial utility in the speoifio connection in which it is olaimed, as it has nothing whatever to do with the feed of the reoorder, but relates solely to improving the operation of the latter by reduoing the work whioh the reoorder has to perform. So far as the patent to Heysinger (No. 440155) iB concerned, we call attention to the faot that Heysinger' s idea was simply to use a plow M whioh would out a square groove in the recording material, in the bottom of whioh groove the recording stylus N would form an indented reoord. The sole purpose of the groove was to guide the reproducer. Obviously Buoh a groove would not reduce in any way the work performed by the recorder- So far as the British patent to Ranson (No. 7625 of 1889) is concerned, that reference was not oited during the 9 proseoution of the oase and le referred to for the first time in the Examiner's answer. We have not been able to examine this patent and therefore oannot refer to it herein. Rather than delay the oaBa hy haying the application return¬ ed to the Examiner for the purpose of haying this referenoe properly oited, we will proceed with the appeal notwith¬ standing the new referenoe, hut may have to request the Examiners in Chief to permit us to file an additional brief on the subjeot of the Ranson referenoe, if that is neoes- sary, or to recommend possible changes in the last two claim to distinguish their terms therefrom. If, however, the Ran- son patent is no closer than the Borliner and Heysinger references, we see no reason why the last two olaims are not allowable. Upon the whole case, we submit that the Examiner's deoision should be reversed. Respectfully submitted. Attorneys for Appellant. Sew York, January 31, 1903. n. Patent Office, feb . /3 1903, ■^K Before the £xaainero-in-yhicf, on Appeal, W Applic ation of Thomas A. Edison for a patent for an 'im¬ provement in Processes of Making Eouna: Records, filed .Tune 4, 1902. Serial no. 110, 159. > Messrs. Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer for appellant. The claims appealed are: 1. The process of making a graphic record representative of sounds, which consists in engaging a cutting tool with a . record surface, in subjecting the cutting tool to the in¬ fluence of sound waves, whereby it will be caused to he vi¬ brated in a plane parallel to and within said surface, • and in effecting a relative movement of the surface with re¬ spect to sain cutting tool, whereby a sinuous record groove •will he cleanly cut in said surface j&nd the material will be completely removed by the cutting tool in the line of its path, substantially a3 and for the purpose net forth. 2. The process of making a graphic record, ronrosentative of sounds, which consists in engaging a cutting tool n art tal¬ ly 'within but not through a record surface, in subjecting the cutting tool to the influence of sound waves, whereby it will be caused to be vibrated in a plane parallel to and within said surface, and in effecting a relative movement of the surfaco with respect to said cutting tool, whereby a sinuous record groove will be cleanly cut in said sur¬ face am. the material will be completely removed by the cutting tool in the line of its path, substantially as and for the purposes sot forth. 3. The process of making a graphic record representative of sounds, "which consists in cleanly cutting in a waxlike blank a sinuous sound wave, substantially as set forth. The process of making a graphic record representative of sounds, which consists in cleanly cutting in a waxlike blank a sinuous sound wave, presenting a curved cross-sec¬ tion and of uniform depth and width throughout, substan¬ tially as set forth. . « The process of making a graphic record representative of sounds, consisting in cutting a groove in a blank and in cutting in line with said groove a deeper sinuous record , groove, substantially as set forth. The process of malting a graphic record representative of bounds, which consists in engaging a grooving tool with¬ in a recording surface, in engaging a recording stylus with -said surface in line v/ith suiu grooving tool but to a great - ,,er dej)th and width than said tool, in subjecting the record ing stylus to the effect of sound wavoB, whereby it will be' vibrated in a plane parallel to the record surface, and in effecting a relative movement of said surface with re¬ spect to sale grooving tool and recording stylus, whereby the grooving tool will cut a shallow and "narrow groove in said surface in advance of the recording stylus, substan¬ tially as set forth. The references are patents to Boll & Tainter, Hay 4, 10136, Ho. 341, 214; lleysiiifrer, 3Tov. 11, 1000, Ho. 440, 153 ; Jones, Dec. 10, 1001, Ho. 608, 7150; Berliner, Dec. 17, 1901, Ho. 609, 350; British patent Do. 1058 of 1880 to Adams -Randall. Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this application are rejected by the Examiner mainly for the reason that, as he holds, they are antic¬ ipated by the patent to Jones. ’ This Jones patent states, after describing the material out of which his disc or tablet is constructed: "Upon the surface of this tablet I then form by the use of a sound-recording machine in a well-known manner a spi¬ ral groove of practically uniform depth that contains lat¬ eral sinuosities or irregularities corresponding to or representing the sound-waves recorded. The cutti ng or en¬ graving of a re cord-Groove by the lateral movement oF the stylus differs from the operation of the well-known graph- ophone system in that the resistance offered the stylus of a graphophono in. cutting downward to produce the vertical irregularities characteristic of that system varies prac¬ tically as the cube of the length of the vibrations of the diaphragm and stylus, •.vherea.s in producing my original rec¬ ords the resistance encountered by my recording stylus is exactly equal to the length of the vibrations. On account cf this difference in principle I jun enabled to obtain more accurate, and therefore better, records of the origi¬ nal rounds. The original record so formed is an exact copy of the record to be used for reproducing." The Examiner holds that this is a sufficient description to anticipate the applicant’s process.' It is, hov/ever, contended for the applicant that this Jones patent does not contain a sufficient description to enable any one skillod in thd art to cleanly cut a sinuous record groove such as is effected, by this; use of the applicant’ s; apparatus. The Examiner contends that there is a sufficient disclos¬ ure in the prior art in the Bell & Taint or patent, Ho. 341, 214, grant¬ ed May 4, 1886, and rt'i.th the Examiner’s conclusion we agree. That patent shows i in Rigs. 5 and 6 a stylus' which is described (p. 3, line 67 , ) as "preferably f ormedof a round wire by turning the end coni- ■cal ancl rounding the extremity, and then grinding off one ' 3iiie to the axis of the wire. This leaves sharp cuttina-edg- / es on "both sides of the tapering point. These edges remove the material in chips or shavings, like a plane on turning tool. It is not essential to give this form to the style. Any form which will remove the material and not simply displace it will answer." ’ It is further statod(p. 6, lineB 70-79): "The term ’cutting’ is herein employed to indicate an ac¬ tion in which the material is removed in chips, shuvings, or other small pieces- as in engraving, turning, and the like- ant not simply displaced. The displacement of the material is not only a dif¬ ferent operation from the cutting contemplated by this in¬ vention, but is not calculated to accomplish the objects for which cutting or graving is employed." Y/e see no reason why the tool illustrated in ?igs. 5 and 6 of this patent to Beil & Tainter is not auapteu as it stands to per¬ form a cutting operation such as is olTected by the applicant's tool. Koreover, the patentee Jones undoubtedly meant when he said "cutting or engraving", cutting in the sense in which the applicant uses that term. In the consideration of the application record of the Jones patent in the argument filed August 13, 1900, a clear’ distinction was drawn by the attorney for Jones between cutting and indenting. In re¬ ferring to a prior patent the attorney for Jones stated: "3'rom tiie fact that this stylus £ is. shown as conical ancl tapering to a point, it would appear that its true mode, of action is to scratch — without removing the material cleanly as in a true cutting mperation. So that, in any event, applicant's cutting or engraving method is different from either the alleged 'Indenting* or the actual scratch¬ ing method of the patentees*" It is tiius clear that Jones^ ana his counsel were referring to a cutting operation by which the material was cleanly relieved, which it appears to us is just the character of operation that is ef¬ fected by the applicant's tool* He manifestly did not refer in his patent when he used the term "cutting or engraving" to any such de¬ vice as the Berliner recording needle for tracing a record directly in a wax surface. It is, however, insisted on behalf of the applicant that the Bell & Tainter patent while it describes cleanly cutting the ma¬ terial, does not in fact describe a true cutting operation, but that it is really a scraping operation, ana; our attention is called to a p -patent to Edison in which Edison recognizes the defects in the Bell & Tainter apparatus and describes a true -cutting tool which was main- tained in operative position at an angle to the diameter of the rec¬ ord* This contention appears to have been conceded by' the Office, although it does not appear from the record of .this Edison patent what were the reasons for such concession, and Edison was allowed a broad claim on "cutting in the. recording-surface ' the«.record < correspond¬ ing to the soimd-v/aves in contradistinction to the formation of such sound-records by a scraping action." This Edison patent was granted December 4, 1888, and was therefore a part of the art prior to the taking out of the Jones pat¬ ent, so that any one attempting to carry out the process of the Jones patent had the option of using ■ as well known sound -recording devices either the tool shown in the Bell & fainter patent or the tool shown in the Edison patent. If the tool of the Bell & fainter patent with its sharp cutting edges on both sides of the tapering point was not a true cutting tool, Edison's patent indicated that the way to make this tool a true cutting tool was to give it the necessary inclina¬ tion. There was, therefore, known in the ar*t, or obviously sug¬ gested thereby, an inclined cutting tool having sharp cutting edges on both sides, these sharp cutting edges extending entirely around the end of the tool. Y/ith this known state of the art, we fail to see how any one coulu have any difficulty in carrying out the process described by Jones, or in so doing how. he coulu fail to carry out the process described by the applicant in this case. In the Jones patent "a record-groove of appreciable and practically uniform depth and having lateral undulations corresponding to the sound-waves" (p. 2, lines 94-97) was produced by the use of a cutting tool and the process by which it was made, as described in the patent, seems to us a clear anticipation of these claims. The record of the Jone3 patent shows that actual records made by the pro¬ cess of that patent were submitted to the Examiner, and it was on the strength of the improved results obtained by this record that the patent was allowed, so that it would appear that the patent is not a mere paper parent , I'bdF 'oiie" Uh1 which ap; actually useful and. now result i had been produced. ■ - The Examiner also relies upon the British patent to Adams- Randall. Of this patent it is sufficient to say that it does not dis¬ close the invention claimed. Claims 5 and 6 are rejected: on the patents to Berliner and Heysinger, and on a British patent Ho. .7625 of 1889. The British patent was not cited until , the appeal was taken and does not, in any event, contain a sufficient disclosure, of the process of claims 5 and 6. All that the patent states is that "It is a convenience sometimes to cut a groove in the cylin¬ der before the record is 'made. In this case after the groove is cut the record can be actually cut or else only indented in the wax which may be made of two degrees of hardness the harder wax being on the surface." It is a convenience to attach the cutter for cutting the groove on to the framework carrying the recording dia¬ phragm." (p. 5, lines 16-21). The patent to Heysinger need not be considered since ap- jjarently the indenting tools make their record in the bottom of a previously formed groove. The patent to Berliner, however, describes a process in which a' parallel sided groove is made in the sound record, and on this pre¬ liminary groove is superimposed a laterally undulating sound record groove. This patent states (p. 2, lines 37-44): "The preliminary groove seems to have the function of guiding the record-stylus and, v/hat is more important, of lessening the work requkred, to be done by the recording styluB in shaping or indenting the material of the record- plate, which would otherwise have to be shaped or indent¬ ed by the recording-3 tylus.f The patent further states that (p. 2, lines 29-30): "A close inspection of the finished record reveals both grooves." Here is a clear disclosure of the idea that a better rec¬ ord may be obtained by having a preliminary groove so that the re¬ cording tool will not have so much work to do. Vie are of the opinion that the' application to a record groove of the sinuous type shown in the Jones patent of this prelimina¬ ry groove described by Berliner is one' clearly not requiring inven¬ tion. All that was required was to shape the tools to cut the grooves in a manner corresponding to the shape of the final recording tool. Vie do not find in the process claimed any new idea of pro's, cedure or any new mode of> operation. ■ The ueciglon of the Examiner is accordingly affirmed Examinors-in-Chlef 0 •' W Q \ €3 LAW OFFICES" DYER, EDMONDS & DYER. patents aito patent Causes. =®E Petition. c t,3c Commissioner of Fatents : YOUR petitioner, THOMAS A. BDISOH, a oitizen of the tfnitod Q, stat,B* **«*idins at XleweUyn Park, Orange, in the County of Boso* and State of Hew Jersey, whose post offlee address Is Orange, How Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED. TO HIM FOR THE XMPR0VSMHHT3 IH SOTJBD RECORDS ... SET FORTH ,N THE ANNEXEO SPECIFICATION; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER. EDMONDS ' AND DVER- REGISTRATION NO. 2B8B (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER). OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET. NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE Q THIS APPLICATION, to make ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTED THEREWITH. , SPECIPICATIOH. TO TBKOM IT MAY COHCERN: . Bo it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISOH, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Base* and State of Hew Jersey, have invented, certain new and useful IMPROVEMENTS HI SOUND RECORDS (ease Ho. 107S), of which the following is a description. Hy invention relates to improvements in sound reoords of the type in which the record groove is sinuous and is of substantially uniform depth and width, as distin¬ guished from a phonographlo reeord wherein these dimensions are not uniform. Sound reoords of the kind to whioh my present invention relates are relatively simple in Character and the matter of duplicating them does not present the dif¬ ficulties of duplicating phonographlo records. Prior to my invention, in the making of sound reoords in a disk blank, for example, in the form of a sinuous groove of substantially uniform depth and width, a suitable plate or foundation was covered with a thin layer or film of waxlike material whioh was engaged by a needle- like recording stylus oonneoted to the diaphragm, the ar¬ rangement being suoh that ' in the absence of vibrations the stylus removed the film of waxlike material to its full depth to disclose the foundation and in the form of a spiral groove of uniform width. By vibrating the diaphragm, the said groove was caused to partake of sinuosities and undula¬ tions corresponding graphically to the sound waves. By suitable etching, eleotroplating, photographic ipfc allied processes a matrix was secured from the master so formed and used for the production of duplicates by various method: . 1 The processes used prior to my invention for the making of these records were objectionable, beoause the reoords pro¬ duced were not aoourately representative of the Bound vibra¬ tions, firBt, beoause the recording stylus, in order that it may oertainly out through the depth of the waxlike mate¬ rial, must be engaged with considerable friction against the foundation on whioh the wax is oarried, thereby offering un¬ necessary resistance to the vibration of the stylus, and second, beoause the Btylus, being unprovided with cutting edges, in its vibrations merely displaced or compressed the like material in the formation of a groove instead of cleanly cutting it. In an application for Letters Patent filed November 8th 1901, Serial No. 81,534, of whioh the present oase is o division, I describe a suitable apparatus for making these reoords by the aotion of a recording stylus having a true outting edge, the latter being preferably formed on the arc of a circle; and I desoribe also in said application the employment of a grooving tool preceding the recorder and by- means of whioh the material in advance of the recorder will be partly removed to thereby impose upon the reoorder the necessity of removing the minimum amount of material in foraing the record groove. My improved sound record is formed by means of an apparatus of this genus. Broadly stated, my present invention relates to a new commercial artiele of manufacture, to wit, an original record surface containing a oleanly out sinuous spiral record groove, presenting preferably in oross-seotion the aro of a circle, and which is aoourately representative of the original sounds, and which record can be used for direol reproduction or as a master from' whioh a matrix can be form, ed for producing duplicates. My improved record in its preferred form 1b also distinguished from reoords as hereto¬ fore made with sinuous record grooves, in being composed of a suitable waxlike material with the groove cleanly out therein and extending through only a portion of its depth instead of being traoed through the entire thickness of a waxlike film as with the prior processes. When my inprovod record is formed in an apparatus employing a grooving tool cutting in advanoe of the reoorder, my improved record is further distinguished from records as heretofore made with sinuous record grooves inasmuch as the record groove will be provided with a continuation in the form of a groove of less depth than width and of a length in advance of the record groove depending obviously upon the distance between the grooving tool and the reoorder in the recording apparatw. In order that the invention may be better understood attention is directed to tho accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which figure 1 is a plan view of my improved record} figure 2 an enlarged seotional view illustrating the formation of the raoord by the con¬ joint aotion of a grooving tool and a cutting recording sty¬ lus; figure 3 a plan view on an enlarged scale showing tho end portion of the reoord groove with the extension there¬ from formed by the grooving tool; figure 4 a seotion on tho line 4—4 of figure 3; and figure 8 a seotion on the lino 5—5 of figure 3. In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference. The reoord is preferably in the form of a disk 1 made conveniently of the usual phonographic waxlike mate¬ rial. Tho reoord groove 2 la formed in the recording sur¬ face of the blank, and when the latter is disklike this groove Is in the form of a sinuous spiral, as shown. The 3 I record groove ia formed by the cutting aotion of a stylus 3 provided with a true outting edge 4 engaging the bottom and sides of the groove. This outting edge is preferably form¬ ed on the arc of a oirele, so that the sinuous reoord groove will be curved, as shown in figure 5. The recording appa¬ ratus preferably contemplates a grooving tool 5, made like an ordinary phonographic recorder, and whioh precedes the recording stylus to cut a spiral groove 6 in the material in advance of the reoord groove 2 but of less depth and width than the latter, as shown in figures 3 and 4. Ob- biously when this grooving tool is employed, the resulting reeord will be characterized by having a short section of the groove 6 extending as a continuation at the end of the reeord groove 2, as shown in figure 3. The record so fora¬ ed may be engaged directly by a reproducing device, of the type described and claimed in my application for litters Patent filed November 8th 1901, Serial No. 81,535, or it may be used as a master from which a matrix can be obtained in any suitable way and duplicates seoured therefrom. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by letters Patent is as follows: 1. As an article of manufacture, a sound reoord comprising a record surface carrying a sinuous reoord groove of substantially uniform width and depth, said groove being cleanly and smoothly cut within the surface, substantially as set forth. 2. As an article of manufacture, a sound reeord [comprising a reoord surface carrying a sinuous record groove P* substantially uniform width and depth, said groove being cleanly and smoothly cut within the surface and in its cross- section presenting an arc of a eirole throughout its length,] substantially as set forth. 3. As. an article of manufacture , a sound record the surface of mioh carries a sinuous record groove of less] depth than the thiotoess of said record, substantially as set forth. A'. As an article of manufacture, a sound record comprising a disk of recording material carrying a sinuous spiral record groove of substantially uniform width and depth, said groove being cleanly and smoothly cut within the recording surface, substantially as set forth. ^ S'. As an article of manufacture, a sound record comprising a disk of recording material carrying a sinuous spiral record groove of substantially uniform width and depth, said groove being cleanly and smoothly cut within the recording aurfaoe and in its oross-seotion presenting an aro of a oirole throughout its length, substantially as set forth, 6. A's an article of manufacture, V disk of waxlike [material the surface of which carries a sinu\us record grow > of less depth thkn the thickness of said diBk^substantially as set forth. \ jf As an article of manufacture, a sound record comprising a record surface carrying a sinuous record groove| of substantially uniforA width and depth, and a grooved con¬ tinuation of said record groove of less depth and width than] the latter, substantially V set forth. S. As an art i ole of manufacture, a sound record comprising a reoord surface oarrying a slnuouB record groove] of substantially uniform width and depth, said groove being cleanly and smoothly out within the surface, and a continua¬ tion at the end of said record groove of less depth and width than the same, substantially as set forth. WITNESSED * THIS SPECIFICATION SIGNEO AND 0 Oath. State of Counts of THOMAS A, HDISOK, the above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A OltiZfclS OF THE tfnitod States, and a resident of Dlewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey; THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR OF the IMPROVMENTS IN BOUND RECORDS DESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY. SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME THIS DAY OF 1S0 ' notarypuIlicV ; (siCt^Lfi- / O 7 3 . Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., r„v ' SERIES OF 1900. noJ10j.1A:P A- % 1 : _ lOOlr' | 'IT f I have to acknowledge the receipt of the petition, specification, oath, and s o drawing of your alleged Improvement in _ J _ _ _ a) <-&(.- AA £, c<-^- _ _ f 3 with Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. | | The papers are duly filed, and your application for a patent will he taken 1 » up for examination in its order _ _ _ 1 g You will he duly advised of the examination. | ' Very respectfully, J M. £ Commissioner of Patents . 31- ft 7 —In order to constitute an application fori Irowings ( wliero tho nature of tin plication is considered as complet., _ n duo form by tlio inventor or applicant. =j=gfA^t- • a patent, tlio inventor is by Inw required to furnish l/np2tit rails of drawings) nnd to pny tlio required fee. id to pay tlio required feo- • ' ' id thereon, until nil its parts, as lioro spcciUcd, aro United States Patent Office, , : • WASHINGTON, D. C.p July 3,1902*1 ■, ' ’ Thomas A* Edison, cars Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, #31 Nassau Street, New yorJc,N.y. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for Sound-Records, filed Juno 4,1908, serial number 110,160. R J, . nr s. mi OFFICEJ I JUL 8 1902 1 | mailed..! Claims 1 to 6 Inclusive, are rejected for i»nt of patontablo novelty In view of the patont of Jonas, December 10, 1901, #688,739, . (Graphophone Tablet a, Duplicating Devices) and Adams-Randal 1* a English Patont #1058 of 1889, Pigs. 42 and 44, : (Graphophones) . Claims 7 and 8 are rejected for want of patentable invention in view of the patent of Heysinger, November 11,1890, #440 , 16 5, ( Graphophone s) . Case No, Paper No,./. l THOMAS A. EDISON jj IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUND RECORDS j !j FILED JUNE 4, 1902 SERIAL NO. 110,160 'i ROOM NO. 219. : HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, ; Sir: We amend the above entitled application by erasing the third and sixth claims and by renumbering the remaining claims accordingly. This amendment is made in view of pat¬ ent to Jones, wherein the record groove is apparently of less thickness than the record tablet. We respectfully ask, however, that the remaining ' claims may be reconsidered, as we fail to find that they are : adequately anticipated by the references. The first and j : third claims, as now numbered, are limited to a sound record j having a sinuous record' groove “cleanly and smoothly out i| within the surface*, and the seoond and fourth claims are jj . |j additionally limited to the making of the record groove with jj a cross seotion “presenting an aro of a oircle throughout | its length". So far as the British patent to Adams-Randall is i| concerned, we fail to find therein any disclosure which even approximates applicant's invention. In fact, the only ref¬ erence in the patent to a record having a sinuous groove is in connection with the description of figures 43 and 44, on pages 8 and 9, wherein the most general reference is made to Case No,.,Z|£rPaper “a reoording or reproducing t-raoer or traveller0 . So far as we can find, the patent nowhere states that a sinuous grooved record is made by a clean and smooth cut, nor does the patent describe any recorder for the purpose having cut- : ting edges. So far as the drawings are concerned, they are j obviously on too small a soale to supply any def icier oy in the specification. Apparently, the tracer or traveller in : question is simply a piece of wire, without any pains being j taken to form it with cutting edges. So far as the patent to Jones is concerned, it is \ true that the specification refers to the “cutting or engrav-j ing of a record groove. by the lateral movement of the stylus" ■ but this language must be road in connection with the whole i of the description, from which it appears that so far as the j : formation of the record groove is concerned, Jones claimed j absolutely no novelty therein. In fact, he says that he | ; forms "by the use of a sound recording machine in a well known ;; manner a spiral groove of practically uniform depth". Now, the "well known manner* of forming these grooves at the date i of Jones' application was by means of a needle-like recorder, j which merely displaced, compressed or orowded the material ij to one side or the other of its medial line. '.This operation is evidently that whioh Jones refers to as “cutting or engrav¬ ing". Apparently, Jones did not consider the matter minutely enough to distinguish between a true cutting action and a mere tracing operation. That we are correct in our surmise is, we think, fully substantiated by Jones' drawing, in v/hloh, in figure 1, he shows very clearly a needle-like reoordor. At any rate, the Jones patent iis not a full and clear disolosure 2. Case No, Paper I i\ of a true cutting recorder, nor does it fully and completely disolose the method of making a record with a cleanly out sinuous reoord groove-. In this connection, the Examiner will no doubt recall that in the original patent to Bell & fainter, No. ' j 341,214, reference was made to “engraving or cutting the j record" and the claims referred throughout to the cutting of the reoord and the employment of a cutting style. Yet Edi¬ son, in his patent No. 393,967, distinguished between such a ; cutting or engraving operation as described by Bell & Tainter and was allowed a broad claim on the cutting of a record “in contradistinction to the formation of suoh sound records by a soraping notion.0 We submit that in the present case the | Jones patent is not any more analogous to. Edison's present j invention than was the Bell & Tainter patent analagouB to the invention of Edison's previous patent. We submit, therefore, that the Jones patent should be withdrawn as being insuffi¬ cient. All that we have said concerning the Jones patent is outside of the argument which can be especially directed to the second and fourth claims, which are specifically lim- j; ited to the formation of a reoord groove of special oross , section. The JoneB patent is certainly inadequate as a ref- ji erence to these claims. :j ^ifth and sixth olaims are not, in our opinion, |j met fcy thQ patent to Heysinger of record. In the first | place, the claims are limited to a sinuous, record groove, j| whereas with the Heysinger patent the groove is not sinuous. || The claims are limited to a groove of uniform width and depth, I jihereas with the reference the groove is of varying depth. 3. Case No...Zi30Paper No . *£.... 1 The claims are furthermore limited to a grooved continuation of the record groove, of less width than the latter, Whereas with the reference the continuation of the record groove is of greater width than the same. Finally, the sixth claim is limited to a cleanly cut record groove, whereas with the reference the record groove is merely indented, as in the old tinfoil phonograph. We hope, in view of these considerations, that the claims may be allowed. Very respectfully, Attorneys for Edison.' £ <>, (2M^ . . , _ , , , Commissioner of Patents. This applioation has been duly reconsidered In viow of the amendment filed the 7th. inst* The patents of Jones and Adarae-Randall both disclose sinuous rooord grooves in a gramophone tablet said sinuous grooves being described in both patents as "out* in the rooord material. . These grooves are of a uniform depth and width as is obvious* Apparently the only difference between applicant* s tablet as an , article and those made in accordance with the dlsolosed methods . of the patentees resides in the fact that in applicant's record groove the record presents in cross seatlon an arc of a. circle whereas in the other structures the rooord groove may not be of this shape. Whether the record groove is arc shaped in oross section or not seems to be immaterial in a patent* Is ssnss and not patentable over one that is angular in oross ssetioa or one that dobs not oonform truly to the are shape* The olalms rejected in the last offloial action are rejected in view of the patents of Jones, Adams-pandall and “orliner Deo. 17, 1901, No. 689350 in Oraphophonss-T ablets. Case No.. Paper No,, ROOK NO. P.19. THOMAS A. HD ISON SOUND REOOHDS PILED .TUNE 4, 1902 SERIAL NO. 110,160 HON. OCMISSIONER OH PATENTS, SIR: We amend the above -entitle A application by erasing the fifth claim and by renumbering claim 6. We have erased the fifth (original seventh) daim, for the reason that aa drawn it was broad enough, to cover a record made with a noodle! lice reoordor, end therefore perhaps not fully distinguished from the Berliner patent. All the other olaira are specifically limited to a record employing a sin¬ uous groove cleanly out in the recording material. We note that in rejecting the claims the Examiner exp reuses the view that the patents to .Tones and to Adama- Randall disclose the suggestion of a cut sinuous -groove record. We deny the correctness of the Examiner's premise, and therefore oaunot accept his conclusion. As we pointed out in our last argument, the .Tones patent must bo considered in its entirety. The isolated reference in the Jones pat¬ ent to "cutting or engraving" cannot be taken alone, but must be Interpreted in the light of the complete disclosure. When, therefore, Jones states that his reoord is made "in a well-known manner", and ninoe the common and ordinary mode of making such reoords was, at the date of the Jones patent, by means of a needlelike recorder, the expression "cutting or engraving" must be held to be descriptive of the notion of a needlelike recorder. It certainly cannot be maintained that where a patentee states that his record is made "in a ’cutting or engraving". Case No../^„..Pa[)er No„^t! |well -known manner", and then ref ere to that this constitutes m adequate anticipation of a raoord made for the first time by means of a reoorder having true cutting edges. As we before pointed out, the expression "cutting or engraving" in this very art has been used as synonymous with a scraping action,, snd has been clearly dis¬ tinguished in the Patent Office from a cutting action. In fact, as we before Baid, although a prior patent had speci¬ fically referred to "cutting or engraving", yet the Office granted a subsequent patent on a true cutting aotion. If the .ToneB patent does not show a reoorder oapable of perform¬ ing a true cutting operation, then we submit any general reference to "cutting or engraving"oaimot be regarded as an adequate disclosure of applicant's invention. So far as the patont to Adana -Randall is. concerned, we have pointed out in applicant's companion case. Serial Ho. 110, 159, that this patent is entirely insufficient, as a disclosure of the invention. We have shown that Adams- Randall sought to improve only the original tin-foil phono¬ graph, and in no instance employed a cutting tool capable of cleanly cutting a sinuous groove. We hope, therefore, that upon reconsideration the olaims will be allowed. Respdotfully, IHOMAS A. EDISON, By _ _ His Attorneys. Hew York, August 88, 1908. -8- Case No, Paper No,. United States Patent Office, Th»"“ *• U. S. PATENT OFFICE, SEP 10 1902 <^T • »«Tort,,E.Y. hailed,;; ,!Sf Please finel below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your aypiimf^hx for Sound-Record a, filed June 4, 1908, aerial number 110,160. MAIL ED4 This action is in response to the amendment filed the 89th ult. Claims 1, 8, S and 4 are rejected again in view of the patents of' Jones, Adams -Randall and for instance, patent of Edison, June 86, 1900 ,#668,456, Souttd Boxes, Oraphophones, which Shows the sound groove cur.vedwln'cross eootion.' From ah inspec-. tion of the file in. tho Jones patent, it seems dear that the expression "out or engraved* in said patent means cut out or clehnly out, Just as the word *out* has such moaning in appli¬ cant's application. Claim 6 is rejected for want of invention, in view of the patent Of Berliner cited, and in view of the patent of Vassenloh,!Tov. 11,1890 , #440,155 ,Oraphophone a. Cate !'iO../s^;..Paper No,„s>1C..t; THOMAS A. EDISON sound RECORDS PILED JUNE 4, 1902 SBRIATj NO. 110,160 ROOM NO. 219 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OR PATENTS, SIR : - . Reconsideration of claims 1 to 4 is respectfully requested. We have already given our views as to the Jones and Adams-Randall patents, and have stated the grounds for our opinion that these references are en¬ tirely insufficient. In applicant's companion case on the prooess for making the improved sound reoords, we have today- submitted an argument pointing out that the history of the Jones application throws no additional light on the patent as a reference. Jones nowhere, in his patent, or in his application, or in the arguments filed before the Patent Offioe, states that he makes a sinuous grooved reoord by a true cutting operation. Even if he did say in his patent that suoh an operation was performed by him, the patent would still be insufficient because a vague suggestion of this kind would oertainly not enable those skilled in the art to oarry it out.. Moreover, the statement in the patent that the Jones record is made "in a well known manner" nega¬ tives the Examiner's assumption that it is made by a outting operation, whioh would not be a well known manner. So far as the 2nd and 4th claims are concerned, we do not Bee how the new reference to Edison has any bearing, since with that patent the reoord is vertically irregular, and is therefore not a groove of substantially uniform width and depth with a curved oross-Bection. Case No, ,/feC. Paper No,. i Reconsideration of the 5th claim iB also requested, and our former arguments in support of this olaim are here repeated. We assume that the patent to "Wassenioh" to whioh the Examiner refers 1b the patent to HeyBinger already of record in the oaBe, since the number and date correspond to the Heysinger patent. We hope that the olaims may be allowed, but if the Examiner oannot do bo, then we ask that final aotion be taken. Very respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, By _ Attorneys. New York, September 17, 1902. Case No./£C. Paper No,...£, DEPARTMENT of INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C. OCtObST 9 Thomas A. Edison, Care Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer, #31 Has sau Street, New York,N.Y. U. 8. PATEI-tT OFFICE, I OCT 9 1902 MAIL ED, Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for Sound-Re cord a, filed Juno 4,1902,8orial number 110,160* _ . Commissioner of Patents. This action is in response to the amendment filed the 18th ultimo. In the first place it must be held that the Bell and Taintor process of making an original record was a true cutting procoss. In the patent fef Bell and Taintor, May 4,1886, #541,214, page 3, linos 70-73, the patentee states that "This leaves sharp cutting edges on both sides of the tapering point. These edges remove the material in chips or shavings like a plane or turning tool". Then on page 6, lines 70 to 74, the patentee states -"The torn cutting is heroin employed to indicate an action in whioh the material is removed in chips, shavings, or small pieces, as in engraving, turning and the like, and not merely displaced." These statements seem to establish the fact that the stylus was a true cutting stylus and thatvthe recording process involved a true cutting action and not a scraping action as held by applicant. This was the well known Graphophone "syBtem". The action of the examiner in granting patent #393,967 to the present applicant notwithstanding the prior patent to Bell and Tainter, is not controlling in this case whatever may have been the reasons of the Case No,../^.?.Paper No,...jZ„, #110,160, Examiner that caused him to decide that the matter claimed in applicant's patent was patentable as stated. It having been established that Boll and Painter's process was a true cutting process, it no w romains to construe the meaning of the term "cutting or engraving" in the patent of Jones cited. The expression "forming in a well known manner" in the patent, does not negative tho holding that the record is formed by Jones by a true cutting out or shaving process, for Bell and Taint er'e process and applicant's patented process were both true outting processes and these were the well known ways of forming grapho- phone records for several years prior to the application of Jonos and in fact the only way known to the Examiner in which up. and down or graphophcne sound rocords had been made for years prioV to the Jones application. This Boll and Taint or process was a part of tho well known "graphophone system" referred to by Jonos, p. 1, lino 56 to line 68 and Jones states therein that his process differs thorefrom-by cutting a latoral record wherein the resis¬ tance to the stylus is uniform , whereas in said patented rrocess the resistance to the stylus isccumiSmBS increases with tho depth of tho cut, otc. This outting out process was therefore doubtless the "well known" outting out or shaving process. Hot only is this doubtless true from tho evidence of surrounding circumstances, and from statements in the Jones patent, but what Jonos said in his argument in the patented file, connected with the prosecution of tho case clearly shows that so far as tho cutting feature of his process was concerned that it was the cutting out process flf BgH and Taintor applied to cut laterally in the plane of the surface of the record instead of vertically in a plane at anglos to the surf i of the record. Case Noi^43L..Paper No,..../?.... #110,160- .3. *• to She present claims 1 to 4 belnc for the record as an article made by the "cutting" step of the Jones patent , are again and finally rejected in view of the patents oited in rojoctlon thereof in the last official action and claim 5 is rejoctad finally in view of the patents cited. Paper No, ;-V- ■ ife , Folio No. 18. vuf . Applicant. ..£11 . sxLjZI . >> Serial No Jx4^ *2*7? -? / S— Address. fi. ' o , Title..... . {Jit. /V. ; ?t>3 ■ ' ' • ££ Filed . . . v f* tfL ^uTZ/- &-£>>■ ^-s , '.l^?^’. Page Patent No.. '.... . _.... _ Issued _ LAW OFFICES DYER, EDMONDS & DYER. patenta anO patent Causes. Petition. tEo tbc (Commissioner of IPatents : your petitioner , THOMAS A. KDlSOlf, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his post office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Sssex County, Hew Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE XMPROVHKKHT IN MmSKSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES (case Ho. 1075) SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER, EDMONDS AND DYER, REGISTRATION NO. 2688 (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTED & SPECIFICATION. TO TOIOM IT UAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES, of which the following is a description. My invention relates to new and useful improvements in reversible galvanic batteries of the type employing in¬ soluble aotive materials and an alkaline electrolyte, and the invention relates particularly to the employment of a new aotive material in the make-up of the oxidizable pole. My objeot is to provide a suitable oxidizable material Which iB insoluble in the electrolyte. The Invention resides in the disoovery that an oxide of uranium oan be electrolytioally reduced and oxidized in an alkaline solution, and tinder all conditions of use will be insoluble therein, so that when opposed by a suitable depolarizing material a practioally available combination is seoured. The new material, unlike cadmium for example, doeB not pass from the metallio state to a condition of oxi¬ dation under the effeot of eleotrolytio oxidation and vioo versa, but passes from a lower to a higher condition of oxi¬ dation and vioe versa when subjected to these eleotrolytio influences. The improved aotive material is preferably co¬ ployed in the form of briquettes enclosed in perforated oupa or pookets oriiaped in position in supporting plates, as I have described in patents already granted. In carrying my invention into effeot I take the ordinary blaok oxide of uranium of commerce and thoroughly 1 mix the same with raioaoeous or flake graphite or other Inert flakelike oonduoting material under pressure in the propor¬ tion of about seven parts of the oxide to three parts of graphite, and this mixture is then formed into briquettes, whioh are inserted into the pockets of the oleotrode and submitted to sufficient pressure to oring? the pockets se¬ curely in position in the openings of the grid, as I havo already described and shown in Letters Patent of the United States. When an electrode employing an oxide of uranium constructed aB explained is opposed to an electrode employ¬ ing hydrated oxide of nickel as the depolarizing material, the voltage obtained on disoharge is about the same as that secured in ray well known niokel-iron combination. In oharging the oell the uranium oxide is reduced from a highor to a lower stage of oxidation, while on disoharge a lower oxide of uranium is oxidized to a higher condition of oxi¬ dation. Having now described my invention, what I olaim as new and desire to seouro by Letters Patent is as follows: 1. An eleotrode for a reversible galvanic battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, said eleotrode containing as the active material an eleotrolytioally aotive oxide of uranium, substantially as set forth. 2. An electrode for a reversible galvanic battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, said eleotrode containing as the aotive material an eleotrolytioally aotive oxide of uranium, and an inert flakelike oonduoting material inti¬ mately mixed with said oxide, substantially as set forth. 3. An eleotrode for a reversible galvanio battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, said eleotrode containing as the aotive material an eleotrolytioally aotive oxide of 2 uranium, and flake graphite intimately mixed with said ox¬ ide, substantially as set forth. 4. In a reversible galvanio battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, the combination with an eleotrode con¬ taining an eleotrolytically active compound of niokel, of a second eleotrode opposed thereto containing an eleotrolyti- oally aotive oxide of uranium, substantially as set forth. 5. In a reversible galvanio battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, the combination with an eleotrode oon-| taining an eleotrolytioally aotive oompound of niokel, of a seoond eleotrode opposed thereto containing an eleotrolyti¬ oally active oxide of uranium and an inert flakelike con¬ ducting material mixed with the latter oxide, substantially as set forth. 6. In a reversible galvanio battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, the combination with an eleotrode con¬ taining an eleotrolytioally aotive oompound of niokel, of a seoond eleotrode opposed thereto containing an eleotrolyti¬ oally aotive oxide of uranium and flake graphite mixed with the latter oxide, substantially as set forth. reversible galvanio battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, the 'comb inat ion with an eleotrode oon-| taining an eleotrolytioally active oompound of niokel and an inert flakelike oonduoting\aterial, of a seoond eleo¬ trode opposed thereto amj containing an eleotrolytioally ally as set forth. In a reverBiblX galvanlO'/battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyte, the oom\ination wl^th an eleotrode con¬ taining an eleotrolytioally aotive oompound of niokel and flake graphite, of a seoond eleotrode opposed thereto and containing an eleotrolytioally active) oxide of\ uranium, sub-j stantially as set forth, 9. In a\reversibie galvanic battery employing an alkaline eleotrolyfl^, the combination with an electrode con- taining an eleotrolycioally active compound of nickel and an inert flakelike oon^uoting material, of a Beoond elec¬ trode opposed thereto and containing an eleotrolytioally aotive oxide of uranium Ad an inert flakelike conducting material mixed therewith, Substantially as set forth. 10. In a reverslbA galvani o battery employing an alkaline electrolyte, the combination with an electrode con taining an electrolytically aot flake graphite, of a seoond electrode oppoaed\ thereto and containing an eleotrolytioally aoti\e oxide of uranium and flake graphite mixed therewith, sub s^nti ally as s^t forth. • — V~ THO’IAS A. EDISON , the above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A OitiSSSn of the United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey} THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR of the naPBOVErmT IN HSSTEHSIBKB OALVAN.TC BATTERIES a— mi. SERIES OF 1900. § Washington, D. C., _ _ , 19o£j- ® ■g • ^ ’ ' 'S “ Sir: g I . 1 3 I have to aehnowledgc the receipt of the petition , specification, oath, ancl 3 o 3 I drawing of your alleged Improvement in . . S' . vU’y^/f^/vttfAjsFJ/f- | luith Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. | Washington , D. 190jL^ (\^'>P[A^Y\Jy. fym/V > — «- . mi, . m.....:M- , has been examined and ALLOWED. The final fct, Twenty Dollars, must maid, and the Letters Patent bear dato as of a dan not later than SIX MONTHS from the time of tliismscnt notice of allowance. If the final fee is not iiaid withinMfll period the patent will be withheld, and pour onlp relief will be bp a renewal of the application, with a&tionalfces, under the provisions of Section 4807, Devised Statutes. The Office aims to deliver patents /gpn the dap of their date, and on which their term begins to run; but to do thisproperlg applicants willed expected to pap their final fees at least TWENTY DAYS prior to tlw conclusion of the six months turned them bp law. The printing, photolithographing, and engrossing of the several patent parts, prepfitutorg to final signing and sealing, will consume the intervening time, and such work will not he done until after payment of the nccessarg fees. Witcn pou send tlujpal fee pou will also send, DISTINCTLY AND PLAINLY WRITTEN, the name of the INVENTOR an&flTLE OF INVENTION AS ABOVE GIVEN, DATE OF ALLOWANCE t which is the date of this circulEN), DA TE OF. FILING, and, if assigned, the NAMES OF THE ASSIGNEES. If pou desire move the patent issue to ASSIGNEES, an assignment containing a REQUEST to that, effect, together the FEE for recording the same, must be filed in this Office on or before the date at . pagmenleffiMfec. After isjSl of the patent uncertified copies of the drawings and specifications map bo purchased at the price oAfi oents eaoh. The monep should aecompanp the order. Postage stamps will not be rcceioeiL ^ Rcspeetfullp, ^ $ Case No, ,/Z.PaperNo x 0 ot th0 IottorH patent to tlio patentee or lit* agent. United States Patent Office, ■ Thoms A. Edison, c/o Dyer, Edmonds & Iyer, ITew York, IT. Y. ITovembor 10, 1904. Ser. No, 229,246, filed October 3, "Reversible Galvanic Batteries?. 1902, renewed October 20, 1904: _ Commissioner of Patents. Claims 7, 8, 9 and 10 oover specifically a construction of an electrode, containing nickel oxide. This eleotrodo should there¬ fore be correspondingly described in the specification. Claims 7 to 10, however, set forth in addition to the elements of the pre¬ ceding claims only elements that are old in the art. These claims are therefore rebooted under ..Export e Griffith, 85 0, ji,, page 956, ' Exports Hi ley 101 0. G,., page 1832,. and in re Carpenter, 112 0. G., page: 503. Applicant should limit his claims to the actual invention. PEI1 TI 0 N To the HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OR PATENTS, SIR:- Your petitioner, Thomas A. Edison, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Lewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, whose postoffice address is Orange, New Jersey, represents that on October 3, 1902, he filed an application for Let¬ ters Patent for an IMPROVEMENT IN REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BAt| TERIES, Serial No. 125,804, which application was allowed November 5th, 1902, but that he failed to make payment of the final fee within the time allowed by law. He now makes renewed application for Letters Patent for the said invention and prays that the original specification, • and . oath ; may be used aapa part of this application. u. Signed at Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, this /f’^day of Botober, 1904. •TOUTED ST AT IB PATENT OPFICE- Thornas A. Edison, REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES, Piled October 3, 1902, ) ) Room No. 175. Renewed October 20, 1904, Serial No. 229,245. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR:- We hereby withdraw as attorneys in the above entitled application, and substitute in our stead Mr. Prank L. Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, New Jersey, and request that further communications in the case be sent to him. Very respeotfully, Attorneys of reoord. October 20, 1905, ■UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE- Thomas A. Edison, REVERSIBLE GALVANIC BATTERIES, Piled October 3, 1902, j Room No. 175. Renewed October 20, 1904, Serial No. 229,245. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER PE PATENTS, SIR:. In view of the Examiner's criticism that claims 7, 8, 9 and 10 differ from oertaln of the preoeding claims only in the use of an element old in the art, namely, an inert flake-like conducting material such as flake graphite mixed with the active mate rial on the positive pole, I amend hy erasing claims 7, 8, 9 and 10. Very respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, By His Attorney. Orange, N.J, October 20, 1905, IN REMITTING THE FINAL FEE GIVE THE SERIAL NUMBER AT THE HEAD OF THIS NOTICE, / 229,245 Washington, D. G., Tho'aa3 A. Edison, Assor. c/o Prank L. flyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, H. J. SIR: Tour APPLICATION for a patent for an IMPROVEMENT IN Reversible Galvanic Batteries. filed, Oct. 20, 1904., has been examined ami' ALLOWED. The final fee, TWENTY DOLLARS, most he paid, and the Letters Patent hear date as of a day not later than SIX MONTHS from the time of this present notice of allowance. If the final fee is not paid within that period the patent will he withheld, and your only relief will he hy a renewal of the application, with additional fees, under tlu> provisions of Section J/.897, Revised Statutes. The office aims to deliver patents upon the day of their date, and on whieh their term begins to run; hut to do this properly applicants will he expected to pay their final fees at least TWENTY DAYS prior to the conclusion of the six months allowed them hy law. The printing, photolithographing, and engrossing of the several patent parts, preparatory to final signing and sealing, will consume the intervening time, and such work will not he done until after payment of the necessary fees. When you send the final fee you will also send, DISTINCTLY AND PLAINLY WRITTEN, the name of the INVENTOR and TITLE OF INVENTION AS ABOVE GIVEN, DATE OF ALLOWANCE (which is the date of this circular), DATE OF FILING, and, if assigned, the NAMES OF THE ASSIGNEES. If you desire to have the patent issue to ASSIGNEES, an assignment containing a REQUEST to that effect, together with the FEE for recording the same, must be filed in this office on or before the date of payment of final fee. After issue of the patent uncertified copies of the drawings and specifications may he purchased at the price of FIVE CENTS EACH. The money should accompany the order. Postage stamps will not he received. Respectfully, :arefully scrutinize the $SJg=- If payment is made by check or draft, the credit allowed is subject to the collection of the same. Folio No. '*• Serial ^o. /Of 0^070 Applicant. Title > <~t^rcC . ( Js*, C .onaS. ccU/, n&^-CLf. . :v "V- s y . Filed (J$!cZS3£^. -Z-S, /Jt&X '• _- y.<. L . ^.. O'-'^djo^ 1 6... . . 2 O f.. \ v /. f' J&kfdfC . . .. , 3.. .. 4.. . 5.. 6.. . 7.. . 8.. . ' 9,. 10... 11... •12.. : 13... 14... ■ IS¬ 15.. . 19.. : 20.. . 21... ■ 22... 23.’.. 24.. . 25.. . 26.. . 27.. . 28.. . 29... FRANK L. DYER, . Counsel, ' ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. ACt Patent No. .% <5 Issued '■ft' rS, M f> . : . , . Mh Ih :> \ 3 16 [§717 \ . :v.. 19 20 • 6 . . ,.>r-^rr?rrSBSt . . (3.. .... -i 21. ^ f * 22 f&v 8 . IZ'V 23. , '■'£ . $*£ ItukeJh.. . . . .(2.^. . tyo. c .// /Qvy%l . hteZ?....'../*..# 25... 'i iJ J V’l I 5^ . 26 ... ' . ®^..^.,J.9.9.£:..... 27... I 1/ 13 ...O^C-jk . '" 28... 14 „>5L ^..,.li..,. J.ef..<>..L... ,29... _ Jj| •• 15 V^'juz<6uk*..* . 30... v . ' ■■■■■:■ J - FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. . (j XtZTZX WCfce. V/cJLr-4. |C* fu^-i -ce* ^ ‘“Tl *• Xf*-* ,uc^ f Jit: ^XEE^ - c u \ I fT Au it— i c— ^ ^ , -xfc i4^-^^ \r~ J. D J ^ Tl /Ur^ e^^ht ' Aii~> f*~ ±r “-u^ - 7TT^ ^ ^ IG*. .£t..»)^A _f u-^~ CL&*~fi-t s>-*^ ^wf- k+fc*. VUV^*. '-“-ae X«.| t" Y^X~ ^ rr~« *- -v -tM[. — ^ 4^oc :.£errcr i^~ ‘- » °---} (ot^JL t,o &~eJ2^ j^yo^ ■# :^ofi jl -a- %uueucul. : 4^^ ^d \ (jj'^cLr ^Li - — •pm [ON BACK OF PRECEDING PAGE] ' Foli6~No. x -2,7 • - >..v Applicant. .../.^.<>...y!', . fi . /..!?.,«?„>S.'T,.. 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S^Cuf* Cj £-<&-*-«* €> uo-w ek~&-*j*s e hrr^vJ ^ ar^rt j UL*~e^k CL&n$Z*Lt > (§^^f uLg. 6-/ 1 ct-f'i-A- Lo t«^ i <« Q_ t *~a ^ « U-o-f" ^fa**~* Arv--^-. ^t" £, e.o^W^EZ ^c^ rfc <&«> c &-'> X^ X"~ - ^ . &-r(L (L_c.~-o\ e-vv-} y^r> * *&-JU*, *t~£ \S>'£ ^ CXXo ^ o ft ®>'^*^vr Qe» Y^^-®'"’- fjtez$r’»*~,l ^ ‘■'yo^er-v 0-*n^ o Qo <^o H; ) ft ^.."(SjK-— <'-€. ^s~ \vLcC — (^“tix A=~-vJ~ 'TV <-k l-wX ^ \ “U ^1 ^rCJ &% e^'^ST Kt‘c~ j^^L. ^ tVuva^-w-n ^-c^'^-v^CieXcXv, | . p-oW trvu«. € ^ RxJ ttxr*. “ts 4«- cstE . ©Jsijs-O'K *w- — ^J“”1 1 1 “'^ 6^— ( ^ ft rit ' * ' ft ■“' *" V/ £ fcfc^ 1M-P <»-**« rv»- j^ cx C>(A *vu — &tj £J^p£L&> c(?Cb 2-k» -~wTT-^fS4 ^X-. qJL^XL- ^«->,.c. «>“<-* --^pnic "^T- kn-^a-" *6 £/5»-€>~ C..'^ •2-p-vva. >-UtttU 4-~“^ ■f” jrf KA—afVffo, ^£J’’ L-OXC. «v. jL^res *—*i *Zd>“t'MS UJsh -tc^-^4^^ LJSb U uiriU-^ ^£~*~5f'r ^ ~ ^o^-— cLtezz* «t Cl-a* v^-'t/k^t .4.,^ ^ - vt'Wh^^'^'^6^ |^fi-p^4rk TK«- $lJ$H+-QL. e*^V a „Tfc=erTE wkr4, w=Cfcv~. IU I MW~| U- tffy''^ lAf'V Jf =(-. u5JjL‘ ^ C.f^aX«v* %< fD 't.-t'TVvv „ . ^ jL<£>^\ Q tv rvv.f ft & u-e. (At- *s ..^we 6~-f <| uj?- A P-«-~.r-*j {. "c™^l" p-p>eje^ a^t^-d kt.^ £Cd uo 'KiJwi tfL-erv^u*- (&-*-*-^~ ®"S glA^y* a- -^-ff , qJj^ ^ j 1/v^a^*L. Ge/v JU fcvG£tJ irtn is*~A ( u H^p'i ^ e^e t\ ! July 5th, 1905. Edward Dinan, Esq., c/o Edison Portland cement Company, Ste vartsville , N.J. Dear Mr. Dinan Your favor of the 17th ult. with enclosures, were duly received, and I am very much obliged to you for the careful mamner in which you have gone into the matter. 1 am now in a position to go right ahead with the kiln case, and would like to know whether it would he possible for you to spend two or three days at Orange with me, in order that I might have the benefit of your experience. Of course, if it would be inconveni¬ ent for you to leave Stewartsville , I can do as much work as possible here and then go up to Stewartsville and spend a day going over the papers with you. Let me know about this right away. Have you been able to determine the stack temperature of the Edison kiln? We should have this information before taking up the case for final action. Yours very truly, eld/aek. TRe Edison Portland Cement ( q . Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J. P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J. July 7, 1905. lo: stack temperature: Mr. E. I,. Dyer, Edi s on Lab orator y, Orange, N. J. Dear Sir:- I have your favor of the 5th relative to the kiln matter. Under the present circumstances at our plant here, I find that it is practically impossible for me to get away any time in the near future. I would suggest, if possible-, you work up the case and then if you Could arrange to c erne to Stewartsville , where we can go over the matter, 1 will have ready and accessable am Information and literature on the subject. As it is now, I am working over time almost every day and it is practically impossible for me to leave for any length of time as you suggest. Concerning the stack temperature, as far as we have gone into the matter, I have determined that under good working, Edison kilns show temper ature at -the base of the stack of about lOOO^B1. to 1100°E. This will be lower with the use of finer coal towards which we are working, as under good working with only fairly fine coal, we have noted recently temperatures as 895°, 995°, arid 905°E. The average of all our observations figure's 1097 °E. and this includes some taken under very unfavorable conditions. In fact,, we took some temperatures at times merely to see hov; poorly the kiln was working. / As an instance , yesterday we were forced to use very coarse coal.? .2.. July 7, 1905, The coarse particles being hi own into the kiln soon pass so far In that they are burned to CO only, which later burns to CO2, when mixing with the air drawn in at the stack base. This develops s a high heat and the temperature proved to be 1700°F. With normally fine coal this combustion would take place within the kiln. I cite this to show you -what •fine coal has to do with' the case. Vie are safe in assuming that with normally fine coal under- normal working the stack temperature will be under 1000°!’. , if not under 900*^. 1 hope you can arrange to egjjjid a day at Stewartsville , as I believe under the circumstances it is the best thing to do as exjjlained above . Yours very truly, (sS ' Edward Di nan, Esq., c/o Edison Portland Cement Company, Stev/artsville, H.J. Dear Mr. Dinan:- Your favor of the 7th inst. has been received, and 1 appreciate fully the embarrassment which would, he caused by your leaving Stev/arfcsville at this time, and I will, therefore, arrange to do as much work as possible at Orange and go over the papers with you at S'tewartsville Borne time later. 1 thank you very much for your information regard- ; ing stack temperatures. fid/ark. Yours very truly, i. f tK-C-Ct^c.sl. _ v . C .. '4 -PA y ■ \-j O' P-- . / . . > V -/Lc.-A fL f CL V o 4. | g _ FRANK L. DYER, • Counsel, ■■!-•■_ Orange, New Jersey; 0 . ® LAW OFFICES DYER, EDMONDS & DYER. patents ana patent aaueea. Petition. Go tbc Commissioner of IPatents : your petitioner THOMAS A. BDISOIT, a citizen of tho United^ States, residing and having his post offioe address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE IMPROVEMENT IN PORTLAND CEMENT AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME (Case No. 1087) SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION ; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER, EDMONDS AND DYER, REGISTRATION NO. 2888 (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONOS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CONNECTED THEREWITH. ■'p'fTnR1: . a. . ■firriTRftw: SPECIFICATION. (TO' WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a cer¬ tain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN PORTLAND CEMENT AND PRO¬ CESS OP MANUFACTURING THE SAME, of which the following ia a specification: - My invention relates to improvements in Portland oement and process of manufacturing the same and my Object ii to produce a Portland cement v/hidi shall he of a uniform and definite chemical composition having reliable and per¬ fectly controlled characteristics us well as superior cement¬ ing properties. In all satisfactory Portland cements as now made, the clinker produoed from the kilnB contains a certain percentage of anhydrous lime, due to the foot that the heat reactions are arrested at a point just short of fully com¬ bining all the alkaline with the aoid constituents of the mixture, and also to the fact that the original mixtures are not properly mixed or ground fine enough to permit of perfeot ohemioal oombi nations by the present methods of cal¬ cination in kilns. The principal souroe of the anhydrous free lime in the usual clinker is due to tho fact that all parts are not subj eoted to a heat of sufficient temperature or for a Ipng enough period or for both reasons to effect a perfeot combination. As a matter of fact, it is not desir¬ able in the present methods of making Portland oement that the ol inker should be so perfectly burned as to contain no free anhydrous lime, sinoe manufacturers have found by ex¬ porters that such a cement, i. e. , one containing no free anhydrous lime, is not only very difficult and expensive to grind, with the machinery now used hut the oement produced when properly limed and ground to the usual fineness sets with such rapidity that it cannot he handled or used in praotioe, and this is true even if the attempt he made to retard setting of the oement hy adding a small quantity of burned gypsum as is now done to retard the setting of hy¬ draulic oements generally. Consequently, the aim of manufacturers has been to produce in their kilns a olinker of a poouliar oharaoter which is neither burnt at too high or too low a temperature and which has neither been subjected to the heat for too long or too Bhort a time, all of whioh depends upon the eye and skill and judgment of the person in charge of the kiln. With such a. clinker experience proveB that the ground cemeir; produced therefrom will, in most cases, have certain charac¬ teristics as to ultimate strength and time of setting, but there is no assured oertainty as to these factors since the process depends for its suocess upon the skill and judgment of the individual burner. In the United States, most of the Portland oement produoed is burned in rotary kilnB and the clinker so ob¬ tained consists physically of balls varying in Bize from tv» inohes in diameter to one-sixteenth of an inch or Iobs in diameter. These olinker bolls are formed in the kiln at an early stage of the process and in passing towards the hotter zones of the kiln become semi-fused and more dense, in some instances forming masses due to the agglomeration of balls o:? smaller size. During the burning process the aoid contents of the mixture gradually combine with the alkaline contents, but on account of the varying sizes of the clinker bolls all are not burnt equally throughout and many of these balls hav > -2- interior portions Which do not reaoh a sufficient tempera¬ ture, during the relatively short time of their passage through the kiln, as to permit of a perfect combination of their acid and alkaline constituents. In the case of the larger olinker balls the outside portions are properly clink* ered and the necessary chemical combinations have been ef¬ fected; further towards the center, for a section of greater or lesser depth, according to the clinkering oortfitions and the size of the balls, a partial combination has been ef¬ fected and the material is hard; finally at the center of many of the clinker balls the material is still soft and flourlike in quality and soaroely any combination has taken place. When olinker of this sort is finely ground, the soft centers, in which little or no ohemical combination has been effected, are reduced to a fine powder or flour con¬ taining anhydrous lime, vhioh, on exposure to moisture-laden air in transit to or within the stock house, becomes hydrate! and therefore non-esqmnsive. The presence of a small pro¬ portion of hydrated lime is necessary in satisfactory Port¬ land cement in order to retard the rapidity with whioh the latter sets. In the case of the semi-burnt portions of the clinker balls, these also oontain free anhydrous lime and when ground result in the formation of a mixture of fine flourlike particles and finely divided more or less crystal¬ line grains, whioh latter, in course of time, absorb water, causing the anhydrous lime to beoome hydrated, resulting in the swelling and disruption of the oonorete in which the oe* ment is used. The semi-burnt portion of the olinker is in oonsequenoe an ingredient of great danger on account of thif slow expansive action, Whioh may require months or even a year or two to become effective. The outer shells of the olinker balls on account of their superior hardness produce -3- very little flour with the usual grinding; machinery, aid generally form the hulk of the coarse part of the cement. Hence, manufacturers of Portland oement use the greatest oare to produce clinker v/hioh will have the same proportion of hydrated lime when ground and aerated, and a minimum am¬ ount of the hard, uriburnt or transition olinkor containing anhydrous lime in a dangerous physical condition. In order to produce a olinker of this peculiar character, it is very lecessary, as I have already explained, to keep the tempera¬ ture within narrow limits and to depend upon the long exper¬ ience, skill and judgment of the operator in charge of the kiln. Even When the greatest care is exercised, the varia¬ tions in the character of. the burnt clinker are so great that the daily product of the some establishment frequently differs within quite wide limits. I have devised grinding and screening maohinery by whioh the hardest burned clinker can be economically ground to great fineness and have described the same in my patents No. 637,327, dated November 21st, 1899, No. 648,934, dated May 8th, 1900, No. 671,316, dated April 2nd, 1901, No. 6 71,- 317, dated April 2nd, 1901, and No. 679,600, dated July 30th, 1901, and I have also devised improvements in kilns whereby the perfect burning of a cement mixture oan be effected without any previous skill or judgment on the part of the kiln attendant, so that the product shall contain no anhy¬ drous lime and be practically constant throughout, with the same characteristics} being, in fact, pure Portland oement. . The kiln referred to I describe in an application for paten 1, ( filed &££%£&&& In oarrying my present invention into effect, I so proportion the lime to the aoid ingredients of the mixture as that there shall always be a slight excess of aoid over the lime, to insure the ohemioal combination of all the lime. In the kiln I bum the ingredients for a longer time and at a higher heat than usual, whereby the vitrification is car¬ ried further than 1b now customary, no that the whole of the clinker shall always be thoroughly and completely vit¬ rified. ^Ehis is more easily attained with a higher than j with a lower stage of burning, for the reason that when the lime is in a proportion to leave a small peroent of acid present in the resulting clinker, the melting point of the j clinker is very high and its perfect vitrifioation can be / carried out thoroughly without entirely melting it, as the range of temperature between the points whore the clinker / molts and is perfectly vitrified is vary considerable.^) By using a kiln of abnormal length and diameter, furnished with a cl inker ijg acne of about four times the length of clink- Bring zones now employed, with a load of material from five to seven times that which is customarily used, the material in the kiln is perfectly mixed and is evenly burned through¬ out, so that a perfectly safe and reliable clinker is ob¬ tained, having always the same definite composition and characteristics and requiring no previous Bklll on the part of the kiln attendant. When clinker of this oharaoter is ground to oement it has, if used alone, properties whioh v render it useless for purposes for which oement is ordinari-7 ly used, for the reason that it absorbs from forty per cent to fifty per oent of its weight of water, aooording to the fineness of grinding, to make it sufficiently plastio. When 30 employed the pure completely burned clinker sets in two or three minutes, and this is true even when the usual am¬ ount of burned gypsum is added. I find, in fact, that burned gypBun has but little effeot on pure clinker oement in retarding the time in whioh it sets. If, however, in addition to the usual proportion of burnt gypsum, from one - - _ _ _ _ , _ ' _ -8- _ ' . . . to two per cent or more of dry hydrate of lime is added to the cement, according to the fineness of grinding, the re¬ sulting mixture sets slowly, depending upon the quantity of the lime so added, and it possesses all the ingredients and characteristics of the regular oommeroiol Portland cement. My improved cement is, however, superior to the hydraulic oe- ment now made inasmuch as it is of greater strength and con¬ tains no expansive ingredients, like anhydrous lime in the hard particles which in time results in the destruction of any Portland cement containing it. The advantage of pro¬ ducing in the first instance a definite, pure and reliable Portland cement clinker, and afterwards adding a known am¬ ount of a necessary ingredient, such as hydrate of lime, to retard the setting operation, instead of trying to produce a oomplete cement, containing a sufficient amount of anhy¬ drous lime in the original clinker in a state to permit of easy grinding as well aB to allow it to become hydrated by exposure to the air, is very great, since with my invention.’, a definite ohemioal combination is secured, having reliable and perfectly controlled characteristics, as well as super¬ ior oementing properties. On the other hand, with present prooesseB, the product is inconstant and uncertain, and re¬ quires the greatest oare on the part of the manufacturers to secure a commercially reliable and thoroughly even re¬ sult. Moreover, by reason of my improvement a finished product is seoured in the first instance, which requires no aerating or "aging" to make it commercially acceptable as with present prooesseB, and for this reason X am enabled to effeot a further and very considerable economy in the manu¬ facture. -6- Having now described my invention, what I olaim as jnewtherein and desire to seouro by Setters Patent is as follows : - ____ 1, Portland cement clinker having the following? // , ii 't&n+.'KiWBi* ;3?.£>./'70“j|proportieo: (1) absorbing a larger amount of water than 'jprwtrdrt to obtain equal plasticity, (2) being substantially red gypsum, and (3) by gypsum and slaked iunaffeoted as to its setting tine by bj i ing controlled as to its sotting tim 2, An improved Portland or. hydraulic cement, com¬ prising oourpletely^ulne^ cement clinker free of anhydrous lime, and hydrated lime mixed with the olinker, substantial¬ ly aB set forth. 3'. An improved Portland or hydraulic cement, oom- t rising oompletoly(bumod) cement clinker free of anhydrous ime and to which is added a non-expansive ingredient which [[retards sotting, substantially as sot forth. ^ 4„ An improved Portland or hydraul ic oement, com¬ prising completely burned ceraont clinker free of anhydrous lime, with burned gypsum and hydrated lime added thereto, substantially as set forth. \ 5. An improved ingredient 'for use in\the manufact¬ ure Portland or Mydraulio\ oement, obmprising\ completely burned oement o linker free of\anhydrous lime, substantially as set forth. £ jf. An improved Portland or hydraulio oement, com¬ prising completely (burned) cemant olinker free of anhydrous lime and having a preponderance of acid ingredients, and a material added thereto to retard setting, a Tibs tan tially as set forth. An improved Portland or;hydraulio cement, com¬ prising completely (bume^ cement olinker free of anhydrous lime and having a preponderance of acid ingredients, and hydrated lime added thereto, substantially aB set forth. ^ X' An imp roved Portland, or hydraulic cement, com¬ prising completely burned cement clinker free of anhydrous lime and having a preponderance of acid ingredients, and burned gypnum and hydrated lime added thereto, substantial¬ ly as set forth. \ 9. An ingredient for use in the manufacture of [Portland or hydraulic orient, consisting \f completely burnedj oement\ol inker free of a^Wdrous lime nXd haviig a prepon¬ derance '''of acid ingrodienr? , substantially ah set forth. t The process of manufacturing Portland cement, | which oonsists in completely burning cement olinkor so as to I eliminat^’lfreo anhydrous lime; and in then adding to the cemeht clinker a material which retards the setting, substantially as set forth. The process of manufacturing Portland cement, which consists in completely timing cement clinker to elim- | inate free anhydrous lime end in then adding hydrated lime to the clinker, substantially as sot forth. ^ JO ygj. The process of manufacturing Portland oement, whloh consists in completely burning oement clinker to elim-| inate free anhydrous lime and then adding hydrated lime and | burned gypsum, substantially as set forth. The process of manufacturing Portland cement, whidi consists in completely burning a cement mixture having| ah excess of acid so os to result in the production of clinker having an excess of acid ingredients with no anhy¬ drous lime, and in then adding to the olinker a material whiiojh retards the setting, substantially as set forth. f %^C. The process of manufacturing Portland oement, which consists in completely burning a oement mixture having! an excess of aoid so as to result in the production of olitfcj- er having an excess of acid ingredients with no anhydrous lime, and in then adding to the clinker, hydrated lime to retard the setting, sUbBtant ially as set forth. ^ 1 3 The process of manul'aoturing Portland cement, which oonsiBts in oompletely burning a cement mixture having an excess of acid so as to result in the production of clink¬ er having an excess of aoid ingredients with no anhydrous lime, and in then adding hydrated lime and burned gypsum thereto, substantially as set forth. -9- THIS SPECIFICATION SIGNED AND WITNESSED 13tll DAY OF UOV. . THOS. . A. . EDISON. Wlltness: i . PRANK L.-DYBR. . 2. ; J. S’. RANDOLPH . Oath State of Count? of New Jersey Essex THOMAS A» EDISON , the above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A OltiZGn of the United Staten, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex, State of New Jersey; THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR of the IMPROVEMENT IN PORTLAND CEMENT AND PROCESS OP MANUPACT- URING THE SAME DESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR 'ASSIGNS IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY. SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE [SEAL! . . . mos. A. EDISON.. . ; . . ME THIS 13 th day of Noyr. 1902. _ _ J. . P... RANDOLPH . . NOTARY PUBLIC. Folio 28, 2. A improved Portland or hydraulic cement, compris¬ ing completely vitrified but unfused cement clinker free || anhydrous lime^and hydrated-.lime.-mixed with .the clinker, substantially as set -forth.; _ : _ — ’ - a". - The process of manufacturing cement which con- -sist s -in -calcining Portland -cement materialfr;§p to ^ gro- due e c ompletely vitrified_ but 'unfusecL cljnk^r, pooling and pulverizing said clinker and adding thereto a material which retards the' / of said pulverized clinker, substan¬ tially as set forth. o.2m* ■ OEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, o. C. .Tan. 7, 1008. Fionas A. J?dison, j v^. /o^b , ' a/a Dyer, F.dmonds & Dyer, j aB»l Hassau "t. , | ~c>~ u, | Please find Hlfow aeSmviZn&ion. from the EXAMINER in. charge of your application, - mfl W9(1 Tlof,. b 190?.. For PORTLAND OJBSWT & FRO- fier.iio. 184,oib. Filed JW0* n» ^ nMns 0p JIANTJFAOTTTR Did TKF. SA’tR. ^ tA . This application has Leon examined. Paya 4, line 28, the serial number of the application should "ha inserted. Ola 1)1 1, line 5, insert burned before gypsum. Line 8, substitute "at. present" by those Known prior to my invention or insert olinhers kno^m lief ore "at". Plains 1, 5 and 9 are rejected on F.ng. patent to Hurry, 4717,9 0f 1900 (Permit ) . These claim further do not define a product different from acid furnace Slag. - . Case No... (SX. Paper No . L Examiner Div. 15. UNITED STATES PATENT 0EE1CE, Thos. A. Edison, Portland Cement and Process of Manufacturing some, Piled December 5,1902, Serial No. 134, 018. Room No, 207. Hon. Commissioner of Patents, Sir:- Please amend as follows Page 4, fourth line from bottom, eraee "oonourrentl; herewith'1 and substitute - December 5,1902, Serial No. 134,017, - Claim 1, lines 2 and 3 erase "at present" and sub- situte - those known prior to my invention - Same Claim, line 5, before "gypsum" insert -burned -■ Cancel ClaimB 5 and 9 and renumber the remaining Claims . Applicant has amended the first claim as the Examin¬ er suggests. This claim is distinguished from the British patent to Hurry in respect that it defines a produot whose setting time is controllable by burned gypsum and Blacked lime. With the Hurry produot the patent states that no additional ingredient ia necessary "to produce safety and slowness of setting". ' The 5th and 9th Claims have been erased because those Claims seem to be broader than applicant's inventior and cover an incomplete product. Orange, H.tf. December 4,1903. Very respectfully, Thos. A. Edison, By . department of the Interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c. Deo. 26. 1903 . Thomas A. Edison, c/oEdison Laboratory, Frank L. Dyer, I u- STPATENTopFic^ DEC 2 6'19'Od DIVISION Orange, . . Please find below a communication -from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, Ser.Ho.l34,L18. Filed Dec. 5, 1902. For PORTLAND CENEHT & PROCESS OP MANUFACTURING THE SAME. R J. , Commissioner of Patents. Case considered as amended Dec. 5, 1903. Claim 1 seems to he only a comparison in degree to some other clinker or slag or a statement of merits and docs not set out dif¬ ferent properties and is informal. It is considered that acid slag has the same properties. Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are rejected on Passow, #13,793 of 1901, English patent, (106 - 43). Slag of species 1 is acid and lime is added to start a kind of decomposition or breaking up of this molecule to produce a cement. This same theory is dis¬ closed by Zulkowski, Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Eyre & Spottiswoode, East Harding St., London, Apr. 30, 1898, Vol. 17 1 pages 353 and 668, where he states that it is necessary to add lime to acid slag to start this decomposition. It is considered that it is no invention to produce a speoial slag instead of using ent to Larsen, #10,385 of 1887. This patent Shows the addition of lime and sulphate of calcium to slag which might be acid, slag. ABst> Examiner Div. 15. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison IMPROVEMENT IN PORTLAND CEMENT & PROCESS OE MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed December 5, 1902 Serial No. 184,018. Room No. 207 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, SIR: - Replying to Office action og December 26, 1903, please amend the- above entitled case as followd: Claim 1, line 5, change "controlled" to - retarded. Same line, after "by" insert - the addition thereto of. REMARKS. A reconsideration of the rejection of the claims is requested. The object of the invention is the production of a Portland Cement which shall be of uniform and defin¬ ite chemical composition, which shall oontain no free an¬ hydrous lime and at. .the same time, shall not set with such rapidity that it cannot be used in practice. V/hen a perfectly burned Portland oement is pro¬ duced and used without other constituents the same setB with such rapidity that it is not capable of practical’. . use. Applicant has discovered that by the addition there¬ to of hydrated lime, this difficulty -may. be avoided. There ie a wide difference between the process art|, product herein set forth and those of the references. Mr. Edison' b process is a Portland oement process and hiB product a Portland oement. The references all relate to slag oement processes and products. Although Hurry & Seaman in British patent Ho. 7139 of 1900 describe their prooess as "an Improved pro¬ cess for the manufacture of Portland oement", this 1b a misnomer, because they describe a slag process, merely using a specifically prepared slag instead of a blast fur¬ nace slag; that is, they use a fusion process, not one of incipient vitrefication. A Portland oement, as the term is UBed by man¬ ufacturers and experts, is one which is made by mixing the materials together and heating them until the proper chemical reactions take place. These reactions are com¬ plete when the mass is in a condition of semi-fusion - it is not liquid, but pasty. . If any fusion takeB place^ff it is an accident, and the product iB overburned Portland oement, which is worthless as such, since it has no, or at most, very slight cementitious properties. On the other hand the slagB disclosed by all the references are in a state of oomplete fusion during the prooess of making oement. Thus Larsen say^: (page 3, linB! 12) "I therefore prefer in instances where thiB can¬ not be conveniently carried out to collect the fluid slagB in large removable tanks reservoirs or ladles plaoed on rails which will enable one to remove the slags in a fluid state to a place more suitable for further or special treatment than the immediate neigh¬ borhood of the furnace." Hurry and Seaman say: (page 2, line 27) - 2 - "The fused, material after "being drawn off from t. the "bottom of the furnace may "be granulated "by treat¬ ment with water or steam in any of the well-known methods, Buch for instance as the method used in the granulation of blast furnace alag." Pas sow says: "1 declare that what I claim is:- "1. Process for producing cement by melting the raw materials together, rapidly oooling the molten product , grinding the same and mixing it with from one half to five per cent of lime, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth." Moreover, other differences are apparent. In the patent . to Larsen whatever lime iB used is added while the slag is in a state of fusion. Larsen sayB: (p. 3, line 21) "I then submit the slagB to the treatment requir¬ ed for each special case on the spot where they will be made into cement. ThiB treatment as heretofore consists either in granulation in water or disinte¬ gration and sudden cooling, but besides this 1 may mix the slags whilst they are still in a fluid state in the ladles or brought to special mixing furnaces or reservoirs with such materials preferably if pos¬ sible also in a fluid state so that the most perfect admixture can be effected as will render them suitable or more suitable for producing good cement, for in¬ stance, Aluminia, Silica or Lime or one or more of these combined, and if possible brought to fusion be¬ fore the mixing." Hurry and Seaman use no lime except such as is necessary to obtain a proper mixture for fusion They say:- (p. 3, line 8) "When the material is melted in a furnace as above described, in direct contact with the fuel, it is necessary to use a raw mixture of cement materials containing a higher percentage of lime than is requir¬ ed in the older processm this extra proportion being required for combination' with the silica and alumina of the fuel ash." In the patent to Passow, lime is added to the Blag after granulation. Passow states that the granulat¬ ed slag of itself setB and hardens very slowly, but when combined with lime Bets and harden excellently. The pro¬ cess of the British patentee is just the opposite of that of applicant. Passow first produces a very slow-Betting cementitious substance and adds lime, in order to produce a quicker setting cement. lime of itself is not an hy¬ draulic cement, and it seems from the description in the reference, and as stated by the examiner, that the effect of the lime is to produce a kind of decomposition or breaty ing up of the slag molecule. A chemical reaotion takes place between the slagand the lime, the algg being acid and the lime basic, whereby the alag molecules are brok¬ en down and a cement is produced. According to applicant's invention, a Portland cement is first produced, which is very quick setting, and hydrated lime is added as an adulterant; that is, it is not added because of any ce¬ mentitious properties which it may possess or in order to react chemically upon the cement clinker to which it is added, but merely to retard the setting of the latter, so that it may be used i» practice. It is evident therefore that applicant's process is entirely different from those of the references and that the product which is produced necessarily differs from those described in the reference. The claims are believed to clearly sot forth these differences. The product claims 2, 3, 5 and 6 are limited to "completely burned cement clinker free of anjiy- drous lime" These claims appear to distinguish from all cements formed from slag, since slag is not burned cement clinker. The process claims 8 an;i4 . ‘ . , . . . . . ....:. 29..:. )/J\5 . ’ . ; 30 . . / ntiLt . . .. ■’C-- FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, . nu AivrhTr'ivnr\T7~ nn? ctrv 1 ‘i-3 ** rx i~X. -Jp> « v*.e~*-r- LU <^2£~, - -£-* ^'“T* o-gfr VJ _,. > — -V o (Uw' CX» '■S ja_c^.:.i..^.!; . f£%Gd£.\.S.6?..^r.. k.izr 23 . . .., ...*‘.<™.J’...„. . ...',. t9:^hi^^hu. . .....R.f: 24 . • > V'* 1 ()' . . . ... 5?fi ..../. ^ o . / '•& . •■•'• . . 27 . 1 . i,l..A£...:.£ ......... FRANK L. DYER, , * LAW OFFICES. oK DYER, EDMONDS & DYER. patents anD patent Causes. ■n Petition. Zo the (Commissioner of (patents : YOUR petitioner THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his post office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE IMPROVE¬ MENT IN SEPARATING OR GRADING APPARATUS (Case no. 1089) SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION ; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER, EDMONDS AND DYER, REGISTRATION NO. 2588 (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER, SAMUEL O. EDMONDS AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL THEREWITH. SPECIFICATION. I!.,, TO ALL WHOM IT KAY CONCERN; Be It known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING OR GRADING APPARATUS I, of whioh the following is a specif ioatlons- | My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use particularly in the manufacture of cement and de¬ signed for the separation of the sufficiently fine particles from the coarser partlolee of pulverized cement and cement mixtures. The type of apparatus is one in which the sepa¬ ration Is effaoted by means of an air blast so regulated and applied that the sufficiently fine and light particles will be oarried by the blest into a settling chamber, from which they are withdrawn either continuously or intermittently, the heavier and coarser particles being substantially un¬ affected by the draft and passing immediately, out of its ' influence for return to the grinding apparatus, where, a further pulverization of the coarser particles takes place. Although -the -attempt has been made to commercially operate separators by means of air blasts, the devices here¬ tofore proposed for the purpose have been unsatisfactory in practice for the reason that the pressure and velocity of thn blest or blasts of air have been so affected by atmospheric conditions as to pressure, and otherwise as to make Impossi ¬ ble a sufficiently aoourate sorting or grading of the pul¬ verulent material. With my improved apparatus no difficul¬ ties of' this kind are encountered, for the reason that the settling. chamber and oonduits through which the air passes -1- are completely iaolated from outside Influenoea, bo as to lie absolutely unaffeotod by atmospheric changes however severe. For this reason with ray apparatus the air blasts may bo al¬ ways kept approximately constant, both in. velocity and pres¬ sure at all times, thereby permitting a very aoourate and uuiforra separation of the finer particles to bo effected throughout the entire operation. In apparatus heretofore suggested for grading pul¬ verulent materials by means of air blasts, the fine parti- oles have been generally permitted to fall vertically and substantially perpendicularly through the blast, so that the effeot of the blast is merely to alter the trajectory of the falling partioles to a greater or less extent according to the fineness of the latter. Owing to the relative ease with which the trajectory of a falling body way be changed, the resulting grading operation has been always unsatisfac¬ tory, sinoe the separated finer partioles differ very con¬ siderably in size. In. my present apparatus I overoome this defect hy causing the pulverised material to be di¬ rected into the blast in such a way that the finer particles, in order to bo separated from the coarser partioles, require to be projected against the force of gravity, so that only the extremely light partioles will be separated. My Inven¬ tion therefore oonsists of an improved separating or grading apparatus possessing the characteristics referred to, and it also oonsists in various details of construction and ar¬ rangement, all as will be more fully hersinof ter described and claimed. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is dlredtad to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which figure 1 ie a side view of my improved apparatus in its preferred form, -3- illustrating the settling chambers as being arranged in two banka j figure 2 a aeotion on the line 2—2 of f figure 1, showing a single eleotrio motor for driving tho fanB of two separators 5 figure 3 an enlarged aeotion through one of the fans and air ducts, showing a part of ono of tho settling ohambers; figure 4 a section on tho lino 4—4 of figure 3, illustrating particularly the manner of .removing the deflect-' ing boards; figure 5 on enlarged view illustrating the man¬ ner of adjusting the deflecting boards; figure 6a section on tho line 6—6 of figure 5; figure 7 ou enlarged diagram¬ matic view illustrating the deflecting boards over which the material travels when being acted upon by the blaBts, and showing by arrows tho direction of the blasts; and figure 8 an enlarged sectional view through two of the fans, showing a single motor for driving the same. 1,1 represent vertical settling chambers of any de¬ sired size, having hopperlike bottoms 2, through which pass screw conveyors 3 for of footing & constant removal of tho partiolee which settle in the bottom of tho chambers. Bach settling chamber may bo, and preferably is, made of a light metal framework covered with canvas or similar textile fab¬ ric, Whereby a very light and cheap construction is secured. Leading out of eaoh of the settling chambers at its upper end are two air duets or conduits 4, 4, made also preferably of a light metal frame covered with canvas, and each of those ducts at its lower end connoetc with the inlet pipe S of an ordinary blower or centrifugal fen 6. Tho two blowers 0 oi adjacent separators are mounted on a common shaft 7 (see figures 2 and 8) and driven through gearing 8 from a motor 9, preferably an eleotrio motor. By enploying an eleotrio motor, its speed can bo readily controlled, thereby allowing for an ooourate regulation of the draft so as to make it possible to sequre any desired degree of fineness in the re- - - — —-8-. , _ . . _ ... stitutes a horizontal metallic boxlike structure leading di¬ rectly Ijito tho Battling chamber (sea figure 3). A part of the bottom of this discharge duet is formed of ijivoted slats 11* vfoioh in figure 3 are shown as being open, although it will be understood that normally these slats are maintained in a horizontal position to olose and preserve the continuity of the duct at its bottom. The slats 11 are operated by a single lever 12. Within the discharge duet 10 of eaoh fan are deflecting boards or partitions arranged in two series 13 and 14. The two sets of deflecting boards or partitions are arranged as a whole preferably slightly out of the ver¬ tical, and the setB are so disposed relatively to each other that the material introduced at the top is eaused to partake of a zigzag path in passing downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in figure 7. The air from the fans 6 follows the oouraes indicated by the arrows, being deflected downwardly by the partitions 13 so as to pass directly through the mate* rial as it flows off of the edges of those partitions onto the partitions 14 and vioo versa. The difeotion of the air blastB is changed by the partitions 14, the blasts being de¬ flected slightly upwards out of tho horizontal, so as to carry the fine particles into the settling chambers against the attraction of gravity. Preferably the deflecting boards or partitions 13 and 14 are secured to angles 16 pivoted to plates’ 16 and 17 respectively by pivots 18. Each of the angles Is provided with a slot 19 near one end with which a bolt 20 engages, so that the angles can be adjusted to suit the requirements of use. The plates 16 and 17 car¬ rying the two sets of defies ting boards are removably oarrle l by the Bides 21 of the discharge duot 10, so as to be bodily removable thorefrom, as shown. In this way the deflecting -4- boards can be adjusted outside of the apparatus and then in¬ troduced in position. The pulverised material is fed to the deflecting boards by means of a roller-feed 22 arranged in a chamber 23 and supplied from a trough 24 in vdiloh works a soraper conveyor 25 of any desired type. Bach of the roller-feeds 22 is preferably driven from the fan shaft 7 by intermediate gearing, as shown, whereby the speed of the roller-feed will vary proportionately to the velocity of the blast. Thus when the blast 1b increased to thereby augment the pressure and result in the separation of the heavier par¬ ticles, the load of material supplied by the roller-feeds will be proportionately increased, so that the maximum duty may at all times be imposed upon the blast. The deflecting boards or partitions 13 and 14 extend at their lower endB into % hopper 2G formed at the bottom of the discharge duot 10, and from this hopper leads a closed ohute 27 to a con¬ veyor 28 of any suitable type, a belt conveyor being shown for the purpose of illustration. The oonveyor 28 returns the rejected coarser particles to the grinding apparatus, in which the coarser particles arc reground. A hopper 29 is mounted below tho pivoted slats 11 and connects with the chute 27 to permit any material which may aooumulate on the bottom of the discharge duot 10 to be returned to the con¬ veyor 28. Preferably the lower portion of each of the con¬ duits 4 is hinged at 30 (see^figire^Oj^BO that the lbwer 1 portion*may^ bo swung outwardly^to disoloso the inlet to the fan and perralt the latter to be oleaned or repaired or any f oreigntB.^b Btonae removed therefrom. -'•'-The operation is as follows:- Pulverised material Ib supplied to the several roller-feeds 22, and by each of the roller-feeds is fed in .a uniform wide but very thin stream onto the defleotingboarde 13 and 14, down whioh the material passes in a zigzag bourse. Tho fans 6 being opera- _ ^ _ . . . . . . . -.8- . _ . . . ..... V: ted, air is forced through the discharge ducts 10, and by th< deflecting hoards 13 is divided into a plurality of downward¬ ly projected blasts. Those blasts pass through the stream of falling material, and their direction is changed so as to carry off the sufficiently fine particles into the settling ohombers against the attraction of gravity, whereby a very uniform separation of the extremely fine particles is secur¬ ed. Owing to the relatively large area of the settling chambers, the pressure of the blasts is reduced, so that the fine partloles are permitted to settle into the hopperlike bottom 2, from whioh they are removed to a suitable stock house or elsewhere by the oonveyors 3.' Air for supplying the fans is taken from the settling ohaniberB as shown, so that a constant circulation of air is maintained in the ap¬ paratus. In this way the apparatus is entirely independent of outside influences, and the blasts remain constant in pres¬ sure and velooity irrespective of atmospheric ohanges. The coarser and heavier partioleB whioh are not affeoted by the blasts pass into the oonduit 2? and are returned by the con¬ veyor 28 to the grinding apparatus. Prom time to time the Blatted bottom 11 of the discharge duct 10 may be opened to permit partioleB accumulated therein to be returned by the conveyor 28 for rogrinding. Having now described my invention, what I claim is:' 1. An\improved apparatus for effecting the separar tion of finer from coarser partioleB in ground material, comprising in combination a settling ohamberAa fan having its discharge. duct ueading into the settling chamber, de¬ vices for oausing a Relatively thin stream of pulverized material to pasB downvardly across the dlsohargwduct so as to bo acted on by the air currents therein, and an air duet -6- -v connecting the settling chamber^ with the Inlet to the fan, substantially as set forth. . An improved apparatuik for effeoting the separa¬ tion of finer from coarser partloles^in ground material, ooraprlsingXin combination a settling chamber, a fan having its di schargev duot leading into the settling chamber, de¬ vices for o’ausing a relatively thin strewn of, pulverized mo- terial to pas.p downwardly across the discharge duot so as to be acted on by\th'e air currents therein, and Vn air duot connecting the Battling ohaniber at its upper eWd with the inlet to the fan,\substantially as set forth. 3. An improved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer from coarser partioles in ground material, oomprising in combination a settling chamber, I a fan having two inlets with its discharge dutt leading inlo the settling ohamber, devices for oausing a relatively thin\streara of pul verized material to pass downwardly across the discharge duct so as to be acted, on by the air currents therein, and separate air ducts connecting the settling chamber with the inlets to the fan, substantially as apt forth. ' An improved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer from tfoarBer partioles lnVround material, oomprising in combination a settling charnbet, a fan having its discharge duot loading Into the settling Nohamber, de¬ vices for oausing a relatively thin stream of Vulverized naterial to pass downwardly across the disoharg\duot t to he aoted on by the air currents therein, and an^air duet having-a-pivoied-s eotion) oonneo tt^ng the settling chamber with the inlet to the fan .^substantially as set forth. 6. \ An improved apparatus ypr effecting \fche sepa¬ ration of finer from coarser particles in ground material, )omprising in\combination a plurality of settling Chambera, corresponding fans having their discharge duots leading in¬ to We settliig ohamhers, a\oonraon motor for operating said fans\devioes for oausing a relatively thin stream of pulver¬ ised material to pass downwardly aorosB oaoh diooh^S0 duo,fc oo as mo he noted on hy the air. currents therein, 'and air duotB opnneoting the settling oiipiriberB with the inlets to the respective fans, substantially as Bet forth. e\ An improved apparatus'vfor effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer from ooarBer particles in ground material, oompriB ing\in combination a settlingAohamber, a fan having ; its discharge duct leading into the settling eltamber; a regulable motmir for operating said fan; and devioes operated hy the motor for causing a relatively thin stream of pul¬ verized material to pass downwardly across the disoharge duet bo as to be acted on by the air ourhentB therein, .sub¬ stantially as forth. 1 An improved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer fromaearser partioles in ground material, Comprising in oomhination a settling ohamber, a fan having its disoharge duot laading\lnto the settling ohamber, a roll¬ er-feed for oausing a relatively thin stream of pulverized material to pass downwardly e i the disoharge duot so as to be aoted on by the air ourrents\therein, and a regulable motor for /'operating- -th^fan-anA-rollehs^feod, Substantially as set ~ i /oi S. An 'iiinqp roved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer from coarser partioles limground material, oompriBing in combination a Bottling ohamner, a fan having its disoharge duot leading into the settling ohamber, two BetB of deflecting, boards or partitions inttthe discharge duot, moans for feeding a relatively thin stream of pul¬ verized material toi the deflecting boards, and an air duot connecting 1 the settling chamber with the inlet to the fan, substantially aa se_t ^orth. \ An improved apparatus for Wf acting the Wpa- ratiori\of finer from o career particles Mi ground material, oorapristog in combination a settling chamber, a fan Haling its diaonjarge duct leadln^Xinto the settlirtk chamber, rc- | movable defleo ting boards oXpartitions oarriW within \he diaohargo d^et of the fan, arid means for foedlhg a relative¬ ly thin Btream of pulverized material to the deflecting hoards or partitions, substantially as set forth. $ Kf. Arkimp roved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer fnnn ooarser particles in ground material, comprising in combination a settling chamber, a fan having its discharge duct leading into the settling chamber, ad¬ justable deflecting boards or partitions oarried within the discharge duot of the fan, lwid means for feeding a relative¬ ly thin stream of pulverized material to the deflecting boards or partitions, substantially as set forth. li. An improved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer from Viarser particles in ground material, comprising in combination a settling chamber, a fan having its disoharge duct leading\into the settling ohamhor, re¬ movable and adjustable deflating hoards or partitions oar¬ ried within the disoharge duot wC the fan, and means for feeding a relatively thin stream orspulverized material to the defleoting boards or partitions, nh^st antially ns Bet forth. Ifl.' A duct for oonvdylng dust -laden air currents, oompris in® a frame arid a oovering of textile material there¬ for, substantially as\set forth^ f □ ESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION! THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BY OTHERS N THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION! OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR PATENT UPON SAID INVENTION HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR THAN SEVEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FILING SWORN SUBSCRIBED BEFORE f Department of the Interior, SERIES OF 1900. \ The papers arc duly filed, and your application for a patent will be taken " up for examination in its order _ _ You will be duly advised of the examination. Very respectfully, BSP If payment is made by oheok or draft, the credit granted i . (M~360- i States Patent Of.fice, Thomas A. Edison | Caro Pyer, Rdmonds. A Dyer, D. S, PAfK'iT OFFICE:"' FEB 1 7 1903 ® p -Plcasi 'fttld .'below, a. vompvnnibdt ion from ■ the, EX A Ml fig g iy^liargc ojjij/om; • -application, #138,488, filed Jan. ft, 1903, for ,8eparatirig or Grading Apparatus. Claim 1 is rejeoted in view of JJ67i3g9r--White* Hov. 14, 1888, Chop Graders* Shaking Bolts. Claim 8 is rejeoted in view of White* oited. Claim S failB to express anything distinct. over White, cited. See fin.: 4 showing inlets on both sides of the fan. The claim is met in substance in 4S5(V$40, Wolf, June 30, 1801, Chop Graders* Gravity, the relocation of the fan being a fomal ohanga. Claim 4 is rejected in view of 458,011* Whitmore, Aug. 86,1891, Chop Graders, Gravity, and any instance of a detachable blast conduit - 33,448, Dyer, June 17, 1868, Grain Separators, Gravity, R. Claim B is rejeoted in view of 168,166* Bownton* April 80* 1878 Chop Graders, Gravity, showing a plurality of separators with fans driven from a ooramon souron of power. Claim 6 is rejeoted in view of Down ton and any instance of a . feeder .driven from the same source as. the fan — 494,800, fiohnnaker, April 4, .1893, Chop Graders, Gravity. Claim 7 is rejected on the references for olaim.6. It is too common to provide regulating means for the mot of e or engines employed to drive separators, to leave any room for invention in the mere use of any type of regulable motors for suoh purpose. Claim 8 is rejeoted in view of White or Wolf , cited. Claim 9 is rejected as destitute, of invention in view of Whit¬ more, oited. Removability ner se oannot impart patentability* but Case,No,..V^.... Paper No . / Bdlaon - 2 #138,428 aae 402,440, HaftRonraaoher, April 30, 1089 , Chop Graders, Gravity. 01dm 10 fail a to diatinffuiah paientably over Whitmore, cited, in view of whioh it ia rejeoted. Claim 11 la re j noted in view of 483,843, Shelley, Deo. 22, 1891, Chop Graders, Gravity, fi. Hyer, JAN 6 1S04 ' orange, IT. J. j Please' find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your, application, #138,438, -f.13.ort J an, 9, 1903, for Separating or Grading Apparatus. Commissioner of. Patents, Casa aB amended Deo. B, 1903, further considered. Claim 1 la rejected as squarely mat In 367,389, Whit, a of rec¬ ord. In t,hia (fig. 3) la shown a fan, a pannage leading therefrom and delivering its blast, through the thin at, ream of material from t ha hopper Pj a nettling oh amber formed by the partitlona P, I., the board i and the top of the oanlng; and a pannage back t,o the fan. :■ The olalm in substantially mat also in Shumaker of record. Claim 3 is rajaotad an destitute of indention in view of the references for olnim 1. Claim 3 is rej noted in view of Bhflmaker of record, in which are shown two return passages J, J, to, the fan. . Claim 4 dintinguishes from Bhumaker substantially only *r to the pivoted section of fine. The purpose of pivoting this neotion is to penait aooenn to the fan, and inanmuoh an it in old to provide doors tp permit access to the interior of an air passage or fan (nna X of 616,189, Huntley, Ceo. 30, 1098, drain Separators, Gravity, R) the pivoting of a portion of applicant's flue must be held to be a mere shop expedient, not involving invention. Claim 4 is therefore rejected in view of Shumaker and Huntley. Applioant is required to illustrate the pivotal oonneotions and Joints more clearly.. Claim B is for a mere duplication of separators operated by a fit - -SdiBon - 8 #138,488 common motor. if, in raj eoted An view of Shumaker and 3.(58,3.88, Downton, of reoord. I Claim 6 1b rejected An view of Shumaker. While Shnenaker floes I not show tha regulation of the feed-roller' a spaed, this As Amp3,ied ^ j in a measure from tha faot that, mills are generally dr Aran by engine i or of, bar equivalent power whioh a r« practically AnvarAab3,y provided I with spa ad vary Ann means. fjertainlyno invention As involved An the regulation of the speed of the various parts of a machine of thi type. Applionnt does not show the moans for varying the speed of his motor. Claim 7 is rejected An view of White or Rhuaroaker, and 835,048, Holt, Aug. 38, 1894, Chop Graders, Gravity* o fif'd d of Holt antioi- ; pate applicant* s defleotors. '•> Claim 8 is rejected An view of Whits or Rhusmakar, and 388,954, > ,T;.^vM j3eBBer, April HR, 1883, Chop Graders, Gravity} or Hoe, Aug. ^• v28, 1894,ibt.e)rafia^iroalfc SeparAtors, pry. , > Claim 9 is rejected upon the references for o3.alr« 8. t m ^ |5: v;:'. V . : 35xarainer, Hi. via ion 7X7 UHITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison, Improvement in Separating or Grading Apparatus. Filed January 9, 1903. Serial No. 138,428. BOOM NO. 243. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS: SIR :■ In accordance vdth the Examiner’s requirement of January 6th, 1904, please amend Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings in the above entitled case by adding thereto the parts indicated by pencil in the accompanying photographic copies, and charge the cost of same to my account. Respectfully, By Orange, N.J. August / 1904 ' Hir. Attorney^. j united states patent oppice. I Thomas A, Edison, Improvement in Separating or Grading Apparatus, Piled January 9, 1903, Serial No. 138,428. ROOM NO. 243. j HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS: 3 I R: Replying to office action of January 6, || 1904, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Page 4, line 1, after "product" insert "The motor control means shown is a rheostat 31 connected in series J with the field of the motor". Page 5, line 26 after "outwardly" insert "as indi- ! cated in dotted lines". Cancel claims 1, 2 and 3. Claim 4, line 8, oanoel "having a pivoted section" Same claim, line 9, after "fan" insert pthat~por- tion of the air duct whioh is adjacent to the fan inlet, j tein® pivotally supported at a point removed from said in- I let. "/Renumber this claim as~cl^toTT Cancel olaim 5. Claim 6, line 8, cancel "operating the fan and I roller feed" and insert in place thereof/»driving the fan and roller feed at any desired speed, the connections -being such that any increase or diminution of the speed of the faij is accompanied by a corresponding increase or diminution in the speed of the roller _ _ _ Renumber this claim as claim 2. Cancel claims 7, || 8 and 9, and insert in place thereof, the following claims: 3. An Improved apparatus for effecting the separa¬ tion of finer andxsoarser particles in grtfund material, com¬ prising in oombinatfqn a settling chamber, \a fan having its discharge duct leading\into the settling chwnber, two sets of adjustable deflectcngVboards in the discharge duct, wheij-e- by the air passing through, the same will be deflected downwardly and then upwardly^ the adjustment of the boards I of one set being independent of that of the other set, and] means for feeding a relatively thin stream of pulverized material to the deflecting boards, substantially as set forth. 4. An improved apparatus for effecting the separaj tion of finer and coarser particles in ground material, comprising in combination a fettling chamber, a fan havingj its discharge duct leading into the settling chambW, set of deflecting boards in the ijl scharge duct, and v port for said boards, said support\being removably seVured] to the walls of said duct, one of whl^h is apertured to, permit the longitudinal withdrawal of the boards, suhstan-| tially as set forth. Dj An improved apparatus for effecting the sepa¬ ration of finer and coarser particles in ground material, comprising in combination a settling chamber, a fan having its discharge duct leading into the settling chamber, a set of deflecting boards in the discharge duct, and a support for said boards, said support being removably se¬ ts cured to one of the walls of said duct and closing an toe aperture through which the hoards may longitudinally with¬ drawn, substantially as Bet forth. . , Js ¥ An improved apparatus for effeoting a separa¬ tion of finer and coarser parti oles in ground material, comprising in oo&bi nation a settling chamber, a fan havingl its discharge dust leading into the settling ohamber, a set in said wall, so as to close the same, substantially as set REMARKS. The claims as amended are believed to be patentable over the references. Claim 2 specifies that the connections between the fan and roller feed are such that any increase or diminution in the speed of the fan is accompanied by a corresponding increase or diminution in the speed of the roller feed. In the reference there is no such connection, the speed of the fan being regulated by means of the posi¬ tion of the drive v/heel N, (Figures 1 and 2) while the speed of the feed roller is not regulable, except as the examiner suggests, by means of the engine which furnishes the power for the mill. This means of regulation, however, is not such as to anticipate the claim, for the reason that such engines always have other machinery to drive, and it would be entirely impracticable :rto slow, the engine down in order to adjust the speed of the feed roller. It might be added, that the speed of the feed roller could also be regulated by varying the steam pressure in the boilers, but this ob¬ viously fails as an anticipation of the claims. Applicant appears to be the first to regulate the speed of the fan and of the roller feed simultaneously, so that when the fan runs at a diminished speed, less material will be fed in to be operated upon. The drawings have been amended in aocordanoe with the Examiner's requirements. An allowance is respectfully solicited. THOMAS A. EDISON, By Orange, N.J. His Attorney. August / 1904. _ _ _ -tOy , . {O' <&S>T^Z S<^> 8m: Vis -Jl. Referring to your order, dated ... drawing in the application of. . FVv~—z; , /■ F for Patent for improvement in filed r..<&iste&y. .t .% _ , 190..?, you are advised that the drawing was corrected and forwarded to the Examiner in charge of the case, on _ 190 Jr** . By direction of the Commissioner, Very respectfully, /^/ 0 / destitute of patentable novelty,, Tie* of Shumaker of record, and 168,085, Buokvalter, Deo"* 28, 1874, Hot ary Bolt*. Buekwalter ehowe a hinged aeotion 6 of the eondnlt . to the fan— aee fig. 2 e ape o tally. The 2nd olalm Is rejeoted in view of 476,231, Mills, May, 31, 1892, Chop Oraders, Gravity} and British patent 17,887, HenoOh, Oot. 6, 1892, Ore A Coal, Separators Dry, shoving feed rollers and : ^^hMrtann operated from a oommon aouroe of pover. The uae of a regulable ;; motor to drive the shaft furnishing power to both would be a natter ! of aliaple aggregation In view of the every day practice of providing regulable pover for all types of maohlnery. The aleotrle motor and <« rheostat are near matters of euoh oommon knowledge that It Is not thought neoessary to olts an lnstanoe of a suitor and rheostats per S£. : the 3d olala Is rejeoted upon the ground of new matter in lmply-t -: log that the boards are adjustable as sets, when applicant has shentt ■; then as merely Individually adjustable. The olala Is rejeoted ill i view. of Moo, of reoord, and British patent 8680, Abel, Deo .87, 1881^; i Chop Oraders, Gravity, shoving dsfleotors adjustable as setsi^or j, 281,B08, VanGelder, Inly 84, 1883} or 345,177, Rev, July- 6,- 1886,' Shaking Bolt*, showing mu of individually adjustable deflectors. t.;.01aima 4, B and ft arc rejeored in view of 380,097, Davis, Waroh . 27,v.jlft88j Ofaop Oraders, Gravity, whloh shows a support for atssrisf" of deifiootors which is bodily removable - see fig. a - and 308,628, Konofc, Sept. 23, 1884, Boreens & Biddles; or 663,634, West, Jan. 28, 1896, Amalgsaat or s , Plate, in whloh doors or removable wall sections UNITED STATES PATENT OPPICE. Thomas A. Edison IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING OR GRADING APPARATUS Piled January 9, 1903 Serial No. 138,428 Room No. 243 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS SIR:- Replying to Office action of September 28, 1904, please amend the above entitled case as follows: J Cancel claim 1. Rewrite claim 2 as follows, the numeral being changed to 1. A 1. An improved apparatus for effecting the separa¬ tion of finefr‘ from coarser particles in ground material, comprising in combination a settlfc .trunk leading thereto, a fan for creating an air current through Baid blast trunk, a roller feed for oausing a re¬ latively thin stream of pulverulent material to pass down¬ wardly across the blast tnunk, so the air current theiein^mean^fo'r K of the fan so as to produoe any desired strength of air current^ and connections whereby any increase or diminu¬ tion in the speed of the fan produces a corresponding inorease or diminution in the speed of the roller feed, substantially as set forth Cancel claims 3 and 4. Claim 5, line 6 after "boards" insert - said as to ,be acted upon by 'boards being secured at one end to the support and. ^ Claim 6, line 6 after "boards" insert - Bald boards being secured at one end to the support and. ■- Claim 6 line 7 ohange "said walls" to - the walls of said duot. Renumber claims 5 and 6 as 2 and 3 respectively. REMARKS Claim 1 as amended clearly distinguishes from the references. In Patent No. 476,231 and British patent No. 17,827, the strength of the blast is regulated by means of a valve and no means are provided for controlling the speed of the fan. It results from this that the faad roller is always driven at the same Bpeed and supplies the same quantity of material, regardless of the strength of the blast. These devices therefore fail to accomplish the desirable results which are secured by applicant's construction, whereby as the blast is increased to augment the pressure, the load of material supplied by the roller feeds will be proportionately inoreaBed, so that the max¬ imum duty may at all times be imposed upon the blast. This feature being entirely novel and the claim being limited thereto, it ie thought that same should be allowed. Claims 2 and 3 have been amended to clearly distinguish from the references. In Patent No. 380,097 a series of deflectprs are mounted to a frame so that they may all be removed at onoe, but there is no provision whew by the frame may be readily withdrawn from the blast tube. In patents Nob. 305,528 and 553,634 the deflect¬ ing boards er screens are not removable longitudinally, but laterally. Consequently, it is necessary to remove the entire side of the operating ohamber in order to re- - 2 - move the deflectors. Applicant secures his deflectors at their ends to the support and removes them longitudi¬ nally through a small opening in one of the walls of the blast tube. This structure is decidedly preferable to those of the references, and is believed to be patentable. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON, By /Q-zf — His Attorney. Orange, N. j. February 1905. M.E.O. 2—260. united states patent ophce. Thomas A. Edison IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATING OR GRADING1: APPARATUS Piled January 9, 1903 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS Replying to Offioa action of April 7, 1905, pleaBe amend the above entitled oaee as followe: „ V Page 4, line 1, after "product" and before the insert of the amendment filed Auguet 8, 1904, insert - _ and all throttling or regulating valves may be dispensed with - Same line, after "The" insert - valueless Olaim 1, line 3, before "blast" insert _ single, horizontal, valveless - Same olaim, line 8, after "therein" insert - defleoting boardB or plates below the feed opening - Same olaim, line 10, after ■current ■ insert a oomma I The referenoes fail to show the combination of a fan and feed roll and means for simultaneously varying the speed of both. In Patent No. 321,658, oited by the Examiner, the patentee states - "The force of the air- ourrents is primarily regulated by the speed and adjust¬ ment of the fans, and seoondarily, by adjustments of the valves E." This statement evidently means that the driv¬ ing mechanism of the fans is so designed as regards elses of driving pulleys, else and number of blades of the fans, ©to . , as to produce the maximum blast whioh will be requir¬ ed In the operation of the device , the blast being then throttled down by valves to produoe weaker air-ourrents . There is no means for regulating the speed of the fans after the maohine has been onoe Bet up and the driving belts plaoed upon driving pulleys. Although figure 2 shows the shaft of the fan provided with three pulleys of dif¬ ferent size, this arrangement is not for the purpose of varying the speed of the fan beoause Figure 1 olearly shows that the smallest pulley is for driving the roller feed, the middle size pulley for driving the fan G and the large pulley for furnishing power to the shaft to whioh it 1b secured. The direotion of travel of the main driving belt is suoh as to render it impossible for it to run on the same pulley with either of the other beltB. It is olear therefore that there is no anticipation of the claimed structure in this patent. The other references also fail to anticipate the olaim fot the Bame reason, namely, no means are shown or suggested for simultaneous¬ ly varying the speed of the fan and roller*. feed. The reason why applicant is able to diBpenBe with throttling valves is beoause he uses a single hori¬ zontal blast trunk aoross whioh a relatively thin stream of pulverulent material passes, and the air current hae only a single function to perform instead of several func¬ tions as in the grading apparatus of Henooh Ct reoord and many of the grain or middlings purifiers Bhown in the references of reoord. The olaim under consideration has been amended to more olearly define the structure by whioh one le en¬ abled to dispense with regulating valves; the structure olaimed is believed to be patentably novel, and an allow- 2. anoe of the olaim is respectfully solioited. The last reference, namely, Patent Mo. 402,400, cited against claims 2 and 3 is believed to fail ae an anticipation of the olaims since the deflecting board frames do not slide longitudinally with respect to the boards, but transversely in the direotion of the guides b, b', eto. Hone of the references disolose def looting boards tthioh are removable in a longitudinal direction and sinoe the claims are limited to this particular oonstruotion besides other details which are not suggested in any way by the references, the olaims are believed to be patent- ably distinguished therefrom. A reconsideration and allowance of the same is therefore requested. Orange, Hew Jersey January*' 4th, ’1906; Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON His attorney. I 3. Case an amended and argued January 5, 1906, further oonsldered. In Wakeford, of reoord, the speed of the fBn is (with the •adjustment") the primary faotor in the regulation} and since the feefe roller is driven from the same,, source, any variation in the fan speed will result In a corresponding variation in the speed. of. the feed, roller. It is immaterial whether or not other adjusting , means are present; the maohine of this reference possesses the capability forming the basis of the 1st claim. The application .. of the same adjustment to any of the previously oited references; e.g., 466,87o, Barnard * Barnard, would meet the 1st claim, which is rejected upon the two patents noted. The removability of the deflecting boards, upon whioh the novelty of the 2nd end 3rd claims must depend, does not appear to % have any -bearing upon the funotion of the maohine. Hothing mare appears to be involved than the mere removability of parts of'ithO' devioe for aooess thereto, and in view of the references of . especially Monok and ])avis (note that 0 of Davis is stated to b«, bodily removable,) it does not appear to the examiner to involve t- \ • invention' or anything more than meohanloal skill, especially when ' - the, structure conferring removability is merely the same sb is; em¬ ployed In ordinary drawers. The 2nd and 3rd olalms are rejected as lacking invention over the references of reoord. Xxamlaer |©iv. XXV . Address. yz^i. ■ :f&, . (Mar^^... Examiner’s Room No ,...:ss/...^..z4..:... Filed /J /.fJ3 . Assignee ... &. ■ . f JL*^ Ass’g’t Exec .l^jo./ixb Recorded Jnfyjt.tfJr.lb Liber ..?/>/ Page && ... x^ . ,/^/~a . . Patent No. UP ./ fj±& Issued . Ill' 13 ACTIONS. " ~ ~ -■ ■-■ -'• ,/f//3 l(i :) Zc^/^c.c^Oa/ 1 jQe d , y / ?6 3 ia (^2^jc....k?JJ J.?A f 4 if If a l listA* 3 \ . /..f <2 4 20 JcLU-yiu^ff . iv JLi 3/.^// c/3y /fid C, 20 't^L.itvxJ1 Aol. d- . 28 . ($?; 7|., 14 |(' tv, t;, 16 fesi $SHk -_ August 2, 1911. V/. S. Mallory, Esq. , Edison Portland Cemont Co., Stewartsvi lie , IT . J . My dear Mr. Mallory: Mr. Edison filed an application on Janu¬ ary 13, 1903, covering improvements in Giant Rolls, wherein each roll was driven "by a separate motor. Shis ease has now "boon allowed, all the claims ashed for being allowed, includ¬ ing some additional broader claims that were suggested by Mr. Hicks. Shis patent when issued will bo very comprehensive and will, I bolieve, cover all forms of Giant Rolls in which a separate motor is used for each roll. She final fee requires to be paid bn or before January 31,. 1912, but it is generally well to pay the final foe without delay, be¬ cause at any time before tho patent actually issues the Examiner can call it back to. his room for rejection. ¥ou- spoke to me some time ago about foreign patents, and it occurs to me that if there is any immedi¬ ate prospect of making anything out of. the foreign rights it might be worth while to file the patents in some of the important foreign countrios. If the sale of foreign rights is purely speculative , I would advise- against going to this expense, beoause the expense 1b quite high and annual taxes require to bo paid. If, however, you have negotiations Mr. W. S. Mallory- 2. in view that look reasonably hopeful, you might concluao to do something with the foreign patents. Of course, tho matter can v;ait until Mr. Edison returns, subject, however, to the very slight risk of the case being recallod by tho Examiner for rejection or intor- forenoo. Yours very truly, J?LD/IVAV General Counsel. The Edison Crushing Roll Co. ROCK CRUSHERS August 3, 1911. Mr. Trank 1. Dyer, Legal Department , Orange , M. J. My dear Mr. Dyer:- Heplying to yourB 2nd, would state that I am more than pleased that all the claims in the Slant Boll case which was filed Jan. 13th, 1903, hadtbeen allowed, and I think it would be wise to pay the final fee immediately so not to run the risk of the patent being recalled. These patents are owned by Mr. Edison, so the payment of fee is up to him, and I would suggest that you give Harry instruc¬ tions to make payment immediately. The matter of foreign patents we will dis¬ cuss with Mr. Edison on his return. At the present time we have a negotiation on with a party in Italy, but it has not yet reached the stage where we can tell whether there are much prospects of its amounting to anything or not. Ho doubt some of your boys have reported the very happy frame of mind Mr. Edison seemed to be in at the ship yesterday just before Bailing. I really think that he was glad to get away and get a rest, and I hope and believe it will do him a lot of good. Yours very truly, _ TOM-EBB _ ,, _ -74+M^ & 'tfezy 7 Vf /H?//«^/Z V\ August 21, 1911. W. S. Mallory, Esq. , Edison Portland Cemont Co. , Stewartsville , II. J. My dear Mr. Mallory: Please pardgn my oversight in negleoting ttr acknowledge receipt of yours of the 3rd inst. , which appears to have heen misplaced among my papers. I did not make it clear that if we should pay the final fee on the Giant Roll application with independent motors and the patent should issue it would then he too late to apply for foreign patents. If, therefore, it is probable that Mr- Edison might desire foreign patents, the question of paying the final fee on the U. 8. application should bo deferred until he oah decide the question. How¬ ever, if the Giant Holla .with independent motors have been described in publications in this country so as to be a matter of public knowledge, that fact would be sufficient to invalidate any foreign patents that might be granted provided the evidence were brought out in defense. If, therefore, these rolls have been1 described and it is reason¬ ably certain that the faot would be known to any possible infringers in foreign countries or be known to people who might buy the patents and therefore put them on their guard 17. S. Mallory, Esq.- 2. as to their value , 1 see no necessity for waiting any longer in paying the foe on the U. S. case. Another point that ooours to me is that if these rolls havo boon described in printed publications and not¬ withstanding this fact you should go ahead and take out for¬ eign patents, then any people that you sola the Rights to might havo ground for a suit on the theory that you had sola them an invalid patent. They might tales this posi¬ tion if the enterprise did not turn out profitably. If there is a likelyhooa of this situation arising, it might bo wiser to attompt to negotiate any foreign rights entirely independent of patontB, because to soil an invalid patont in a foreign country might seriously complicate the entire situation. Yours very truly, FL3/ 1 1717 Gonoral Counsel. jMjL TRe Edison Portland Cement Co. -raph, Freight and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J. p. o, address. STEWARTSVILLE, N. J. AugUBt 24, 1911. Mr. *rank L. Uyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, N. J. Dear Mr. Dyer:- Bep lying to yours 21st, relative to payment of the final fee on the Giant Roll application with independent motors, would state that there have already been some publications covering the operation of the Rolls with independent motors. I am enclosing a copy of a paper read by Mr. Mason in June, 1911, before the American Society or Mechanical Engineers, and you will note on pages 427 and 428 that reference is made to motor driven Rolls, and there have been other publications which I am unable to locate at this writing. Under these circumstances, it would seem wise to arrange to pay the final fee promptly. In case there is any danger of having the patent issued owing to the delay, my judgment would be to pay the final fee immediately. However, if you think it 1b wiser to wait until Mr. Edison' 8 return, such action will be quite agreeable to me. Yours very truly. WSM-HBS President EI7CL0SUBE:- 1 57. S. Mallory, Esq., Edison Portland Cement Co. , Stcwartsvid lo , II. J. Soar Mr. Mallory: ^^Iburs of tho 24th inst. has boon received, accompanying Mr. Mason' 3 paper, and upon looking it over 1 find that the reference to the idea of a separate motor for driving each roll is so indefinite that 1 do not think this particular paper could he considered as a prior publication that would injure our ohanees of securing valid foreign patents. You say, however, that there are other publica¬ tions describing these roll3, and perhaps with these the case will be different. At any rate, unless we are sure that there has been a complete and full disclosure of this particular invention in some printed publication I believe it would be well to wait until Mr. Edison returns so that he can decide whether or not to do -anything with foreign applications. Yours very truly. EID/IW57 General Counsel. Deoember 6, 1911, Mr. Dyer:- Mr. Edison's application for Improvements in Giant Rolls, Eolio 34, was allowed July 31, 1911, and the final fee should be paid before January 31, 1912. The divisional application on the means for unloading and dumping the skips has been filed, so that the application is in condition for the payment of the final fee at any time now. The attaohed correspondence indicates that you had it in mind to take up the question of foreign appli¬ cations with Mr. Edison before paying the final fee on this application. jh \7 ' ^ ’ n ' fey cnZ ! . v > ^ I i - h f- A-*c- /«rr ><) < • Applicant. Address. Petition Zo the Commissioner of patents : YOUR petitioner , THOMAS A. EDI SO!?, a citizen of the United States, residing .and having hi3 post office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, PRAYS THAT LETTERS PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO HIM FOR THE IMPROVE?, 113117 IH STORAGE BATTERS’- CHARGING APPARATUS $Casa No . 1100) SET FORTH IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; AND HE HEREBY APPOINTS DYER AND DYER (A FIRM COMPOSED OF RICHARD N. DYER AND FRANK L. DYER), OF NO. 31 NAS8AU STREET, NEW YORK CITY, HIS ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND REVOCATION, TO PROSECUTE THIS APPLICATION, TO MAKE ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THEREIN, TO RECEIVE THE PATENT, AND TO TRANSACT ALL BUSINESS IN THE PATENT OFFICE CON¬ NECTED THEREWITH. SPECIFICATION. TO ALL WHOM IT KAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, State of How Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful IMPROVEMENT IN STORAGE BATTERY CHARGING APPARA¬ TUS, of which the following is a Bpec if ic'ation: - Wjr invention relates to improved apparatus for oharging storage batteries, and my object is to provide an apparatus for the purpose adapted particularly for oharging storage batteries in private residences, for isolated lighting, or for the propulsion of automobiles. A suitable apparatus for this purpose should be extremely simple, so as not to require expert attention. For this reason, steam-engines are impracticable. Although the modern in¬ ternal combustion gasoline engine presents in a very simple and compact form a satisfactory motor for the operation of a generator for oharging storage batteries, the necessity for the use of gasoline makeB such an apparatus extremely dangerous, so that the rate of fire insurance is prohibit¬ ively high. With my present apparatus, I make use of an internal combustion engine of any suitable type, and there¬ fore secure all the advantages due to the simplicity and efficiency of these engines, while at the same time I dis¬ pense entirely with the necessity for using a highly in¬ flammable concentrated fuel like gasoline. In carrying my invention into effect, I employ an internal combustion engine for driving a generator which ohargos the storage batteries, and I supply to the engine an explosive gaseous mixture consisting of atmoBpherio air -1- and cartoon monoxide, the latter toeing produced in a very Dimple form of generator, preferatoly toy the incomplete com- toustion of charcoal. Preferatoly the limited air Bupply furnished to the gas generator is first saturated with water vapor, aB I shall hereafter describe, whereby the efficiency of the apparatus is materially increased. An ash-separator is interposed between the gas generator and the engine, bo as to separate and cause the deposit of any fine partioles of solid matter which may become entrained with the gas, thus preventing any dogging or obstruction of the engine valves from this cause. The exhaust from the engine leads to a large drum or receptaole, whioh acts ftot only as a muffler tout also as a heater for the room in which the ap¬ paratus is located, and from this receptacle the products of combustion pass to a suitable stack or flue. In this way, I not only derive energy from the gas, due to its ex¬ plosion in the engine cylinder, tout effectively utilize the same for heating purposes. Owing to the convertibility of the electrical gen¬ erator, I first operate the same as a motor receiving cur¬ rent from the storage batteries, and- thus start the engine in operation. As soon rb the latter oommenoea its proper cycle, due to the eaq>losion of successive charges of the ex- plosive mixture in its cylinder, the load ia immediately as¬ sumed; the motor begins then to operate as an electric gen¬ erator, and the current thus generated charges the storage batteries. In this way I secure a very simple , cheap , eff i¬ cient and s.afe device for the purpose, and one whioh can toe operated by any unskilledpersoi}, since all that is re¬ quired to start the apparatus is to first charge the gas generator with charooal or other fuel, start contouBtion therein, and then elose the switch to oonneot the eleotrio. cal generator with the storage battery. The device then operate automatically to generate current until all the fuel hae been consumed. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, showing a diagrammatio view of the preferred apparatus. The gas generator is provided with a oast-iron shell 1 having a flrebriok lining 2, a grate or grid 3, a fuel hopper 4, and a paoked door 6 through whioh fuel 1b intro¬ duced. leading from the hopper 4 is a pipe 6 connected with a ohamber or vessel 7 into which extends a pipe 8, as shown, so as to form an ash separator. A screw cap 9 may be provided at the bottom of the reoeptaole 7 for the pur¬ pose of removing aooumulated ash. The pipe 8 leads to the admission valve 10 of an internal oombustion engine 11. The exhaust from the engine is controlled by an exhaust valve 12 operated as heretofore from a oam shaft turning at one-half the speed of the engine shaft. The exhaust pipe 13 leads to a drum 14, preferably of sheet metal, whioh acts not only as a muffler, but also as a heater for heating the room in whioh the apparatus is looated. Prom this oombined muffler and heater a pipe 15 oonduots the produots of oombustion to a flue or stack 16. The cylinder of the internal oombus¬ tion engine 11 is provided with the rusual water-jacket 17, supplied with water from a pipe 18. A pipe 19 leads from the bottom of the water-J aoket to a fiat tank 20 having a valved admission pipe 21, by which water may be supplied bo the tank from time to time. Prom the water tank 20 ia ?ipe 22 leads to the bottom of the gas generator. A suit¬ ably paoked door 23 is provided to permit the re- aoval of ash, as well as to facilitate' the starting of oom¬ bustion. The . Internal oombustion engine 11 operates an eleotrlo generator 24, whioh ohargeB the storage batteries [ON BACK OF PRECEDING PAGE] | odt XX*- XJtdnJj dnoTwo btaisao^ ot -tjXXs oXSamodo*- sdaTaqo noridl; • .b'emuaaoo need sari xbwl! -sebtui ie ttod ecf ■ ym tto£ti$$tal o at feat -roino nl I ■ .Sniwa-ib aoJt"£«*qmooo* arid od fcbdooiifo aJi noidnodia .boodaj .butaiaaqa bbnotoiq eat to wo tv oitammisotb jr grt h worts XXoris «oTi-$eao a Hdiw bobivoTq si ‘Tods'senss aag ortT ' j lew! .e ,S Jaiio to 9ha~.3 * ,£ 3r1.tn.tX sfoiicfo-r.tt b anlrarf Xj: — atclni eh Xowi rfoiriv,' rigirouhi P. -ioob fttofoaq 13 bris ,i» Toqqorfi! fiohoonrwo a Oijhq .0 si -A -roqqoif arid moit snioraoJ .f>oor;h>!: as ,8 ocrrq r. sbno.txo rioiriv/ oini V Xseaov to Totfaisrfo ' a rfhiw^ V*cs:C --qao v.'Gios A .TndaTaqpa - rfaa na mot ot bb oa ( rtV/o rTc, . --0!(V orid-'Tot V »Xo.<3d-qeooT odt to mot tod arid ia babtvoiq ocfj: ertt ot safojoX 8 ocriq ori? .rfs's botjdXsjmsJooa snivomoi . to aaoqi arit .XX leriiyres. aoXdOHctaoo lame tat n* 'ho ox svXsv aolaelab^. ; SX ovXjjv- iasjistbc.e a» qd boXIo-tdnoo af soigne erti mit- tauatixoi IXarf-ono ■)£ a flinrmt state, mao b moit oiototoi&d or. '.LoJ*Toqoj 1 86noX-'«X oqiq -Jausitjce .orff .Jt.erfa snigho orij -to Jbasea orfj" | xLao,.-ton.&toB tSotdw ■ ,£atoa debris to yXtfs-seto'iq ,AX nr. xriS a odj| 1 at moot odi gnidaori tot imtmd a -as o.aXs drier .ifeXItwin s -as| | ToX%liBft. borririmoo stat JKon^t •• .bed.gooX ai- eudsTaqqs orf.t rioiriwji j ot -aottoudmoo to Btouboiq wrid actor/bnoo 3X oqiq V T®‘daeri'*haj ’-SSJdmo Xsaio. tat erfd to . Te'bnJtXv.o'- eW®- .OX rids da nb oli£t -*| ^X detfoat-Tadflsr imfr, «i£j beblvodSL at XX onijbctb- -noidi! 0m/> u> o.kfiDW>- % >- Ahv- ctn^asyJzb.: :i I -anXrarl OS dsust tg£&& ot to fya.fJtfetfivr oat. to mo* to* orfjjl >. M&xr'k) Ua.v dl/rnu c^yJo VVMTYTU I 'AoiXj0a atf >6Sflj *i9i*vf itofriw/^tf. ,XS dqkq holEsimbs bovlis-^ slos sfnatj|'.T0isv/ brO -Biot'S . .ersthd 6S • etil't- mit M&t‘ edi bctlj -tiwa A .totBTsnas asg ovW lo taottod- e&t Ot ehsol SS aqi^j -BT- -arit! Xim-rscf ■ t>i b&Mvotq at SS'ioob bejforq YXtfi| —moo to aniiifid-.o .srti o^d'XXiost oi os XXow es .ribs'- to- -XsVoJ ao-iSToqo ? XX eaiSne noi^fjcrmoo IsrtToihi oriX .noid-arrdj! aehroi^scT oa*TOb& - oat ■ aoaisrfo xioiriw .AS Tod-aTenog- ohi.-tboXe nj. 2B. A switch 26 Is interposed between the electric gene¬ rator and the storage batteries, for the purpose of discon¬ necting the two when deBired. Preferably the generator 24 is shunt-wound, so as to thereby operate either as a motor or generator without the necessity of changing any of its connections. If, however, a series-wound generator is used, a separate reversing switch is employed for the pur¬ pose of reversing its field in converting the same from a motor to a generator and vioe versa. The explosive mixture in the internal oombustion engine 11 is ignited in any suit¬ able way, either by a hot tube or by an eleotrio spark, the latter being preferable. In the pipe a I provide an air opening 27 regulated by a valve 28, in order to provide for the proper adjustment of the explosive mixture. TShen the valve 28 has been once adjusted, it will not ordinarily re¬ quire any readjustment during the continued operation of the device. The air for supplying oxygen to the gas generator enters through an admission pipe 29 in the water tank 20 so as to be saturated with water vapor before reaching the-- generator. Preferably the engine 11 is provided with an auxiliary exhaust 30 having a oheok valve 31 therein and a outoff valve. 32. When the engine 1b being started, the cutoff valve 32 is opened, so that the engine will operate as a simple air pump, exhausting at each tffcroice^^Aa ^oVn^ " as the correct oycle of operation oonmenoeB, the cutoff valve 32 is oloBed, so that exhaust from the engine takes plaoe at every other stroke by the operation of the main exhaust valve 12 in the usual way. In operating an apparatus as described, and assuming the storage battery 28 to be partially charged, I first start a fire on the grate or grid 3 of the gas generator and charge the same fully with fuel, preferably oharooal. ! -4- ‘ The doors 5 and 23 are now olosed. The switdh 26 la now oloaed, so that the eleotric generator 24 operates aa a motor, and this oauses the engine 11 to operate as a pump, drawing air through the gas generator from the admission pipe 29, water tank 20 and pipe 22. TSfhen the auxiliary exhaust valve 31 is employed, the engine when thus operating as a pump will exhaust at every stroke. If, however, the main exhaust 12 is alone relied upon, the engine will ex¬ haust at every seoond stroke. The air thus supplied to the gas generator is insufficient to support complete com¬ bustion therein, and consequently carbon monoxide gas (00) will be generated. Thi3 carbon monoxide gas passes through the pipe 6 into the ash separator 7, in which any fine me¬ chanically entrained solid partioles are removed, tfrom the ash separator the gas passes through the pipe 8 into the en¬ gine cylinder. Atmospheric air is added to the gas at the air opening 27 so as to result in the production of an ex- : plosive mixture. As soon as the engine reoeives such an explosive mixture, it begins to operate independently' of the eleotric motor, assumes the load, and oauses the motor to operate then bb a generator supplying ourrent to the storage batteries. The exhaust from the internal oombustion engine passes through the heater 14, where it is muffled and heat abstracted therefrom, and thenoe to the stack 16. The water in the Jaoket 17 will be heated by the suooessive explosions and will olroulate through the water tank 20. The air en¬ tering the gas producer passes over the surface of this hot water and abstracts the vapor therefrom. By oauslng the incoming air to bp saturated with water vapor, the quantity of gas generated will be considerably increased so as to consequently Improve the efficiency of the apparatus. As soon as the fuel has been consumed In the generator or the [ON BACK OF PRECEDING PAGE] i j | won oi 8S dodiwa ©dT .bsaoXo vjo« o*ia CS ba» 3 uiooS odl' j j a as aoijsrsoao *>8 loixnsMioa oitdoaXo odd dsr it oe ,bsuolo j j «q?atfq s' as eist© qo od XX -aniswo edd ssiuwa nidi baa .lodoxa ! noiaaiiriw arid awtl •xois're'noa a«s odd ri&noirtd tlh aniws-rJb j V*siXi*ws add noxiT .SS oqiq fins OS jfasd .'i&Jsw tes »$iq i| gniis-jo go sndd nwit> on f jiao sdd ,boyoXams a i X? stXsv dansirko j| orti , nevDV/oif ,1X .©tfo-ide yjove is dsosxis© Iliv; qtauq s es | “*6 XXiw sniyns- add ,noqu bsiX.«>.-i anoXa ai SI daifaxbe© xiisat |i ! oi b*Mwm SbviJ- -i y.fi odT .edoado irnoooa v-vsvs is .dousd S ) -cwo oioXq.iiofi ivoqqirfi ' oi dnoioillx/ani ai toisionos eos odd | i (00) esg ©ateonom nod-iso yldneup oanoo iris ,«ie"xadi noidancf j! iriawo-iri.t ae*Bafiv ©qiq ©di rfguondd asaaaq asg sd» loia-tagoa xlas j| j °o fcobba ni *x.ta oinsdqaoiitdA .-tobuilyo ©nig j: ns lo rioidonba-iq odd ni dlwecn od as oa VS gainaqo tin ! rts dona aayioo^j orjigno odd as noon aA^ .evrixfta oviaolq || odd lo vXinabnoqabra s&n'ogt of^attial2M^^^^&‘%|iaoXqjc& | od T-o^om’ ©rich noat/ub ft its ^tooJt orfi a oumsixa- C70cfiw8 oitchoalo j; ' ©ad-iodcr add oi dne-mro -aniylqqjjB ■xoixnsireg s es nsrid ods'isqo jj " enlgno noidantfinoo Ismedni edd csoul -denarise© axst! .asineddscf j dasd bris bolllwnt ai di anedv; ,M toiaorl edd rfawotrli soansq j'loisw ax{T .8X dosia sdi oi ©ocorti bna .moaloiorii. boiosiiecfxj anoiaolqy.© eviaaeoenn- exfi \tf Jbsisod a cl IX iw VX ia^&jat,' axti- ni -no nin lrifli noisw edi rfanooxfi oislnonio IXivv Ans iori aitfi lo eoslnx/a arid navo aaassg isonboaq asg orfi gni-xoi ©rid gniawso \;a .iao-rlo-rodi noqsv sdi aiostiacfa bits -xeisv; yiiinsi.jp sxli ,-coqsv -jedsw ditv; bsinwisa /jcf oi lis gnimooni oi as oa beanoitoni yXctonobianoo W XXiw bsimenag osg lo eA. . axjisisqqn arid lo yonaioill© odd evonqmi yXinonpeanoo odd -xo noioionog arid ni fierauariOo noscf osri Xoul odd os nooa -0- batteries have beoome fully charged, the switch 36 is opera¬ ted to open the olrouit, although obviously this may be done automatically by the employment of a polraized relay which operates when the ourrent from the storage batteries is re¬ versed, and the electrical generator onoe more tends to operate as a motor, when tho internal oombustion engine no longer reoeives an explosive mixture. I consider it pref¬ erable to make use of oharooal for the generation of oarbon monoxide gas, for the reason that with this material the gas is free of impurities and does not require washing, as would be the case in gas produced from coal. Purthormore, by em¬ ploying charcoal I obtain very little ash and no clinker, in which respects oharooal is further superior to ooal. Having now deBoribed my invention, what X claim as new therein and desire to secure by letters Patent is as follows: , l. The combination with a gas generator for pro- ducing a combustible gas directly from a solid fuel, of an internal combustion engine connected to said generator, and an ash separator between tho engine and generator, substan¬ tially as and for the purposes set forth. 2. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing oarbon monoxide gas from oharooal, of an internal oombustion engine oonneoted to Bald generator, substantial¬ ly as and for the purposes set forth. , .3. The combination with a gas generator f or pro- CU\A ciaaJ Urwvucti,^* cCtwuK MUvW ducing a combustible gas directly from a solid fuel^ of an internal oombustion engine oonneoted to said generator, and an electric motor connected to said engine for starting the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 4. The combination with a gas generator for pro- -6- .Lmvvfl. tnuucUvn duoing a oohbustlble gas directly from a solid fuel, of an internal combustion engine oonneoted to said generator, an eleotric motor oonneoted to said engine for starting the same, and storage batteries for furnishing current to the eleotrio motor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 6. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing a combustible gas djireotly from solid fuelj^mjase^forJ supplying to Baid generatoj^tmoaphsEio^ air. V Int in quantity to support oomplete combustion, and means for satu¬ rating the air with water vapor, of an internal combustion engine oonneoted to said generator, substantially as and for| the purposes sat forth. 6. The combination with a gas generator for pro-^_ duoing a oombustible gas direotly from solid fuelf supplying to said genelrato^'i^ M A A quantity to support oomplete oombustion, and means for satu¬ rating the air with water vapor, of an internal combustion engine connected to said generator, and an ash separator be¬ tween the engine and generator, substantially as and for the purposes set forth, 7. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing a combustible gas dirsotly from solid fuel, and a water tank oonneoted with the atmosphere and with said gene¬ rator respectively, of a water- Jacketed internal combustion engine oonneoted with the generator, and connections between the water jacket of said engine and said water tank, sub¬ stantially as and for the purposes set forth. S. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing a combustible gas direotly from solid fuel, and a water tank oonneoted with the atmosphere and with said gene¬ rator respectively, of a water- j aoketed internal oombustion -7- engine connected with the generator, connections between thJ water jacket of said engine and aaid water tank, and means for maintaining a substantially constant water level in saii tank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. . t: , 9* The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ duo lngaT o,owbuB^ible"'gaa diroo^'ly from aoli^^ue^of an in- A ternal oombustlon engine oonneoted to said generator, and a heater oonneoted to the exhaust of said engine, substantial¬ ly as and for the purposes set forth. 10. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing a combustible gas direotly from solid fuel, of an in¬ ternal combustion engine oonneoted to said generator, and moans for mixing atmospheric^ air with the gaa between the generator and^engine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 11. The combination with a gas generator for pro¬ ducing a combustible gas direotly from solid fuel, of an in¬ ternal combustion engine oonneoted to said generator, means forjaixing atmospheric air with the gas between the genera¬ tor and engine, and a valvo for regulating the added air, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 12. In apparatus for charging storage batteries, the combination with a storage battery, of a combined eleo- trio motor and generator connected therewith, an internal combustion engine for operating said aleotrio generator, and a gas generator for producing a oombustible gas direotly from solid fuel and for supplying the Borne to the engine, substantially aa and for the purposes set forth. 13. In apparatus for charging storage batteries, the combination with a storage battery, of a combined shunt- wound electric motor and generator oonneoted therewith, an internal oombustion engine for operating said eleotrio gene- -8- rator, and a gas generator for producing a combustible gas directly from Bolid fuel and for supplying the same to the engine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 14. In apparatus for oharging storage batteries, the combination with a Btorage battery, of a oombined eleo- trio motor and generator connected therewith, a switoh for connecting and disconnecting the electrio motor and genera¬ tor to and from the storage battery, an internal oombustion engine for operating said electric generator, and a gaB generator for producing a combustible gas direotly from solid fuel and for supplying the same to the engine, Bub- I stantially as and for the purposes set forth. State Of New jersey, l . Counts Of Essex, J THOMAS A. EDISON . the above-named PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A Citizen OF THE Ohited States and a resident of Xlewellyw Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey} THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR of the IMPROVEMENT IN STORAGE BATTERY OHAHOINO APPARATUS DESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BY OTHERS N THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES | OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON ; SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, I AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR PATENT UPON SAID INVENTION HAS BEEN FILED BY | & HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR AS8IGN8 IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY MORE 2—161. SERIES OF 1900. •9 I a I ha, vo to acknowledge the receipt of the petition, specification, oath, and | ■g drawing of your alleged Improvement in _ J )7Jr1 a a/ L S with Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. The papers are duly filed, and your application for a patent will he taken E “ up for examination in its order. « Nc8X&r~ M. Thomas A.. Edison, c/o Dyer ft Dyer, #31 Nansoi at., H. Y. City. Please find below a communication from Department of the Interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d, c„ c EXAMINER in charge of your application, Storage pd; eery Charging Apparatus, filed March 13, 1903, serial This case has been examined. Claima 1 and 2 are rejected on; - t«39#46«, Txirola, Hoy. 20, 1894 ' -y' Bxplo. JSng. ii cycle). 0. Claims 3, 4, 9, 18, 13, 14 are rejected a3 being ug^egatlons. Claims 3, 4, 12, 13, AAi are rejected on Loroie, In ylew of la Poche, #667,662, gepr 11, 1900, (^xplo. Eng. Speed T>ag.): 01 aims 6, 6, 9, 10, and 11 are also rejectedron lords; oee also tlermrn patent to I'AVeniryjfndua trial, #108,165, JUly 29, 1898, Brltlfh patent to Otto, #17,210, Affig. 24, 1899, (Sxplo, Bn« . . 8 1 sir ting Do vie ee) ; Pemlngton, #670,44l^0ct , 27, 1896, (Kxplo . Bng. 4 Cycle). M.K.O. L’sco No, Paper No, UNITED STATES PATENT OPPICE. Thomas A. Edison Improvement in Storage Battery Charging Apparatus Piled March. 13, 1903. Serial No. 147,567 I HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS Sir: — Replying to Office action of April 11, 1903, please amend the above entitled case as follows: -Claim 1, line 2 after "fuel" insert - "and having an unobstructed connection with the atmosphere." , Claim 3, line 2 after "fuel" insert - "and hav¬ ing an unobstructed connection with the atmosphere." Claim 4, line. 2 after "fuel" insert - "and hav¬ ing an unobstructed connection with the atmosphere." Claim 5, line 2 cancel "means" and insert in place thereof - "a connection". - Claim 5, line 3, can¬ cel "atmospherio air", and insert in place thereof "by suction air under atmospheric pressure and". / Claim 6, line 2 canoel "means" and insert in place thereof "a connection". Claim 6, line 3 cancel "atmospheric air" and insert in place thereof "by suction air under atmospherio pressure and". J Claim 9, line 2 after "fuel" insert -"and hav¬ ing an unobstructed connection with the atmosphere." j ARGUMENT. Claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 have been amended to dearly distinguish from the references. The difficulties which are met with in the attempt to produoe gas from solid fuel suitable for the operation of an internal combustion engine, are well known. The use of coal for the production of the gas neoessitites such elaborate devices for purify¬ ing the gaB as to make the apparatus utterly impracticable for the purposes for which applicant's device is adapted, lorois sayB that he finds that by using air and steam under considerable pressure, and producing the gas under pressure and at a high temperature from coal, the gas iB of suoh purity that no washing or scrubbing of the same is necessary Mr. Edison, however, solves the problem in an en¬ tirely different manner, and by the UBe of much simpler apparatus. He does not attempt to use coal, but instead US6B charcoal, and produces carbon monoxide gas which, when mixed with air, he finds to be very well adapted, for the operation of an internal oombustion engine. He dispenses with the air compressor, compressed air reservoir, and pre¬ heating devioes of loroiB' , and draws the air from the at¬ mosphere into the gas producer by suction of the engine. It will be evident that applicant's apparatus is very much less expensive than that of loroiB, and does not require the services of an eapert attendant to operate same. It may be stated that Mr. Edison's invention is being operated very suooessfully at his laboratory in West Orange. The apja ratuB operates with great efficiency, and requires very little attention. Claim 2 is distinguished from the references in that "a gas generator for producing carbon, monoxide jias from oharooal" is set forth. ThiB feature; appears to be entirely novel, and it 1b thought the claim should ha allowed. Claims 10 and 11 distinguish from the referenoa in that they speoify "means for nesting atmospheric air with the gas between the generator and engine". It is thought that in the reference theftmixing would not he so complete or thorough as in the structure claimed. Eurther- more in the reference the air is not under atmospheric pressure. It is oompresed air, and requires an air oom- preBBor and reservoir. Reconsideration of olaims 12, 1$ and 14 is request¬ ed for the reason that these olaims cover combinations whicjh are not found in the references. It is thought that the disclosure of some of the elements of the combination in one reference and other elements in another reference shouli not be held to anticipate these claims in view of the co¬ operation of the various elements of the combination to produoe the unitary result which it is the objeot of the apparatus to accomplish, and which iB accompli shed by Mr. Edison, by the use of Buch sample apparatus. An allowance of the case is respectfully solioited. Thomas A. Edison His Attorney. Orange, N.J. April 6th, 1904. UNITED STATES PATENT 0PP1CE. Thomas A. Edison, Piled March 13, 1903 Serial No. 147,587 Room No. 218 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OE PATENTS'. Sir:-- Please amend the above entitled case as follows : , ' Pase 4, after the sentence ending in line 24 insert - "This is advantageous , in that it increases the quantity of air drawn into the gas generator and therefore starts the same into operation more quickly.11. \^,V Insert the following claims: | ;Y, r 15. The combination with a gas generator for 5 producing a oombustible gas directly from solid fuel, of an internal combustion engine connected therewith and hav¬ ing a piston cylinder , an inlet port for the explosive [mixture, a main exhaust , means for opening the main, exhatist , , h-otfA- at every second stroke of the piston and an auxiliary, a mally closed exhaust, capable of being opened to (allow the cylinder to exhaust at every stroke of the pist^bn, subs stantially as set forth, 16. The method of generating mechanical power which consists in pr oducing^c arb on monoxide by burning 63iarooal in the presence of a limited air supply, mixing air with said carbon monoxide to produce an explosive mix¬ ture, knd. operating an internal combustion engine by means of said explosive mixture, substantially as set forth. 17. \The method of generating mechanical power which oonsists in drawing air under atmospheric pressure through incandescent charcoal by means of suction created by the piston of an internal ccmbustion engine, thereby producing carbon monoxide , mixing air with said carbon mon-.. oxide to produce an explosive mixture, and operating said engine by means of said explosive n^ixture, substantially as set forth. \ \ REM A R K S. . . . Claim 15 covers a combination which is be¬ lieved to bo entirely novel and therefore patentable, in view of its usefulness as set forth in the application. Claims 16 and 17 are believed to be proper¬ ly inserted in this application in view of the recent de¬ cision of the United States Supreme Court in Steinmetz vs. Allen, 109 O.Cf. 549, ou^d iL CL- 'V’/V-U"" cjl (l . fjl , U Respectfully submitted, Thomas A. Edison, By Orange, H. J. His Attorney. April 7, 1904. V: 4 *'Tho,C.mmi»' .% if. A Issued •( - / f u «-/ ACTIONS. 16... 2.....^mW^y 17 ... 4 . Z . <#. 19... >: 5 20... 8 /.9.. ?.Sf2 3 . 9 . . 25... 1 ll _ , . . ."^lrl4^T^*r^777r77^ri^T — .£>t4f^LTrrfr!7777 . 26... J2 . . ^s^rr:. . . . .^4rO. '-r 27... <13 J 28... ^4..':V, . '. . '. . . . . 29... 15 . '•■•••••. . * . ’•• . 30. v. f- ' FRANK L. DYER; ‘ ,. ^ Counsel, , “ l ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. Applicant. • • & ■ && i v • • .X jVr< , ^ i .\0-Wvv.- WA<- ^r^fcf^rf V-^jp J\\-/ ^Ji.A^..c /\'-*-'v" ^a^Xaa-YV'" . ' CiCc-' ^^>-€Vv^ fcdY" J\A-^ ^^-.(IIA^- Q^r^ C*\/w 5^-CJVvS^-X. CX^v-'/(>_> .Ayf __ _J •; . .. .■T‘t ,.:z; . ^^-ONA- C^ '"\a> .. CVvs^. . . "X^L- . • •"••••^ — . - ■XAf$\fJZjk~s --Ra _ ....! ,cto" ,hyvr^T<>... . . /Lvv^: . tWC^' ; lw _ .^V: .. . & THE FREID GRAVITY DRY PROCESS — SEPARATORS — MANUFACTURED BY THE freed engineering company, ORANGE, N. J. For Separating * and * Concentrating SOLID MATERIALS COPLESTON & SAXELBY SELLING AGENTS 39 CORTLANDT STREET NEW YORK CITY is for tho purpose of preventing any spill at the roller feed. The deflecting action is caused by the balanced non-cavitating screw propeller “U,” which creates a partial vacuum in tho ac¬ tion chamber "V,” and the valve "W" controls the pressure at The openings “H" at the ball! settle in tho chamber “K.” The driving mechanism is arranged to allow minute change of speed of the propeller, and is driven by direct coupled motor, by means of flexible flange couplings at “Z," or belt from motor or line shaft to loose and tight pulley as shown. By adjusting the counter driver “AA,” the speed of the pro¬ se particles, giving a nroduct of ;nt “X,” at tho top of the settling atmospheric volume to exceed tho rs. This causes the light particles to ground to pass 1-2 inch separating the fine from th _ _ _ , _ nine separate grades, from 200 mesh to 1-2' iriclTmosti.' This is accomplished by one pass through the Separator. Tho Separator can be regulated to treat any property as light as cork or as heavy as iron, by adjusting the counter drive, which gives the propeller a speed ratio of 13 to 1. For concentration, the Separator is adjusted at the baffle plates so as to increase or decrease the atmospheric action on the material treated and in this way will concentrate properties from 0.5 to 22.00 specific gravity, recovering, or saving, 95 per cent, of the values contained. Any Information desired ri separation or concentration, w COPLESTON & SAXELBY SELLING AGENTS For The United States of America 39 CORTLANDT ST., NEW YORK CITY WHY? # USE JIGS, RIFFLES •*.' AND SCREENS To Separate or Concentrate Solid Materials, if You Can Do MORE. . . ** WORK . . + CHEAPER With the Freid Dry Process Separator ^VjL CL/0"V-vv'0-Vu ^ . 3 i: >■ Oj~- Cl. rtjJLaJiSfc Cvw. 5A^Q_Xxf'^-vv-v_^ CL. I V'Ca^-T, 'Cvv'C’^-C Avv/WiyUvv\y(/uvt-- i'Y (VVH'V^'V- vvvv. e>T^-^a CaAJU^A. , (X- ACAJUa^ /|AajI>^-A^vvX. c^j/V^A^Uy-c Avn-^ C^A/^v.'Ia^x^Cviw Q. OU(KU2. /\/WjL . UtCm.'-Ll Ow’-uC ^\_ £1. /(aa^(m. | - A- (X- flxe,iryv£v C7vvm^A /jj'vwuz^o (S. CyUlXK ' ^A' ^,‘4vuX £j . C uuaj fjyt\Apl/l\.C\, (i— £W'>w' CVl C\, pi/LOsi. C/^M. %A. ^eL-puCf. /3(UXtiA , ^ WV\_ t-VV l/Kfi. Ua^(a-£. OL. /^V^a^UMO.'- . . Ct [jy-U^iL O^sjM'Vu-N-j /^vv /^4vL £| J ^ Ut-\) )~LSL.&J~l, A |/|/\^_ I^AV-Ov /$ (SxVX-^iA. . (7C*0 C\.(3viAa^o /6v^A<- j /& [hLtpJic (biY Aj^jLd^yi Mapzc //O'wXv; /b-\ CvtXut^,( (Wv 6v_ PW-uX-^s. J /, V«A-Ciiv: ijf/. . ’kXt. ' ^ , ,‘\ ' . . " j 12 ..... - •• . ....'. . ...\j:X.-:.i, . 21 £**&£-. | 13.....;. . :..!....:, . . fater* — '. A -vL* v 14 . •’ . ; . 29 ..ud. v . ,v'- ■■ ..] FRANK L. DYER, Petition. Go tbe Commissioner of iPatents : lour petitioner! THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his post office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, Praps tbat letters patent map be granteb to bim for tbe IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS OP DRY SEPARATION. (Case No. 1103). set fortb in tbe antieieb speciflcation ; anb be berebp appoints jfranft X. JDper (IRegts* tration INo. 560), of Ebison Xaboratorp, ©range, Hfew Sersep, bis attornep, witb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbis application, to malie altera= tions anb ainenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb tberewftb. ...Thomas.... A.... ..Edison, SPECIFICATION, TO V/HOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, Thomas A. Edison of Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, have invented certain improvements in Process of Pry Separation, of whioh the following is a specification: My invention relutes to the separation of gold from gravel or other gangue containing the same, hy the "dry prooess" , wherein a stream of falling granular material is subjected to the effect of a blast of air by which/the tra¬ jectory of" the falling particles is changed and the lighter particleB (gangue) oarried over a dividing board so as to be separated from the heavier particles (gold, black-sand, eto). The objeot of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap process and apparatus by which a very perfect separa¬ tion can be secured, whereby placer deposits may be prof ital • ly forked whioh are now regarded as unworkable on account oi the low percentages of gold contained in the same, and lack of water. In order to secure the best results in practical operation, it is necessary, or at least highly important that the following conditions should be observed: (1) The material supplied to the separating appar¬ atus should be as uniform in sise as practicable, the best results being secured when the largest parti ole a are not more than twice as large as the smallest particles. The possible variation in the size of material depends to a cer¬ tain extent on the oharaoter of the gold being treated. When the gold is in nugget form, there may be a wider dif¬ ference in the size of the material , than when the. gold is in the form of scales or wires, A variation of 2 to 1 may be considered an average, and may be increased or diminished as required by the special forms in which the metal ooours, (2) The blast of uir should be continuous and uni¬ form and of equal velocity in all portions , because other¬ wise the falling particles would not be uniformly acted on. Heretofore, one of the principal difficulties encountered in the actual operation of dry separators has been the fact that the blast is retarded at the sides by friction with the walls, producing irregularities in separation. (3) The material should be presented to the aotion of the blast in the form of a very thin stream, only a few particles thiok, and of the full width of the blast, in order that each particle may be acted upon by the blast and not be shielded by other particles. (4) The material should be brought to rest immed¬ iately before entering the blast in order that all the part¬ icles will have the same uniform and very low velocity when they enter the blast. In this way, the blast has a much better opportunity of acting on the falling partioleB, than if the velocity of the particles was higher. (5) Finally, the entire apparatus should be so orgar- ized and the process carried out as to be as automatic as possible, requiring only a minimum handling of the material, in order that large quantities of material may be treated at low cost. Inaan application for letters Patent, filed May 4, 1903, Serial No, 156553, I desoribe it certain improvements in dry separators wherein a very perfect separation of properly sized material may be secured, said apparatus comprising a separating ohamber having a dividing board in its bottom and supplied with a blast whioh is made perfectly uniform by being passed suooessively through a ooarse and a fine .screen, and material being supplied to; the blast in the form of t. and in • -2- of a wide and thin stream, Toy a roller feed, which first de¬ posits the material on a checking shelf off of which it is forced Toy the succeeding accretions, so that the material will pass through the blast at a uniform and very low veloc-| ity. In the carrying out of my improved process, I make use of a series of separators of this type and to which the material is fed in a novel manner, whereby the operation may be performed at low cost per unit of concentrate. In the drawing 1 show a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, illustrating the employment of three separators and also a magnetic separator for removing magnetic portions] of the concentrate, such as blaok-aarkO- Referrlng to 'this drawing, I illustrate a set of three screens 1, 2 and 3, over which the material is succese]- ivj&y passed, mounted in c}. suitable tower 4, and^progressivejly increasing mesh. Above each screen is a checking shelf 5 for bringing the material to reBt before passing over each screen, so that the velocity of the particles is reduced and] the screening effect improved. A hopper 6, is located above the screens and is pro¬ vided with a roller feed 7, for feeding a wide, thin stream of material to the topmost screen. Chutes 8, 9 and 10 lead to the several separators three being shown. These separa¬ tors are of the type discribea in said application, and each oonsists of a separating ohamber 11, supplied with a blast from a fan 12, a course screen 13, a fine screen 14, a hopper 15 having a roller feed 16, a checking shelf 17, 1::,,.. located behind the feed opening, and on whioh the material accumulates as a pile, a slatted bottom 18, a dividing board 19, a concentrate chute 20, and a tailings chut© 21. The tailings are lead off through the ohutes 21 to a conveyor 22, and thence to a suitable dump. The concentrates are lead off by the ohutes 20, to a -3- bonvoyor 23, and thence to t.he hopper 24, he low which is a 'Magnetic separator of any desired type, a simple bar magriat^baing shown, whin’- ohanges the trajectory ofiS the falling particles, causing the magnetic portion, such as black-sand to fall into a raeeptaole 26, anu permitting the final rich concentrate to fall into the receptacle 27. I carrying our my improved process, 1 proceed as f ollowa :~ The material is removed from ite plaoe of de' posit, preferably by means of a steam shovel and immediately screened in coarse soreeriB or "grizzlies" so as to eliminat^ all particles of larger size than any of the particles of gold to be saved. A large amount of material is thus re¬ jected at the outset, so as to correspondingly reduoe the quality of the material requiring further treatment. The finner particles passing through the "grizzlies" are now conveyed to the mill, in dump cars or otherwise, and deposiiji in the hopper. If necessary, the material may be first dried in any suitable form of drier. By means of the screens 1, 2 and ; this material will, be sorted into a corresponding number of sizes, and the separate sizes of material are conveyed to tlj( Beveral separators as explained. It will, of course be understood that as many screens should be used as will be found neoessary to subdivide the material into enough sizes as to secure in each size a permissible variation in the particles; for instance, no greater variation than that in which the largest particles in any size are more than twice aB large as the smallest partioles in the same size. The speeds of , the fans of the several separators are first regulated su|j3ts:to give the desired deflection, oarry-| ing the gangue over the. dividing boards. Obviously the speed of the fan will vary according to the size of the -4- material* being loss in the separator wlach works the relat¬ ively fine products of the screen 1, than that which operate s on the coarser products of the screen 15, When the capacity of the blast of each separator is thus adjusted, a coarse screen 13, for each is selected and placed in position which wd-il secure the desired equalizati on of pressure. Since each separator always works on particles ranging within definite limits of size, no change in the adjustment of itB fan or character of its coarse screen will be required, after the prosper speed of the fan and character of the screen have been once secured. The material falling very; slowly through the uniform blast of each separator, and in a thin, wide stream, will lie deflected by the blast and the gangue carried over the deflecting board 19, passing off through the chutes 21 to the conveyor 22, and thence to the refuse pile. The concentrate, including the gold, black-sand (magnetite), etc., will not be carried over the dividing boards, but will pasB off through the chutes 20, to the con¬ veyor 23, and thence to the hopper 24. From, this hopper, the rough concentrate is subjected to the action of the magnetic separator 25, and any magnetic particles will be withdrawn, the final concentrate falling into the receptacle 27, from which it is removed for the reoovery of the gold by amalgamation, smelting or any other suitable process. Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new therein, and desire to seoure by letters Patent, is as follows: (1) In a dry separation process, the improvement which consists in subjecting granular or pulverulent mater¬ ial in the form of a wide, thin stream, to the action of a ^^§ular and_unifom_blaat pf air and in separately recover¬ ing the tailings and concentrate so secured, substantially as set forth. [ON BACK OF PRECEDING PAGE] (2) In a d^y separation process, the improvement which consists in causing; granular or pulverulent material to fall from a state of 3 i and in a wide, thin streai ivering the tailings an -ed, substantially blowing a blast of air iualize_±ha/blant and in subjecting to the effi blast , granular or pulverulent material i of a wide, thin stream, substantially as set which consists in blowing a blast of air through "a screen, r— CHj — l i ant^ in subjecting to the effecl of the ^ual4aed| blast, granular or pulverulent material in the form of a thin wide stream and immediately aftere (5) In a dry separation process, the improvement which consists in blowing a blast of air through a plurality of screens of progressively decreasing mesh so as to . equal- to ize the blast, and in subjecting,, the effect of the equalized blast, granular or pulverulent material in the form of a wide, thin stream, substantially as set forth. (6) In a dry separation process, the improvement which consists in subjecting granular or pulverulent mater¬ ial in the' form of. :a wide, thin stream to the action of a regular and unif ormr blast . qf.,.,air, and In subjecting the covered concentrate to lagnetic separation to remove magnetic particles,' substantially as set forth. (7) In a dry separation process, the improvement which consists in dividing the the granular or pulverulent material into a plurality of relatively uniform sizes, in .6- subjecting the separately eiaed particles in the form of wide, tliin stroamn to the action of regular and uniform blasts of air of different velocities dependent on the size of material, and ift collecting the material concentrated- toy the several blasts, substantially as set forth. (8) In a dry separation process, the improvement rhich consists in dividing the granular or pulverulent material into a plurality of ralatively uniform sizes, in subjecting the separately sized particles in the form of wide, thin streams to the action of regular and uniform blasts of air of different velocities dependent on the size of material, in collecting the material concentrated by the several blasts, and in subjecting the combined concentrate to magnetic separation to remove magnetic particles, sub¬ stantially as set forth. -7- Ebis specification signeb anb wftnesseb tbis 25t,h bag of May 1903 . Thomas A. Edison Mitncss : Prank L. Dyer 2 . R.QMrt.....Ba.f.n., Oath. State of Count? of New Jernev Esnex TKClviAS A, EDISON, tbe above-nanieb petitioner, being bulg sworn, beposes anb sags tbat be is a citizen of tbe United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, In the county of Essex and State of New Jersey; tbat be verilg believes bfmself to be tbe ordinal, first anb sole inventor of tbe IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS OP DRY SEPARATION. bescribeb anb clainteb in tbe annegeb specification ; tbat be boes not Imow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever Imown or useb bg others in tbe Elniteb States of Hmerica before bis invention or biscoverg thereof ; or patenteb or bescribeb in attg prlnteb publication in tbe Elniteb States of Hmerica or ang foreign countrg before bis invention or biscoverg thereof, or more than two gears prior to tbis application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe Elniteb States for more than two gears prior to tbis application, anb tbat no application for patent upon saib invention bas been flleb bg bfm or bis legal representatives or assigns in ang foreign countrg more than seven months prfor to tbe filing of tbis application. Sworn to anb subscribeb before me tbis . ..Ih.Qmas....A......Edi.s.on . . 25 th bag of May 190 3. . motarg public. H.B.O. United States Patent Office, ' ■ Washington, D. c., Jwie 89 , 3.905. Thoiaas A, Hdiaoh, Cara Prank 7.’.' pyer ’ •' ■ ' tfrtOJgb V'W.J.j' , filed May 89 ' 1905 f for'fcrooeaa II. a PATEin QFFulf ' 'iKAtLEE): of ; - Dry .Ifieparat ion . •£ J!, ^L.. It is hot permissible to refer to another pending applioation for a wore oonplete dieoloeure of the case at. bar) aae ax parte - In line 8| page 4, the nuMoral8S aeame to ha Inoorroot . Xt the.olains (except possibly 8) -were for a true preoesa, tvrtiioh they are not and for that, reason are unpatentable, in view of the decision in dunninghaa, Xh re." 108 GiG. * 884) they would be an- tlolpated in View of ref erenoee eited beloir. ^.mair, iTeoite'e nothing nore thAh the f imotien.vef?*^ ahom^in the following patents! 55,851, Beadh, -Satfiu iCiMW&l ■ 588,481, Jones, July 5, 1094* drain Separators, Gravity, A; 504,840, Patterson, Aug. 89, 1895, Ore and Coal, Separators, Dry. ^ i ^ . Olato a ie reJeoted on the sane referenoee. 4.. Jjfaln 5 la fully anff ooHPlWteiy hnt'ib^ D 1890, Separators, Dry, whioh illustrates still aore strong¬ ly'" th«t this ei5bW^V%J#f a iiwohihe function, »a Wide thin strewn" being ia neroly: relative limitation. / Xnartimbifihs the naferiai ib ito nors In a state of rest in ap¬ plicant* s base than in the usual dry Separator it seena necesaary to objeot to thb use of that torn in the blaina. All applicant has done has been to use « retarding Plate (see Beach f cited) on whioh the Material piles up and over whioh it ^radtiaHy eli^ea' With a eon- - ” Case No. Paper No. ✓ • I ' Sdtsoft - 9 #169, 5W7 T^T". siderably reduoad velocity, sinoe the material will pile up «n |jK«f plats 17 until its “angle of repose* is rsaohsd when it will ddh- tinually slide down without ever reaching a “Biate of rest*. In view of ths fast that no state of rept is rsaehbd texoept. in the hopper before the .notarial is |ed to the Mast at, all) the use of the tern "insuidiataly after isavine a condition of rest", in claim 4, is objected to rb inoorreot and not in aocerffi&me; with the facts. She olalm is rejeoted m^Oraig, in view of the feed ' ' shown in Beach, cited. Olain 5 Is rejeoted on 578,811, Place, Dec. 1, 1596, Ore and Coal, Separators, Dry, which shows two devices having gradually do-, creasing openings in the line of travel of the blast for the purposed of producing a blast of uniform yelooity throughout ite cross section. The first, is the part 16 which is provided with holes 17 and lareor air spaces around it, while the second is the screen 11. Claim 6 is rejeoted as being completely anticipated by the mere opecdtion of such machines as are shown by Patterson,, cited, or 614,674, Patterson, Hov. 88, 1898, Separators, Dry. It Ji the rule instead of the exoeptioh to else the material before it, is fed to eubh raaohinbs as are shown above, aomplete machines for sis^-^ lng.and separating, being shown in the two following patentei ti: 841,, Bush, July 19, 1898, Grain Separators, Gravity, *, and Sftl^aafl, Marshall. May 4, 1897, Amalgamators, Mercury, li ln the first maohlne it will be notioed that only the middle erade of material falls through the air blast while in the second machine the finest grads alone is treated by the separator. A series of blasts treat¬ ing the material, as the sifting takes plaee, are ehoen in Jones, ’ cited above, the regulating varies P providing the means to offset the slsing sines their movement one eay or the other will determine . . • V . the girade of material blown. over them, and the troughs If provide . means for separately. redovering tho sevoral concentrates*; In view of the foregoing, olaira 7 do rojootod. Claim B books t,o be tho only claim of tho aorloc whloh might bs'tsTjily olasaad as a "projjsfgS^ nut. an It Involves nothing more than the addition to 1533, Guplln, Jan. fl, 1B»«, Separators, J)ry, of the old step o * raagnetlo separation shown in similar machines in the two Patterson patents, olted, the olalm is rejected. *j«She application seems to present nothing patentable whatever. Hxandner, UNITED STATES PATENT OPPICE. Thomas A. Edison Improvements in Process of Dry Separation. Piled May 29th, 1903. Serial No. 159,307 Hoorn No. 243. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS. Sir:- Qh In response to office action of June 29th, 1903 please amend the above entitled case as follows: JPage 4, line 2 - cancel "23". 4Claim 3, line 3, cancel " as to equalize the" and insert in place thereof - " plaoed with respect to the blast passage as to produce a regular and Aniform". Claim 3, line 4, cancel "equalized" and insert in place thereof "regular and uniform". ^Claim 4, line 3, cancel "as to equalize the" and insert in the place thereof" plaoed with respect to the a blast passage as to produce „ regular and unifonjt". 4 Claim 4, line 4, cancel "equalized" and insert in place thereof "regular and uniform". REMARKS. In regard, to the expression "falling from a state of rest" as applied to the material which is acted iipon by the blast of air, applicant believes that this describes oorreotly the conditions which exist. The material whioh is delivered by the roller 16 rfalls upon the shelf 17 and comes to rest. The naterial gradually works its way off the edge of this 'shelf and rfalls into the air. blast. It is ■believed that all the particles of material actually come to rest for & short period of time, but even if some of the partioles do not, they movo so slowly that when they leave the checking shelf the effect is the same as if they had been at rest, and therefore, they be said even in this case, to be practically at rest. Applicant's claims are believed to oover patentable processes .i-uid While it is true that tha processes olaimed may be and preferably are performed by the use P a machine, K this does not bring them within the class of unpatentable mechanical methods. In all of such methods whioh have been held to be unpatentable, so far as I am aware, the methods consisted in operating upon material by meohanioal means to change its form. In applicant's invention a mass of material is acted upon by a blast of air which may be produced by a meohanioal blower, but the prooess depends for its operativeness upon the inherent qualities of the particles of materials which are treated, those of greater:; specific gravity being separated from those of a Isiss speolfio gravity. THis apparatus doss not tend to alter the particles of the matter treated, but applies various physical forces suoh as the air blast and the force of gravity tp' material, oonsi string of partioles having different physical properties, so that said foroes acting together are able to cause the inter¬ mingled particles to separate from each other and pursue’ different paths, The steps necessary to utilize these for¬ ces in a useful manner are, believed to constitute a true prooesB and if novel the same should be patentable. It is believed that none of the olaims are antici¬ pated by the references . In all prior devioes so far aB applicant is afware, the separation which constitutes the object of the devios , has been imper^Ct, Considerable per- cent age of the gold pas Bing off with the gangue. This is due to the fhot that the blaBt of air in these devices has not been regular and uniform. It is impose! hie to produoe a regular and uniform blast by means of a py of the struc¬ tures shown in the references. The blast of air will vary in strength at different periods of time and the blast will be irregular in different portions of the space in whioh the material is treated. In the applicant's device it will be noted that the screens 13 and 14 extend entirely across the blast passage, and the’ same is free from all enlargements or obstructions which would tend to interrupt the blast and produoe £r regu¬ larities in the same, and it is a fact that in applicant’s device the blast is made absolutely uniform and regular so that perfect results are obtained. The references will be considered in turn, and it will be shown that there is no anticipation in any of them of the inventions claimed JjWein. In patent No. 33,231 to Beach, a grain separator is shown. The only feature whirr ein this device appears to bear any resemblance to that of applicant, is in the use of a shelf for checking the motion of the material to be treated, and in the use of an air blast. It will be no¬ ticed that the ifsjln opens dlreotly into the separating cham¬ ber by means of a large opening. The direction of the blast will change as .the positions of the blades of the fan change It is clear that the intensity of the blast will also change with the', positions of the arms of the fan and the shape of the blast chamber is suoh that the foroe of the blast will va'ry it different points. These three features will all tend to .make the blast exceedingly irregular and not uniform. , . j | In patent Ho. 343,901 to Craig, the blast leaves the blast pipe or passage D and enters a large rectangular ohamber which is provided with an opening covered by a screen The patentee says the funotlon of this soreen is to "break up and distribute the blast as it enters the separator". This structure will produce a blast which is irregular on account of the shape of the chamber C, add the location of the blast pipe D. The lower portion of the screen S’ is directly in front of the blast pipe, while the upper portion of the screen is considerable above the said pipe.. It is evident that the blast which issues from the lower part of the screen will be stronger than ^ , shape of the tnat issuing from the upper part,, furthermore.,. theAcham- bor C will probably cause eddy currents of air to be set up within the same ,. which will prevent uniformity in the air blast.. In patent Ho. 479,241 to Bush,, the action of the blast would be practically the same as in the Beaoh patent previously oonsidered., In patent Hob,. 504,240 to Patterson, 522,421 to tTonos,. 532,266 to Cuplin, 581,866 to Marshall, and 614iy874'; to Patterson, no attempt is made to regulate the blast except in some cases by . the use of valves to regulate the openings of the blast pipe and no screens are used, and for this reason it would be impossible to obtain a regular and uniform blast. Ao stated in applicant's specification a blast of this character is retarded at the sides by friotion with the walls, by which irregularities are pro¬ duced. v In patent? Ho, 573,311 to Plaoe, there 1b no attempt made to produce, a regular and uniform blast. The funnel 15 is used for spreading the air and giving the blast a greater orossrB^otion. The slats 11 are for deflecting -4* the blast. They cause it to be deflected upward and down¬ ward in a cries-croBs manner, the patentee's object ap¬ parently being to permeate the material treated more tho¬ roughly than would be cb ne by a regular and uniform blast. Thus the Patentee says that the air current will be "by 0 said slats projected in reverse directions^as to thorough¬ ly commingle with the particles of clay or other na terial gravitating through the screen- frame". For these reasons an allowance of the claims is respectfully solicited. Respectfully submitted, Thomas A. Rdison. By His Attorney, Orange, Hew tTeris§y April AS” 1904. — Y- United States Latent Office, . %(t', -■ ^ WHi-TON.-D.c,. Aftril Shoites.Ai ■sdAodU, ; : ' - r '•• -v\ 'V'' . ' • b; ' ' Oar^;'Pr«nk;:r.. -'Dy«rv;- ■■• . ,4-?- .•••.■• f ~ ■ ■ ' *■'*- ''' u : APR' 301904 ' . Case amended April Id ,1904. TAs showing still further In MM.ii1.mn , to the record, that the alleged pr <^oe as la for nothing more than the function of a maohino see. patent 'ft, *97', Straub, July 17, 16 49 , drain Separatora^OreYity, A. -It will too noticed that this patent, shows ovary essential. of ' applicant! a claims 1 to 4 and 7, the screening of the material, of tha'iiat.tor claim, being a usual sipp prior to separat ion, shewn- In this record. • •■,>;••.: ' ■ Claim S merely adda to this Machine, not. nraoeea. more.- screens to equalise the blast at all points. • Claim 6 is rejected as for a alnple function of the machine pre¬ viously oited againBt it. Claim fl is for nothing more than a magnet le Reparation of the combined oonoentrates following the slslng and separation^ shown b^ Ouplin of record^ or API, 033, Sterling, June P, 1900, Separators, BryHx.-, It .. is old- as shown by 014, P74, natt eroon , of record,, -to fol¬ low an air separation with a magnetic .aeparation and ainpf ii: is old as, -.shown by 704,010, Rdiaon, July 8, 1908, Kagnetifli 'Sefoarei.ors , to submit the oombined product, of a . aeparation to a magnetic sepa¬ ration, it ie not apparent that invention is required to oomhine the oonoentrates from either (tuplin's or Starling's machines, and- treat JMiflon - 3 #159, »G7 than to a WBfinfl tio aeparotion. . The olatms ar« nllJraJ noted. Should applicant. daaAre t,o appatil, ft final rciect.ion rill.hft waited. ' Jbcundnar, Pirlaion XT?. at*. \>ro. /yd vf Folio No. 54 Applicant. Serial No. JM, /7f . . (^wi, . . : . Filed- /P'f // Examiner's Room No . *i . ’.. . i7.:. \ 18:... :? J 4 . ./ .£ 19.... >•■ 5 . .*»., 20.... '• ••6..«^.^....^..f!^....!^^..<'..4;>..».^..^. 21.... .V 7...i^..^.....^....^..^V 22.... ' 'V . . . /C. 23.... . • •■ 9...... . . v*Z . . 24.... ■1Q^ . . .(\..^\l,.„^.,.v . ; 25.... FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, • ORANGE, NEW JERSEY } 0hr<^ (P&yJt to t^-f, . /vx-w«^ * j~V!L» — "J £Jj-* ■• 'cp-o*-ae of 100 3. . ^ . IRotarg public. j.R.n. ,om No . 370 Paper No . .I,li9:fc ter. department of the interior, United States Patent Office, ihinqton, d. c„ Aug. 10,1 9 Thorns A. Miaou, Cano STnnk &• Dyer , i?dison Laboratory , Orange, Row Jersey. (use find below n from the EXAMINER i? U. S, PATENT OFFICE, * J 411010 1903 mailed. arge of your application, for Process of Duplicating Tubular Bound Records, filed July a 19o3, ser. no. 160,620. fi.J, _ _ _ Commissioner of Patents. Claims 1, 8 and 3 define a method of duplicating sound reoords, claim 4 defines a sound record as an article and claim S defines a mold. It is held that each of these subjects matter constitutes a distinct and separate alleged invention, and division on the lines indicated is required. Attention is invited to the patent of Tat tor shall, Aug. 13, 1889,#408, 998, Gfrapho phones, Tablets. Case No. J^.PaperNO" trail® STATES PATENT OPFICE. Thomas A. Edison Process of Duplicating Tubular Sound Reoords. Piled July 22nd, 1903. Serial Ho. 166,520. iRoom Ho . 379. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS. Sir:~ Replying to office action of August 10th, 1903, a reconsideration is requested. The subject matter of the claims relates to a single unitary invention and in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Steinmetz vs. Allen 109 O.G., 549, it is believed that the claims should be included In a single application. An action on the merits is requested. Respectfully submitted, Thomas A. Edison, By His Attorney. Orange, Hew Jersey. April AT 1904. Paper No. ...Scatter. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c. April 20,1904. Thomas A. Edison, Cara prank .Tj# Jlyer, .Alison Laboratory , Orange ,jjew Jersey . u. s, mm office, APR 28 1904 MAILED. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your apjj _ for Process of hup l ie at in jp Tubular Round noaords, filed Ju^y^S^ serial numoor 1365, 620. This action is in response to the letter filed the 16th instant. Applicant is believed to be in error with reference to the provisions of the decision in the oaso of StineaetiS vs Allen cited by him. Tho only point Judicially decided in that case ’.ms that upon a final requirement of division an ap*iLiaarifc‘ is entitled to an appeal to the Board of £xarainer8-ih- Chief ' inetoadTof having the' right to petition the C<»:«issioner de was" the practice before that decision was made. The other, natters referred to by the court in the oaee referred to were me rely T dlota and they have not the effect of a judicial decision as a precedent . ; The f orner requirement is repeated. UNITED STATES PATENT OPEICE, Thomas A. Edison Process of Duplicating Tubular Sound Records Piled July 22, 1903 Serial No.; 166,520 Room No. 379 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS. Sir: — Replying to Office action of April 28, 1904, ;a reoonsideration of the Examiner's requirement is requested. The Examiner is believed to be in error in re¬ gard to the point decided by the Supreme Court in the case/steinmetz vs-_ Allen cited. A careful perusal of the opinion of the Court shows that the Court considered not only applicant's remedy in case of a final requirement of division, but also applicant's right to unite process and apparatus claims in a single application. The decision upon this latter point is not a diotum of the Court, since tile opinion expressly states that the question of appli¬ cant's remedy in suoh a oase depends upon the question as to his right to uhite suoh claims, and the latter point was therefore necessarily determined first. It is obvious that this must be the case, since a person oan not have a remedy unless he has some right whioh is to be secured by the remedy. That this is the correct interpre¬ tation of the decision of the Supreme Court would appear to be inevitable in view of the following language used by the Court : "The issue is well defined between the parties both as to the right and remedy, in the Patent Office. As to right, petitioner contends that a union by an inventor of process and apparatustfolaims , which are essentially the same invention, is given by the patent laws, and that Rule 41, so far as it takes that right away, is repugnant to those laws and invalid. As to remedy, that the deoision of the Primary Examiner, con¬ stituted a final decision upon the case and petitiober waB entitled to an appeal under the patent laws to the Board of Examiners-in-Chief . The latter::- nronositl nrrn depends upon the first. - - - — - XXX X- XXX X "A ruling having suoh effect must be considered as final and appealable. Whether, however, to the ExaminerB-in-Chief or to the Commissioner, and from the latter to the Courts, we may postpone answering un- — have considered the~Tig5t "of ^ - In view of this decision, applicant does not be¬ lieve that he should be put to the expense of An appeal unless the Examiner is of opinion that the subject matter of the claims doeB not relate to a single uni¬ tary invention. Respectfully submitted Thomas A. Edison By c 0 A / Orange, N. J. His Attorney. June, (o ,1904. v. _ Room ...5.7.9 Paper No._fiiIiSA0cti0n. department or the interior. United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., Jun8 35,1904, Thomas A. .Mi 3 on, Oars 3?r.TrJ: J, T)y or, .“’(UHon laboratory, Orango,2Tew Jersey. tJ, S PAT7.HT OFFICE, JUN 23 1904 & ^ / y,M Please find below a communication from, the EXAMNER in oharge of your application A for Process of implicating Tubular Sound Reconi s,"filod Julv^flfifNvfe 1 903, be rial number 1 <35, 580. Commksmer of Patents. This a-jtionis in response to the argument filed tho 7th instant. Olai/as 1, 3 and 3 are rejected in view of tho patent of 3d is bn, Nov. 1 1,1903, #713,309, (181-16) , and the patent of ITaas JHay 15, 1838, #383, 974, Pipe Machines it being held that it being an old and vrall known expert lent to provide tapering molds for the more ready removal of the molded article, it could not destitute patentable invention to provide a tapering mold for the present ' purpose. Ola.in 4 ia rejected in view of the patont of Stevens, May 89, 1900, {3550, 431 , (181-16). Claim 5 ia rejected for want of invention,in view of the grounds of rejection of claim 1. TOUTED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas A. Edison PROCESS OF DUPLICATING TUBULAR SOUND RECORDS Filed Juljr 22, 1903 Serial No. 166,520. : Room No. 379. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS SIR:- Replying to Office action of June 23, 190'4, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Cancel claims 1, 4 and 5, Claim 2, line 2, after "slightly" insert — tapering. Claims^, line 2, after "slightly" insert -- tapering. Renumber claims 2 and 3 as 1 and 2 respective¬ ly. REMARKS The claims as now drawn are considered patentable. The object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of the duplicate record from the mold. In order that the surface of the duplicate may clear the mold, it is necess¬ ary that the duplicate shrink: sufficiently to allow its surface to clear all portions of the surface of the mold. In the patent of Haas of reoord, there is no shrinkage of the molded artlole and no effort 1b made to obtain a olearanoe between the molded artiole and the walls of the mold, so that if one were to remove a sound record from the mold in the manner described in the said patent, the record would be entirely destroyed. In Patent Ho. 713,209 of record, a process is disclosed by which a duplicate record may be removed from the mold by shrinkage and relative longitudinal move¬ ment. The reoord and mold, however, described in this patent do not taper. The presort invention is believed to be an improvement over that of the patent, since it per¬ mits more ready removal of the reoord and decreases the proportions of -records destroyed at this stage of manu¬ facture. The removal of phonograph records from molds without injury is a difficult matter, and any improvement by which the difficulty is lessened and the proportion of discards reduced is a step in advance. The present process has been arrived at after careful study of the problem, and is thought to be unobviouB because the ^rt of molding phonograph records requires the preservation of minute elevations and depressions, and ordinary methods of molding or of removing molded articles from their molds cannot be used. An allowance of the olaims is respectfully so¬ licited. Thomas A. Edison By His Attorney. • Orange, New Jersey, June <&o 1905. J.H.I). D i v. __.__.2S Room. _ .579 “The Commlwtoner of Potent*, department of the Interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., 80,1905. J. 5. PATENT OFFICE, JUL 20 1905 MAILED,;' Thomas A. Edison, care uranic L» iDyer, Edison laboratory, orange, new jersey. • Y'," W Me '■ Please find, below a, communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for Process" of Duplicating Tubular Round Records, filed. July 22,' 1903, ser.no. 166,520. '' ''$§($£ This action is in response to the amendment filed the 21 at ultimo. The office a an see nothing of patentable invention in the alleged processes claimed in view of the prior art disclosed. To moJco the mold tapering in any of tho apparatus in which records are m$ide and contracted or shrunk from tho mold, xtaexxixgxx clearly involving as it doos the use of a cannon expedient in the molding arts, oarmot be considered n patontablg^;, invent ion. . . Claims 1 and 2 have not boon varied in substance by ’ ' ‘ ' correcting an obvious error in each as has been done in the last action by amlicant and accordingly since the issue seems to be clearly defined and understood by both applicant and the office, the claims must be finally rejected in view of the former grounds of rejection . •" . • - yS 1 J-0 ✓'-<£- ^5-1? / ~boos~ ^ 9° ° ^ > y&O . $0 Cl^/U^ *UJT ^ ,7-6// .(50/ z' <£> • ,0 2-7- %0 <2. ? fa Me>° ■ lidft won it. forms a publication dedicating the use of tha 1 sat|S:^o;.the pufaW. Claims! and 9 are re Jested. ■ . ...flljaiw 3 is rejected on the asu referehdbf sintra it is the oom- ( ) non practice to oase harden any article that may be subj ected to considerable wear. . Exactly applicant’s process of ease-hardening v-:;c -.'v. for Manufftcturera.-z,^. Mechanics plates is old,, as showii in Look’s "Workshop. ReeeiptS^d Ralahtlflo 1 to^tdura*, 3rd aeries, pages #74 and #81. Whanher. suoh plates ars pf aroTiot used involves nothing more than neohenleal skill or desire. Inasmuch as this apjiiioatlon presents not the slightest patsitf- abl enoYolty^ thi S' action may be Considered final, ^f desired, fo*f ’ : /7 ' : '' CascN»,.^7.^perNo.-^ . mum - a #x«7,9aa purpoaaa of ft spool. Sha alala'a arc also raj eat ad on tha aane rowiono and ref er- anooa m the olaina in applicant* a oaaa, #733,389* filed June 39, 1899,. Exaninar, niriaion XX7. Ca'X Nu. £7..H^: No . L UNITE# STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison, ; Screening Plates, : : Room No. 315, Filed August 1, 1903, : Serial No. 167,929. S HON.. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, Sir:- I note that the examiner objects to the statement of the prior art on pages 1 and 2 of the specification. In many oaseB a' proper -recitation of the prior art is; helpful to a clearer understanding of the later invention, and this seems to he the case in the present application. The statements to whioh the examiner objects show that in the practice of the art prior to ap¬ plicant's invention the users of screens proceeded along lines diametrically opposed to those followed by Mr. Edison. These statements, therefore, tend to support the patentable character of the new Boreens. It is, of course, recognized that in the oase of any invention depending for its novelty on proportions, size, materials etc., much greater diffi¬ culty is experienced in demonstrating patentability than in the case of inventions which present new structural features or combinations. Consequently, in the former oase it is submitted that good practice Bhould permit an applicant to refer to the prior art and the practice, therein in order that his invention might be more clearly differentiated therefrom. Of course, if the statements to whioh the exam¬ iner objects are inaccurate then they should undoubtedly be erased, but as these statements are not criticised it is presumed that the exaininer agrees with their correctness. It is not seen that the decision of the present (1) Case Nu..h(Z.. Paper No . Commissioner in ex parte Schweitzer, C. D. 1901 - 179, hears particularly on the present case. In that case the claims we re clearly objectionable on the ground of prolix¬ ity, and if they were not prolix then they were dearly lacking in definition. Section 48-88 of the Revised Statutes provides that an applicant "shall particularly point out and distinctly1 :claim the part, improvement or combination which he claims as his invention or discovery". Under this statutory requirement the universal praotice is to make the claims as definite and concise as possible and omit all un¬ necessary verbiage. The same Bection of the statute also provides that in the case of the specification the appli¬ cant shall "distinguish it (his invention) from other in¬ ventions". Under this general language of the statute ap¬ plicants are given more or less latitude in the way in whicl they seek to distinguish their inventions from the prior art. It would seem reasonable to suppose that the best way to distinguish the invention from the prior art would be to . the prior, art and then to describe first explain the new invention in order that the difference between the two might be appreciated. It is hoped, there¬ fore, so far as this formal requirement is concerned, the examiner will withdraw the same. It is noted that the examiner also objects to the claims as' being vague and indefinite. The fact is apprer ciated that the claims are not as clear out as applicant would like them to be, but this difficulty arises largely from the oharacter of the invention. Undoubtedly, appli¬ cant has done something that was never done before, and as the result of the departure has secured superior results. Applicant’s invention is certainly, therefore, 'character¬ ized by' novelty and utility. The only other question for determination in con¬ sidering the point of patentability is whether or not the (2, II changes made by applicant amount to Invention. In the con¬ sideration of this question I direct the examiner's atten¬ tion to the faot that what applicant has done is the direct reverse of what had been done before him, and the direct reverse of what skilled persons would be expected to do. In other words, prior to applicant' 3 invention it was sup¬ posed that the best screens would be those which were re¬ latively thick in order to secure great durability, that being the important desideratum. Eor this reason, the screens made before applicants invention were formed of material as thick as possible, and selected generally with reference to the capacity of the punches. What applicant did was to use the thinnest material possible so long as the load would be properly carried. The question of wear was not considered at all, but the question of efficiency was alone considered. As the result of this departure ap¬ plicant has produced a screen which is not only enormously more efficient than the screens which preceded his inven¬ tion, but which so far as oapacity is concerned is prac¬ tically as durable as those which preceded him. Consequent¬ ly, with' the new screen applicant is enabled to effect and enormous saving in spaceA economy in screening houses in large commercial undertakings necessitating screening oper¬ ations on a large settle. So far as the particular language of the olaims is concerned applicant has no particular preference or hide-bound adherence to the same, and would be grateful if the examiner can suggest any language which would be more suitable to his views. So far as the merits of the olaims are concerned, I note that the examiner rejects the same on Edison's prior application, No. 371,316} but the examiner's attention is Case No . (3) II called, to the fact that this application is a continuation of applicant's prior case, filed June 29, 1899, serial Ho. 722,229, which, therefore, carries applicant's date of fil¬ ing ahead of the patent already issued. Reconsideration of the oase is respectfully re¬ quested. Orange, IT. J. August 25, 1903. Thomas A. Edison, His Attorney. J7. . (4) United States Patent Office, , r T Washington, d. c., Bept. 86,>1993. ' Thomas A. Edison, Car* Prank T.. Bynr, Orange, N.J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of ymcr'apptiaiHoh, #3.(57,989, filed Aug. 1, 1903, for Screening Plates. RJ. aSLr.. _ Commissioner of Patents. \C,V;v . ' Case amended Aug. 86, 1903. Who words "case No. 1108* must, ha erased from the specification. The objsation to last paragraph, pane 1, and its continuation, fcr>&6S 8, Is repeated; it. Is, moreover, open to argument., in view of the record An this oasa, whether it, has boon tha praotioo previous to this' .invention to use plates of a "maximum relative thioknase - . — , ...sonatinas almost double tha width of tha screening openings". _ In view of the patent to Cross, 383,038, Kay 80, 1897, Ore and Goal, flifters and Screens, 0, oitad in oaaa Ho. 788, 889, the latter state¬ ment is shown to bo far from aoourata. Ab to applicant i s statement that, the present oasa is a continuation of application, serial number ? 88/889, for tha sumo subjeotlraatter, and which has bean fi.na3.ly re¬ jected by examiner, and tha rejection affirmed by both the Board of Examiners in Chief end the Commissioner, it may be. said that. it. is contrary to the faots of reoord. This case is a separate, and in¬ dependent oase, bearing no such relation to the previous oaae at. all. If claims of the scope of the present claims are to be prosecuted in {& the face of -the ’'disclosure of. patent. 671,316, they muat be presented in an applioation which properly antedates that, case, and not in a oaae filed more than two years after that, patent was issued.; It is old, as shown in the patent to Croes, cited, and 866,386 Oastler, Haroh 81, 1888, Sifters and floreens, C, cited in the earlier Case N0....O . Prpcr i'lo . oa an, to provide screen surfaces with openings nuoh greater in their lateral dimensions then the thickness of the material f rom which the soreen has been made. Claims 1 and 8 are again rejeoted on the reasons and references of record.. It is old as shown to oase harden plates, it. so happens to exaotly applicant’s way (but how is immaterial) for any purpose, and it is not invention to punoh soreens from suoh material whether thick or thin. In addition to the above, ae showing the utter lack of patentable novelty presented in this application still further, there oan be found on file in the Scientific Library of the Patent office a trade oatalogue of Praser and Chalmers, for 1P93, filed Oot. 16, 1693, on the snbjeot of screening plates. On page P ooours the following t - "We furnish this work in - any thickness from Bo. 30, wire gauge to fa inoh, with else perforations proportioned to the thiokness of metal1* etc. fable III, paee 9, gives suoh a sheet of a thiokness somewhat over .01 of an inoh. In instructions on ordering it is stated that the “size sheets and kind of metal, thiokness of metal, shape and size of perforations* should be care¬ fully,' stated. on pages 83 and 33 are shown a series of outs frm actual screens having slots much greater in width then the metal in which it was stated the soreens could be furnished, and it. is to be- presuroed-th-at such screens oould ba furnished on an order with¬ out quest, loh. While applicant, states that, he uses sheets of .008 of an ip Oh in thiokness, that is merely a matter of degree and in¬ volves no patentable novelty whatever. Inasmuch as it is impossible for examiner to see anything pat¬ entable whatever in this application, it is hoped this action will be considered final for the purpose of appeal.. Xxaniner, division TXT. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas A. Edison : Screening Plates : Room No. 315. Filed August 1, 1903 : Serial No. 167,929 : HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS. Sir: — Replying to Office action of September 25, 1903, please amend the above entitled case by cancelling "(Case No. 1,108)", in line 4 of page 1. Applicant requests that the reference to Edison patent No. 671,316 of April 2, 1901 as an anticipation of the claims, be withdrawn for reasons previously stated. ’//Nile it is true that the present application differs to some extent from applicant 'aboriginal applica¬ tion covering the same, invention, the present applica¬ tion is a continuation of the former application. The present application was filed while the original applica¬ tion was pending, and the oath td the present application states that applicant proposes to abandon the original application (but not the invention thereof) in favor, of -ohe present application. This state of facts is similar to those in the case of International Tooth Crown Company vs. Richmond, decided by Judges Wallace and Shipman in the U'.S . Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, reported in 39 O.G., 1550. In that case a defense was set lip that the invention had been in public use for more than two years before the application for the patent, and there¬ fore, the patent was invalid. The public use took place during the latter part of 1877, and the application upon which the patent was granted was filed December 20, 1880. The Court stated that "the defense would be established were it not for the fact that Low had made an applica¬ tion which was filed January 6, 1879, which had never been abandoned for substantially the same invention." "That application contained some matters foreign to the subject of the second’ application; but so far as it related to the inventions covered by the claims of the patent, it did not differ from the Becond application, except in a sin¬ gle particular." The original application had bean re¬ jected by the Examiner, and various interpolations had been made therein, and it was suggested by the Exam¬ iner that the applicant had better make a new application and thereupon the second application was drawn up dififer-!- ing, as before stated, to some extent from the original application, but as there had been no acquiescence on the part of the applicant in the rejection of his first appli¬ cation and the first application had not been abandoned at the time of the filing of the second application, the whole procedure was held to be one continuous proceeding, the Court using the following language: "There was no aot on the part of Low which was equivalent to a withdrawal of his first appli¬ cation, or to an acquiescense in its rejection. He merely made a flew application as a more convenient way of presenting the original application for the of the offioe after he had been assured that the rejection of his first application would be reconsidered and a patent would be granted for the present invention. Both applications are to be con¬ sidered as parts of one continuous proceeding, and the two years within which the invention could hot be pubiidy used without invalidating the patent did not begin to run until January 9, 1879. (Godfrey v Eames, I Wall., 317; Smith v. Goodyear Co;, 93 U.S. 500; Graham v. Genera Lake Co., 11 Eed.Rep.138.)" - 2 - The same principles were also recognized by Jud¬ ges Ache son and Buffington in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Y/e stern District of Pennsylvania in Dederick vs. Pox, 63 O.C., 1963. The following language used by the Court is pertinent to the present case: "Ho?/ these facts evidence abandonment we oannot see. Par from being a giving up it was a most persistent pursuit, a continuous demand for the claims first asked for. The substantial elements of the in¬ vention were Bet forth in the original application, claims broad enough to cover the features of inven¬ tion 6mb raced in the tv/o claims afterward made, as noted above. To our mind these do not exceed the scope of the original claims, but were made in the exercise of a due caution on the applicant's part to forestall anticipated evasion. It view of the dis¬ closure and explanation of invention made in the original application, their allowance was proper. We are of the opinion the entire course of procedure was in effect a continuous one from the filing of the first application until final allowance, and that there was no abandonment by Dederick." See also the decision in Exparte BeggB SO O.G. 1130. The references cited in Office letter of August 19, 1903 have already been fully considered. In regard to the new reference cited in the last Office action applicant is unable to find any disclosure of the inven¬ tion claimed or any suggestion v/hich might lead up to said invention. This trade catalogue merely sets forth mater¬ ials from which screening plates might have been construct-* ed in acoordanoe with Kr. Edison's invention, if it had occurred to any one to do so; but it did not occur to any one to use plates of minimum thickness and form openings therein which were wider than the thickness of said plates. The universal practice prior to present invention was to use, in making screens of fine mesh, material as thick as the punohes were able to perforate, in order that the screens might be durable , and the idea of using soreens as thin as possible would have been considered by manufacturers as decidedly disadvantageous, as it would have been thought that such screens would wear out too soon to he of any practical use. Applicant's disoovery as to the means hy which the efficiency of screening plates, especially those of very fine mesh, might he enor¬ mously increased, rendered it possible to use, commercially, plates of minimum thickness and to disregard the short life thereof, since, as before stated, the screening capacity of these novel plates 1b equal to or greater than the thicker and more enduring screens previously known, because of such increased efficiency. It is believed that invention must have been em¬ ployed by Mr. Edison in his conception of these facts, since they did not occur to any one of the many users of screens prior to Edison. This being so, the means by which the invention is broughtbinto use, if novel, should be patentable. The novelty of the said means is apparent from the fact that none of the references show or describe screens formed from plates of mini man thickness and hav¬ ing the other characteristics set forth in the claims. Eor these reasons an allowance of the claims is respectfully solicited. Thomas A. Edison By his attorney Orange, JsT. j. May £'■] 1904. b-i - Dlv--a&. Room ....sifl DEPARTMENT >.OF THE .INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c„ June 8, 1904. Thomas A. Bello on, p Care Prank 1. Dyer, Orange, B. J. Please find belc !! j, (IF^CE, JUN 8 1, 8«pt. 86, 1904. T. A. Edison, r;"‘ Care P. L. Dyer, Orange, lr.J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application #167,929, f lied Aug. 1, 1905, for 8oreenlng Plate*, . _ Commissioner of Patents. ' ' Case brought up by letter of Sept. 9, 1904. Claim 1 in this case is substantially identical in so ope with olalm 1 in application 722,229, while olalm 8 is substantially identical in scope with claim. 8 in that applloatlon, and olalm 5 is substantially identloal in scope with olalm 5 of that application.: , .Zn Tiew of the facta above stated and that this application is for jthe, identical SubJeotmatter of application 788,889 (see state¬ ment, in the oath of this application) the oleins in which applica¬ tion have been rejected by^tha tribunals in the patent Of floe, it must^c/held that thla oaee le res adjudicate. ''viy^Thc. olairaa arc finally rejected... ■ \ ... •• . , .' Act * g Examiner , Division XXV united states patent office. Thomas A. Edison, SCREENING PLATES, Filed August 1, 1903, : Serial No. 167,929. HONORABLE. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS | SIB:- In the above entitled application I hereby appeal to the Examiners in chief from the deoiBion of the Primary Examiner, isfoo on September 26th, 1904, re¬ jected the claims of thiB case on the references of record and I assign the following reasons of appeal :- (1) The Examiner erred in deciding that the refer¬ ences of record disclose the invention defined by said claims. (2) The Examiner erred in rejecting said claims. (3) The Examiner erred in not allowing Baid claims. I .hand you herewith check for $10. in payment of the gove'rnment fee on this appeal. An oral hearing is requested^ Very respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON, His Attorney. Orange, N.J, September 7th, 1906. it—2V0. D-1V....25.. Room . J515 Paper No. United States Patent Office, T. A. Edison, WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept . 19 f Care E. I. Dyer, Orange, N.J. 1905. J'/ctwe jlihtl hr.lfjtt: u (t/irtiniiiij cntitni from • fJi-o EXAMINER In <'}urrf r of your of/plf-oatUrfn} #167,929, filed Aug. 1,1903, for Screening Plates. ( ■ Enclosed find examiner .s statement. H.l.fl. Before tha Hon. Board of Xxaalners-ln-Chlef On Appeal. Hr. Prank 1. Dyer for applloant. Xxaminer*s Statement. In view of the faot that this application la for tha identi¬ cal subjeotmatter (see statement In the oath) of application 783,829, which applioation has been finally rejeoted by all the tribunals In the Patent Office, and whioh applioation is now abandoned, and in view of the further faot that claims 1, 8 and 5 of this ease dr* substantially the same as olaims 1, S and 8, respeotlTeljr, of that applioation, it has been held that the question of patentability of 0l*?rI?lSi:h*Tl,!,g th® 80°P* °r 6ha in this oass is res adju'iti^rfct^' The oaee is reepeotfully submitted. Aot*g Primary Bxaminer, Division XXV. Boom 315, 0. s. Patent Office, September 19, 1905. Applioation #167,989, Thomas A. Bdison, Screening Plates, Piled August 1, 1908, Cases in which oral hearings are waived, and briefs submitted, will be considered earlier than the date of hearing set, if opportunity offers. The appeal from the decision of the Examiner in the case of . . .for a patent for an improvement in ' - . . . . ■jL , 190:3., Serial JTo.J. Examiners ^in- Chief, 'H and 5 of a former application rejected l.y thin board and liy tho Commissioner road a a follows: "1. As a new article of manufacture, a very thin metal pinto having screening orifices; therein of grantor width than tho thickness of said pfeiiAc, subs tan tiully as sat forth. "b. As a now article of ismufucturo', a very thin :.io !.ul plate ha via.''; snrcuniiv: slots therein of grantor width than the thielrncss of said pinto, substantially as set forth." "o. As a now article of maiufacture, n metal plate having a hardened screening surface but with u jaallott.lile central portion, said pl.atG buitig of extromo thinness and having oitlficos formed therein of greater width than the thickness of sale plate, substan¬ tially as set forth." Prior 1.o the rejection on the above ground the Principal ?h:ai.iinor in his letter of September h, 190:1, a socond time rc.iticl.Gd those appealed claims on tho references and reasons oi’ record . S'hosa references and reasons are the some as those on which claims ■ 1, S and 3 of tho former apnjli Ssation wore reject eel. i’ho Principal SJsaainor also added the trade catalogue of Pr attar and Chalmers, for 1(382, showing snreon plates having n thickness of .01 of an inch, or; from TTo. 30 wire gauge to -J- of an inch to be punched by t.ho manufacturer with slots proportioned to tho Ihioknesa of t.'nc metal of tho "screen plates. Also screen plates are ah own having much greator width than tho thickness of motal, unci t.ho ground taken by the thiamin or that the change j|f footed by the applicant wus one of dogroo only in proportions of the structure and involved no patent- able novelty. - Sp.;^prA?&^^ee^og^j^-f^^e^^jiid4^ta? another TOUTED STATES PATENT OPPICE. THOMAS A. EDISON, Screening Platen, Piled August 1, 1903, Serial No. 167,929. Orange, Hew Jersey, November 14, 1906. APPEAL SIR: ■ I hereby appeal to the Honorable Commissioner of Patents in person from the decision of the Examiners- in- Chief, who , on December 7th, 1905, affirmed -the decision of the Primary Examiner finally rejecting the claims thereof, and I assign the following reasons of appeal: (1) The Examiners- in-Chief erred in holding the claims res ad.ludioata . (2) The Examiners- in- Chief erred in deciding that the invention defined by the claims is anticipated by the references of record. (3) The Examiners- in-Chief erred in deciding that the terms of the claims are met by the references of record. -1- (4 The Examiners-in-Chlef erred in deciding that the invention defined by the claims is lacking in patentable novelty. (5) The Examine™- in-Chief erred in deciding that the invention defined by the claims is the result only of ordinary meohanical skill; and | (0) The Examiners- in-Chief erred in not reversing the decision of the Primary Examiner. An oral hearing is requested. The appeal fee of 820. is furnished herewith. Very respect iUlly, THOMAS A. EDISON, by |?o the HONORABLE COHMISS IOHER OP PATENTS, Washington, D.C. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. In the matter of the Application of ThomaB A. Edison, Screening Plates : Piled August 1, 1903 Serial No. 167,929. ) ) ) ) On Appeal to the Commii Sir: You are hereby Informed that a hearing on the above appeal from the decision of the Examiners -in-Chief , has been fixed for Wednesday, December 5, 1906, at 10 A. M. By di- eotion of the Commissioner: Very respectfully, ^ — Thomas A. Edison, o/o Prank L. Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, New Jersey. IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE. Thomas A. Edison ) SCREENING PLATES ) : ON APPEAL TO THE Piled August 1st, 1903 ) : COMMISSIONER IN PERSON. Serial No. 167,929 ) BRIBE POR APPELLANT. STATEMENT OP THE CASE. The invention of the present case waB originally set forth in an application filed June 29, 1899, serial No. 722, 229. The claims of this early application were Broader than those of the present oase, and the specifica¬ tion was in some respects not so full as in the present oase, hut the invention which the applicant has sought to cover is undoubtedly the same in the two oases, the present oaBe Being a continuation of the early oase. The olaims of the original oase were finally re¬ jected By the Examiner and appealed successively to the Board of Examiners in Chief and to the Commissioner, Both of whioh tribunals rendered opinions, dated respectively MaBoh 16th, 1902 and May 26th, 1903, sustaining the Examin¬ er and refusing the grant of a patent. After the rendering of the decision of the Com¬ missioner the applioant had the right 'of an appeal to the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. Applicant felt however, that the invention was not properly set forth in the specification, that is, the specification was some- what indefinite and could he amplified bo as to more clear¬ ly deBcrihe the invention, and he also believed that the olaims were somewhat broader than the invention and should therefore be canceled and replaoed by claims of proper scope. The Patent Offioe rules do not allow the intro¬ duction of such matter as applicant wished to introduoej neither do they permit the substitution of alaims of dif¬ ferent scope from those upon whioh the appeal was taken, after a decision by the Commissioner, exoept in rare and unusual oases. The present application was therefore filed during the pendenoy of the original application, and the latter application ( but not the invention thereof ) was abandoned. This faot makes the present case a con¬ tinuation of the original case for all matter therein dis¬ closed (International Tooth Crown Company vs. Richmond 39 O.G. 1550} Godfrey vs. Eames, 1 Wall. 317} Smith vs. Goodyear Company, 93 U.3. 600} Graham vs. Geneva lake Company, 11 Red. 138} Dederiok vs. Pox, 63 O.G. 1963} ex parte Beggs, 50 O.G. 1130 ) The Primary Examiner admitted that the present application is based upon the same invention as the origin¬ al case and rejected the olaims upon the references cited In the original oase, and one additional reference, and later took the position that the consideration of the olaims in the present case Is res ad.1 udicata in view of the prosecution of the early oase. The Examiners in Chief took the same view of the matter, and also fodnd that the olaims do not involve invention over the refer¬ ences. Upon the present appeal applicant respectfully submits, first, that consideration of the present claims is not res ad.1 udicata. and second, that the olaims are patentable and should be allowed. 2. CONSIDERATION OF THIS PRESENT OLAIMS IS HOT RES ADJUDIfiATA . The Examiner states that claims 1, 2 and 3 in this case are substantially the same as olaims 1, 5 and 3 respectively of application Ho. 722, 729. TOiile it is true that the olaims of this ease are based upon the identical subjeot-matter of the prior application, an inspection of the olaims will show that they are *jdt more limited than tin claims in said application . Claim 1 of the original ap¬ plication reads as follows "As a new article of manuf aoture, a very thin metal plate having screening orifices therein of greater width than the thickness of said plate, substantially as set forth." The present olaim 1 reads as follows "As a new article of manufacture, a soreen having openings formed in a plate of minimum thickness, less than the width of said open¬ ings and sufficient only to offer proper sup¬ port to the material passed over the same, substantially as and flor the purposes sat forth". The early olaim speoifies merely a very thin metal plate. The present olaim speoifies that the plate must be of minimum thickness - the leaBt possible thick¬ ness consistent with the offering of proper support to the material whioh necessarily passes over the same during the screening operation. Olaims 2 and 3 are similarly limit¬ ed and differ from claims 5 and 3 respectively of the orig¬ inal case in the same way. It is believed that the present olaims cannot properly be held to be res acLIudloata. because claims hav¬ ing this limitation were not passed upon in the original case by the Examiner or either of the appellate tribunals and as an appeal disposes of only Buoh matters as are be- 3. fore the appellate tribunals, it is olear that there oould have been no adjudication upon the present claims. It 1b therefore believed that the patentability of this oase should be determined in the same way aB an original application, exoept that its filing date should be considered the same as that of the early application. However, even if the Commissioner believes that consideration of the present claims is properly a question which is res adjudioata. it is within his power to go into the merits of the case, in order that the whole matter may be taken before the Court of Appeals. In Tay vs. Duell, Commissioner of Patents, 90 O.G. 1167, 1900 C.D. 232, the praotioe whioh had been followed by the applicant was pre¬ cisely the same as in the present oase except that the ap¬ plication was renewed "without substantial change", whereas in the present case the specification has been amplified and the claims redrawn in more limited terms. However, in the oase referred to, although the Commissioner held that the subordinate tribunals were right in declaring the question res adjudioata. he went into the question of patentability de novo. in order that upon appeal to the Court of Appeals, the, full oase might be heard. THE CLAIMS SHOULD BE ALLOWED. The present olaims read as follows: "1. As a new artiols of manufacture, a soreen having openings formed in a plate of minimum thickness, less than the width of said openings and sufficient only to offer proper support to the material passed over the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 2. As a new artiole of manufacture, a soreen having slots formed in a plate of minimum thickness, less than the width of said slots. and sufficient only to offer proper support to the material passed over the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 4. 3, Ah a new article of manufacture, a screen hav¬ ing openings domed in a plate of minimum thickness, leso in width than said openings, sufficient only to offer proper support to the material passed over the same, and having a oasc-hardened screening surfaoe and a malleable central portion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. " An examination of the references shows that applicant's invention is novel, Binoe all the references which disclose screening plates having orifices of greater width than the thickness of the plate, are plateB whioh are of greater thickness than 1b necessary for properly supporting the materials passed over the same. None of the references disclose a screening plate of minimum thick¬ ness or one sufficient only to offer support to the ma¬ terial passed over the same. The question of patentability therefore resolves itself into the question whether or not thvontlon was required to conceive and produoe the artiole of manufacture claimed. It is admitted by ap¬ plicant that materials wore in existence at the date of his invention from whioh the new screening plate oould be manufactured - that is, he oould have purchased from Fraser & Chalmers and possibly from other manufacturers metal sheets or plates of sufficient thinness to be formed into a screen embodying the invention. He does not claim to have Invented extremely thin sheet metal for this pur¬ pose nor punohes for forming the perforations in Bald sheets. The Fraser & Chalmers catalog therefore appears to have no bearing whatever upon the claims in this oaso Binoe it does not describe screens of minimum thiokness and whioh 1b less than the width of the screening orifices. It is true of almost every invention that materials are on the market from whioh it may bo constructed. The important faot is, however, that no ouch Boreena as those olaimed wore on the market, nor are suoh screens shown or described in any of the references oited by the Examiner. 8. The screen Invented hy applicant accomplishes a new and useful result. In enahleB very fine materials to he screened in as efficient a manner as coarser mater¬ ials . In all prior screening operations of fine mater¬ ials the Bcreens were of very much less effioienoy than those used for coarser materials and therefore it was nec¬ essary to pass the material over the screens again and again, or over a much greater extent of screening surface than with applicant 'is improved screen. Ho one prior to Edison appears to have known that the efficiency of a screen depends upon the relation between the thioknees of the plate and the width of the openings. If it had been known that effioienoy increases as the ratio between the width of the opening and the thickness of the screen in¬ creases, then it might be maintained that invention was not required to produce the screen of the olaims under consideration, but this is far from being the case. Manu¬ facturers of screens for screening fine materials invar¬ iably used metal which was thioker than the width of the orifioes; or about as thiok as the punches were capable of perforating. The reason for the selection of suoh metal was to increase the durability of the soraen. If the use of metal of minimum thickness had oocurred to the manu¬ facturer, it is quite likely that the idea would have been rejected at onoe because he would have thought that the life of a soreen of this sort would be so short as to make it praotically worthless. The result was therefore that the soreens aotually produced, although durable, were very inefficient. This fact was reoognized by the manu¬ facturers, but was aooepted as inevitable. as an objection whioh neoessarily accompanies the use of fine Bcreens but for which there was no remedy. 6. I2.no Examiners in Chief stats that "prior to wiiat - evor thiB applicant has dons, soraens having slots of groat- or width than the thickness of the metal ware wall known." '"ha only prior screens in which the slots ware of greater 'width than the thickness of metal ware screens of large Mooli, whose apart nr ay ware of very groat width aa ooapared with those disclosed "by applicant, and thickness of the metal is vary much greater than is necessary to carry the load, rfaa prior art does not show that any fine screens, such screens as could he used for the sumo purposes as applicant's, were made of metal thinner than the width of the apertures, and of minimum thickness sufficient only to support the load of material. The Examiners in Chief also stated that it was well known that "the slots must be out with relation to the thiol nesc of the metal of the screens". They fail to state what this known relation was, but the prosecution of the old case wakes it clear that the principle upon which screen makers wore cutting the slots in metallic sheets was very differ¬ ent from the principle of the present invention. From the affidavit of Cloyd H. Chapman, filed at the hearing before the Commissioner, it 1b shown that "in the praotiooi manu¬ facture of fine screening plates it is not yet known by manufacturers other than Mr. Edison, that the ratio between the thickness of the plates au | j j j TO THE COURT OP APPEAXS OP THE DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA; Your petitioner, Thomas A. Edison, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, respeotfully represents: That he is the original and first inventor of certain new and useful improvements in screening plate*; That on the 29th day of June, 1899, in the manner prescribed by law, he presented his application to the Patent Office, praying that a patent be issued to him for the said invention; That such proceedings were had in said Offioe upon said application: that on the 26th day of May, 1903 it was rejected by the Commissioner of Patents and a patent for saidv invention v/as refused him; That thereupon and while the said application was still pending before the Patent Offioe, to wit, on the first day of August, 1903, in the manner prescribed by law, your petitioner presented a second application to the Patent Offioe upon the same invention as the original appli¬ cation but with an amplified specification and more limited olaims, and prayed that a patent be issued to him for the Baid invention; That suoh proceedings were had in said Office upon said second application, that on the 28th day of February, 1007 At was rejected by the Commissioner of Patents and a patent for said invention was refused him; That on the 26th day of March, 1907, your petitioner, pursuant to sections 4912 and 4913, Rev.Stat., United States, gave notice to the Commissioner of Patents oi his appeal to this honorable oourt from his refusal to issue a patent to him for said invention upon Baid applica¬ tion as aforesaid, and filed with him in writing tke following reasons of appeal: 1. The Commissioner of Patents erred in holding that the appealed claims 1, 2 and 3 are the same in scope as claims 1, 5 and 3 respectively of applicant's earlier I application, serial Ho. 722,229, filed June 29th, 1899. 2. The Commissioner of Patents erred in holding that the question of patentability of the claims of the present co.se is res adjudicata. i 3, The Commissioner of Patents erred in holding that the subject matter of the claims of the present applic¬ ation is anticipated by the references cited during the prosecution of the application. 4. The Commissi oner of Patents erred in holding that the subject matter of the olaims of the present appli¬ cation floes not involve invention over the disclosures of the references cited in the said application. That the Commissioner of patents lias furnish¬ ed him a certified transoript of the record and proceedings relating to said application for patent, which transcript is filed herewith and is to be deemed and taken as a part 2. hereof. Wherefore your petitioner prays that hie eaid ap¬ peal may he heard upon and for the reasons assigned there¬ for to the Commissioner as aforesaid, and that said appeal may be determined and the decision of the Commissioner he revised and reversed, that justice may he done in the pre¬ mises. Thomas A. Edison Orange, Hew Jersey .■.April 16th, 1907. COPY PAWI APPEAL DOCKET CASE 1T0 433. COURT OE APPEALS OE THE DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA. April Term, 1907 In the matter of the application cf " Thomas' A. Edison The Clerk will enter my appearance as Counsel for the Appellant. 11 (Name-) Frank L. Dyer ( P.O. Address) Orange, H.J. Note: Must he signed by a member of the Bar of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. Individual and not firm names must be signed. .9— 082. Department of tee Interior, Washington, 1). ~ . May..l., . , 190. .3 IN RE APPEAL OF .HiomaB-A.-SdiS-Qn. Patent Appeals Ho . . 433. . . Sir : Ton are hereby notified, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-9 IS, R. S. U. S., and section 9 of the act to establish a Coart of Appeals for the District of Columbia, that the Court of Appeals will sit at the court room in the City Hall building, Washington, D. C., on the second Tuesday of. . Jfay . ( . .T.ue.ad ay. r . .Hay. . 1.4 r . . . , 190..%), to hear the appeal in the matter of . the. applicM.ion..of .TMmaa.AA..Mi8on . . Invention: . -Soraenlng..;i?.lataa . . Docket Humber ( Patent Appeals). . 43.3... . Serial Humber . I.?.?.*?.?.?. . > . Commissioner of Patents. To . .Thomas.. A....]5.dlB_oii » . : . o/o Frank L. Byer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, N. J. IN THE COURT OF APPEARS OF THE DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA. In re: Application of) Patent Appeal Thomas A. Edison j Ho. 433 STIPULATION It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between Prank L. Dyer, Attorney for the appellant herein, and Fairfax Byard, Attorney for the Commissioner of Patents, that the hearing of this appeal be postponed, until 10 O'clock A.M., Tuesday, June 4, 1907, or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard. Washington, I). C., . .0o.t.aber...29., . 190 _ IN RE APPEAL OF . Thomas-~A, .Edison- . ) I Patent Appeals . . . : . j No . 433 . . Sir : You are hereby notified, in accordance with the provisions of section If 9 13, R. S. U. S., and section 9 of the act to establish a Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, that the Court of Appeals will sit at the court room in the City Hall building, Washington, D. C., on the second Tuesday o/— -November . (• . Tuesday-, -November . , 190.!}.), to hear the appeal in the matter of _ the appllnaf. ton nf* Thmnan At TMiann Invention:.. . Soreend-ng-KLates- Commissioner of Patents. To . Thomas. A...Ed.laon., . o/o IVank L . Iyer, Kdis on Laboratory, Orange, N. J. 2-082. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. IN RE APPEAL OF •Th-om'«B-A--."-®cTlS6n'' . ^ . . . I No... Patent Appeals 433 Sir : You are hereby notified, in accordance ivith the provisions of section 4918, JR. S. V. S., and section 9 of the act to establish a Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, that the Court of Appeals will sit at the court room in the City Hall building, Washington, D. C., on the second Tuesday o/.—.Janiary- . ( . -T-ueadfty-,-— Ja-nufiry-1-5-,— 1-908--; 1 90....), to hear the appeal in the matter °f . -the- Tcirp-l"rr-st-±orr;-of"ThOTiia8— A-;— Bd-i-Bon . . Invention . ■Set(ie'fiin‘g""Prat;eB . . . . Docket Number ( Patent Appeals). . .4.5.5 . Serial Number . To . Thoma-.A.—Ediaon- . . 0/o Prank Barer. Edison Laboratory, Orange , N. J. ^ 188WblmB-01 COPY In the Court of 'Appeals of the District of Columbia In the Matter of the Application ) of ) Patent Appeal Ho. 433. Thomas A. Edison ) It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between Prank L. Dyer , attorney for the appellant herein, and Fairfax Bayard, attorney for the Commissioner of Patents, that certified copies of "pages 13 and 34 from Catalogue Ho. 7 of February 1902, filed as Exhibit A, May 5,1903, in the Matter of abandoned application of Thomas A. Edison, filed June 29,1899, Serial Ho. 722229, for Improvement in Fine Screening Plates and Process o'f Making same," together with a certified copy"from the bound volumes of the library of Patent Office of an extract from pages 274 and 280 of "Workshop Receipts ', Third Series .London 1884"; and a certified copy"from the bound volumes of the library of the Patent Office of pages 5 and 9 of 'Fraser and Chalmers Catalogue 1 , Chica&o and London, 1892, also tracing of plats 288 and 289 in said book", form a part of the transcript of the record from the Patent Office in said cause and be printed by the Clerk as such. Frank L. Dyer Attorney for Appellant \f~ {hauLf Attorney for Commissioner of Patents. PERFORATED METALS CATALOGUE No. 7 ALLIS-CHALMERS CO. Pages 13 and 34. NEEDLE -SLOT SCREENS The following table of Needle-Slot Screens for use in Stamp Batteries or other similar work covers every size likely to he required; and, being standard, orders can be placed by giving numb er only. Battery Screens are a specialty with us, our shops beifig equipped with a very complete set of dies and punches covering all sizes of perforations from 60 mesh up to any required width, with spacing to correspond. We make these screens either of genuine Russia iron, or of the best quality cold rolled homo¬ geneous steel. Table for Punching Needle-Slot Screens No. Mesh. Width Birmingham Decimal of Weight of Slot, Gauge Steel. an Inch. per Square Foot, 1 12 .058 16 .065 2.642 2 14 .049 16 .065 2.642 3 16 .042 18 .049 1.992 4 18 .035 18 .049 1.992 5 20 .029 20 .035 1.423 6 25 .027 20 .035 1.423 7 30 .024 20 .035 1.423 8 35 .022 20 .035 1.423 9 40 .020 22 .028 1.138 10 50 .018 23 .025 1.016 11 55 .0165 23 .025 1.016 12 60 .015 24 .022 .894 13 70 .0135 24 .022 .894 NOTE.-- The slots are usually 15-32 inch long, and orders will be filled with screens having slots of that length, run¬ ning diagonally, unless otherwise specified. We are prepared, however, to furnish screens with slots running either lengthwise or crosswise of sheet, with openings of .uniform lengths as follows: 15-32, 5/8 and 3/4 inch of specified widths . Slots arranged in parallel rows or "staggered." We can vary these spaces between slots up to certain limits. Where parties do not specify Russia iron, we always furnish our Special Steel Screens, which . customers find are more durable than Russia iron, can be made somewhat heavier, and are therefore stiffer and better screens . We would recommend ordering these screens in¬ stead of screens made from Russia iron. WORKSHOP RSCjSIPTS. (Third Series.) By C. G. Warnford Lock, London, 1884, EXTRACTS . Page 274’. X X X X X X X Since the hardening of steel consists of first heating and then rapidly extracting the heat, it follows that this latter part of the process may he performed otherwise than hy the use of water -- such, for example, as hy placing the article in a cur¬ rent of cold air, or, if it is thin, hy placing it between 2 cold iron plates, x x x x x x Page 280. xx xxx Case-hardening Wrought-iron. — (l) Wrought-iron is nearly pure decarbonized iron, and is not possessed of the property of hardening. But articles made of wrought-iron may he exteriorly converted into steel, and afterwards hardened. The process is call¬ ed case-hardening, and only differs from cementation in being carried on f,or a shorter time; it is seldom necessary to convert the iron into steel more than l/l6. in, deep, unless where great stiffness as well as hardness is required. Case-hardened iron, for various purposes, is better than steel; it has the hardness and polish of steel externally, with a core of soft fibrous iron in the centre. Prussiate of potash renders iron nearly as hard as steel, by heating the iron to redness, sprinkling the potash finely powdered upon it, and then plunging the iron into pure cold water; but the hardness is confined to the surface, and only for articles not exposed to much wear can a sufficient coating of steel be ob¬ tained by this process. xxx x WORKSHOP RECEIPTS Page 274 Since the hardening of steel consists of first heating and then rapidly extracting the heat, it follows that this latter part of the process may "be performed otherwise than by the use of water - such, for example, as by placing the article in a cur¬ rent of cold air, or if it is thin, by placing it between 2 cold iron plates. In these processes, however, the heat is not extract¬ ed quickly enough to give a great degree of hardness. Case hardened iron, for various purposes, i£ better than steel* it has the hardness and jl polish of steel externally, with a cone of soft fibrous iron in the centre. Prussiate of potash renders iron nearly as hard as steel by heating the iron to redness, sprinkling the potash finely powdered upon it, and then plunging the iron into pure cold water; but the hardness is con¬ fined to the surface, and only for articles not exposed to much wear 1 tan a sufficient coating of steel be obtained by this process! • PRASjSR & CHAIMRS CATALOGUE, Chicago, Ill. 1898. EXTRACTS. TO THE TRADE: In presenting the second edition of our No. 7 Catalogue to our friends and the public, we would say that we have antici¬ pated the increasing demand for perforated metals by providing ourselves with the latest improved machinery, and now consider that we are able to meet all demands for these goods in a prompt and satisfactory manner. Perforated metals are far superior to wire cloth, being much stronger, more uniform in size of hole or mesh, and less lia¬ ble to tear or rust out. In case of breaking they are easily re¬ paired without affecting the entire sheet, while in the case of wire cloth a break extends over the whole sheet, changing the mesh, and making it unfit for use. It is often desirable to arrange screens with certain portions blank. This can easily be done when perforated metals are used, but is of course impossible with wire cloth. Unlike wire cloth, perforated metal presents a perfectly >• smooth surface, allowing the grain, ore, or other material to pass over it smoothly and quickly. It is not as liable to become clogged, making it much more satisfactory for sizing, cleaning and separating. We roll plates to exact diameter of cylinder, and make cylinders to order. Revolving screens for stone, grain, coal, ore, etc., finished complete with one or more sizes of perforations as desired, and so constructed as to be easily changed, and plates with different-sized perforations substituted when necessary. De¬ signs of screens in perforated metal and wire cloth are shown on pages 30 to 33. Screens of these and other designs furnished on -1- short notice at reasonable prices, complete with any specified provision of gearing, pulleys and boxes. The illustrations of perforated plates in this catalogue show exact size and style of perforations, and parties ordering from the cuts can rely upon getting their orders filled exactly as shown. We furnish this work in iron, copper, brass, steel, zinc,' tin and other metals, any thickness from No. 30 wire gauge to- l/2 inch, with size of perforations proportioned to thickness of metal, and spaced, if wanted, as close a3 the thickness of metal will permit. We give on page 10 a table of standard sizes of steel plates usually carried in stock, and call the attention of our customers to the fact that orders for perforated plates conform¬ ing to these sizes and weights can be filled much more promptly and at less cost than orders for odd sizes, requiring special plates to be obtained from the mill. We invite correspondence from parties v/ho may have any use for perforated metal, and assure them of the lowest quotations of prices, and the unexcelled quality of our goods. Very respectfully, S’RAS.SR & CHAIA13RS . TAB IE FOR PUNCHING STEEL PLATES This table gives the greatest.-1 thicknesses of steel in which it is advisable to punch round or square holes of given dia¬ meters or sizes. Spacing, strain upon the plate, wear of dies and othei]cons iderations determine what is advisable. While the table is offered as aJconvenient guide in ordering , thinner plates will generally answer every requirement, and cost less. DIAMETER OF HOLE. BIRMINGHAM GAUGE. Millimeters. Inches . Decimals of an Inch. No. Thickness in Inches. Weight per Square Foot. 3/4 1 1/4 1 l/2 i/4 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 8 9 10' 11 12' is' 14 15 19- 3/64 i/ie 5/64 3/32 i/8 9/64 3 >16 1/4 9 >32 5/16 3>8 i/ie i/2 19>32 5/8 ‘3/4 .02952 .03937 .04687 .04921 .05906 .06250 .07812 .07874 .08858 .09375 .09843 .11811 .125 .12795 .1378 .14062 .15748 .1771a .18750 .19685 .21654 .23622 .25 .25591 .27559 .28125 .3125 .31496 .35433 ;375 .3937 .43307 .4375 .47244 .5 . -.51181 .55118 .59055 .59375 .625 . 74803 .75 .018 .022 .028 .035 .049 .049 .065 .065 .065 .065 .065 .083 .083 .109 .109 .109 .134 .134 .134 .134 .134 .165 .165 .187 .187 .187 .187 .187 .187 .731 .894 1.138 1.423 1.992 1.992 2.642 2.642 2.642 2.642 2.642 3.374 3.374 3.374 4.431 4.431 4.431 5.448 5.448 5.448 5.448 5.448 6.708 7.622 7.622 7.622 7.622 7.622 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 10.163 22 ... .86614 l/4 .25 10.163 ... 7/8 .875 1/4 .25 10.163 25 ... .98425 l/4 .25 10.163 ... 1 . 5/16 .312 12.703 Ill TABLiS FOR DIFFjSRjJNT STANDARDS FOR WIRd GUAOS IN USB IN THjS UNITiD STATES. Dimensions of Sizes, in Decimal Farts of an IncJi. OOOOOO : . : . 00000 : . : . 0000 : .46 : .454 000 : .40964 : .425 00 : .3648 : ?38 0 : .32486 : .34 1 : .2893 : .3 2 : .25763 : .284 3 : .22942 : .259 4:: .20431 : .238 5 : .18194 : .22 6 : .16202 : .203 7 : .14428 : .18 8 : .12849 : .165 9 : .11443 : .148 10 : .10189 : .134 11 : .090742: .12 12 : .080808: .109 13 : .071961: .095 14 : . 064084 : .083 15 : .057068: .072 16 : .05082 : .065 17 : .045257: .058 18 : .040303: .049 19 : .03589 : .042 20 : .031961: .035 ' 21 : .028462: .032 22 : .025347: ,028 23 : .022571: .025 24 : .0201 : .022 25 : .0179 : .02 26 : .01594 : .018 27 : .014195: .015 28 : .012641: .014 29 : .011257: .013 30 : .010025: .012 31 : .008928: .01 32 : .00795 : .009 33 : .00708 : .008 34 : .006304': .007 35 : .005614: .005 36 : .005 : .004 37 : .004453: 38 : .003965: .... 39 : .003531: .... 40:: .003144: .... .46 .43 .393 .362 .331 .307 .283 .263 .244 .225 .207 .192 .177 .162 .148 .135 .12 .072 .063 .054 .047 .041 .035 .032 .02 .018 .017 .016 .015 .014 .0135 .013 .011 .01 .0095 ' .*45 .305 .285 .265 .245 .225 .205 .3586: .3282: .2994: .2777: .2591: .2401: .223 : . 2047 : .1885: .1758: .1605: .1471: .1351: .1175 .105 .0925 .061 .0525 .045 .04 .035 .031 .028 : .025 .0225 .02 .018 .015 .014 .013 .012 .011 .01 .0095: .009 .0085 .008 .1205: .1065: .0928: .0816: .0726: ; 0627 : .0546: .0478: .0411: .0351: .0321: .029 : .0261: .0231: .0212: .0194: .0182: .017 : .0163: .0156: . 0146 : .0136: .013 : .0118: .0109: .01 : .0095: .009 : .0083: .0078: OOOOOO 00000 0000 000 4. 5 6 7 . .083 .072 .065 .058 .049 .04 .035 .0315 .0295 . 027"' .025 .023 . 0205 .01875 .0165 .0155 .01375 .01225 .01125 .01025 .0095 .009 .0075 .0065 .00575 .005 .0045 Mrr Folio No. / / / O •..59 Serial No. /^ f Applicant. . ^ • . <^i /A/lte. . Examiner’s Room No . . ■ ;; ’ Ass’g’t Exec . Liber Page ACTIONS. 1 /%£&.. 1 6. 2 . y'l 7: — \...6^..x..f&.fyjjj..y \ 8. 4 . .^^ . SPECIFICATION. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: - BE IT KNOWN that I, Thomas A. Edi¬ son, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain improvements in Electro-Magnets for Magnetic Separators (Ca3e No. 1,110), of which the following is a description: My invention relates to electro-magnets, and has for its object so to construct them that in comparison with those hitherto used, they shall be of very economical con¬ struction, and, for a given expenditure of electrical ener¬ gy, of greatly increased cupacity. Hitherto, where a magnetic field of considerable width has been necessary, the magnets have usually been of substantially the same width as the said field, and have, therefore, presented a great mass of metal requiring a com¬ paratively great amount of electrical energy to energise it, thus involving considerable expense in construction and operation. Ercm experiments made, it has been found that an electro-magnet may be so constructed as, in comparison with those hitherto used, and for a given expenditure of. electrical energy, to present a magnetic field of consider¬ ably greater width than the width of the magnet proper, provided that certain approximate proportions be observed in the length and cross-sectional area of the pole-pieces and the width of the air gap, and the present Invention consists in electro-magnets having these greatly extended pole-pieces. It is not proposed to state the above mentioned proportions in anything approaching precise terms, but the (1) following arrangement of the apparatus, as embodied in an electro-magnetic separator as used in the ora milling in¬ dustry, has been found to give highly satisfactory results. This application of the improved electro-magnets to elec¬ tro-magnetic separators is merely given as an example, and their applicability to other purposes with or without slight variations in the stated proportions will readily suggest themselves to the reader. The cost of construction and the capacity of the electro-magnetic separators, and the quality of the result¬ ant concentrates are three vital items to be considered in the attainment of magnetic separation of iron ore on commercially successful lines. The cost of construction depends chiefly on the design and arrangement of the magnet-3, and the number of magnets required to deal with a given quantity of mater¬ ial; the capacity depends on the quantity of material an electro-magnet is capable of separating for a given amount of electrical energy applied; and the quality of the resultant concentrates depends on the thickness of the stream of ore passed in front of the magnet, and the num¬ ber of times it is so passed. from experiments already made, 1 have found that it is more economical to pass a thin stream of ore, say about an eighth of an inoh in thickness, in front of three magnets than it is to pass a stream of double than thick¬ ness In front of six magnets, the grade of the resultant concentrates being much higher from the former system of working than from the latter, from these deductions the facto are established that whatever the system of electro¬ magnets used, to obtain a very high grade concentrate in the most economical manner the said elect ro-magnets must be cheap to construct, require little energy to magnetise _ (a) them, and present a large surface to the falling stream of ore and that the ore he spread out into a thin wide stream. If proper constructional proportions he observed (say, for example, such as those hereinafter specified) the lines of force in a magnet can he made to travel along hars of iron or soft steel to great distances and produce a mag¬ netic field of uniform strength throughout the same dis¬ tance , and advantage is taken of this fact hy using an elec¬ tro-magnet, of comparatively small Width and applying there¬ to pole-pieces of the same length ns the desired magnetic field and constructed of iron or soft metal of the required orooa-soctiomi area, the two pole-pieces being situated' at the distance apart necessary to provide the appropriate width of air gap between their.. The number of lines of force which the pole-pieces of given cross-sections will carry with a given width of air gap is much below the saturation point, and it has been found that in dealing with highly magnetic ores, pole- pieces of say four fact in length having cross-sections of from four to eight square inches and an air gap of from three to four and one-half inches have produced the best resultis. The length .of the pole-pieces, however, is propor¬ tional to the. width of the air gap, the number of lines of foroe and the oross-seotional area of the said pole-pieces. When the improved electro-magnets are intended for use in separating the magnetic particles from a falling stream of ore, the low.er pole-pieces may conveniently be of angle bar section and bolted to the lower end of the magnet body, and the upper pole-pieoe may be formed of a flat bar or plate bolted to the upper end of the magnet body bo as to incline from the upper edge to the lower edge (3) and ao as to overlap tho lower p ole-piece ; or the said pole-pieces may bo formed of any other desired shape in cross-section. In the accompanying drawings U:o improvements con¬ stituting the pro cent invention are, us an arample , repre¬ sented in the form which has bo tn found to give the best results in their application to the magnetic separation of iron ores. In those drawings which are to bo read with and taken as part of this specif ioati on: Figure 1, is a front, elevation and Figure 2, a plan of one of the improved magnets, and Figure 3, is a side elevation of a portion of a 'mag¬ netic oro separator showing the said magnet embodied therein. As represented in the drawings the improved magnet consists of a body 1, of approximately horse-shoe form ancl comprising: an upper portion 2, a lower portion 3, and a vertical or middle portion, the last named of which is encircled by and concealed within the necessary energising coil 4. The end face of the upper portion 2, is inclined in relation to the axis of the coil 4, and that of lower portion 3, is parallel with the said axis, the former face overhanging or projecting more forwardly than the latter face, all as shown most clearly in Figure 3, To the inclined face of the upper portion 2, the upper pole-piece 5, is secured by two bolts 0, this pole- piece being formed of a flat plato of iron or soft steel, and to the vertical face of the lower portion 3, the lower pole-piece 7, is secured by two bolts 8, this said 'pole- piece being formed of iron or soft steel of angle bar (4) [•lection. The respective meeting faces of the pole-piece 5 and portion S, and of the pole piece 7 and portion 3, are truly planed and surfaced to as to provide the best con¬ tacts possible between the said parts. In the practical embodiment of the Improved mag¬ net represented in figure 3, the said magnet in supported in Buch a position that the two pole pieces, 5 and 7, are situated above a separating board or partition 10,' the up¬ per pole-piece 5, overhanging the front of the partition and the lower pole-piece 7, overhanging the rear of this partition. Above the pole-piece 5, is provided a hopper 11, having a sui table feed roller 12, which delivers the crushed ,ore from the hopper 11, in a thin stream, on to an inclined chute 13, which, in turn, delivers it. on to an inclined board or plate 14. This board 14, serves to check the descent of the ore so that the ore will fall upon the up¬ per face of the pole-piece 5, near the lower edge thereof, immediately after it haa been brought to rest, wherefore the material will not acquire any appreciable velocity ,by the time it reaches the lower edge of the said pole- piece. The non-magnetic particles falling over the edge of the. polo-piece 5, drop by gravity in front of the parti¬ tion 10, that is, the left hand 3ide of it in figure 3, while the magnetic particles, acted upon hy the lines of force between the two pole3 5 and 7, are drawn rearwards ( or rightwards in figure 3) and thereby separated from the descending ganglia and caused to fall at the rear or right side of the partition, all as indicated in figure 3, wherein the resultant accumulations of magnetic and non-magnetic particles are respectively marked 15 and 16. Without in any way restricting the invention to any specific dimensions or proportions it may be mentioned S. In aA electro-magnet, the combination with the magnet \ody, of \ ole-pieces of a length c onnifierably great¬ er than the widthW the magnet body, and made separate the ref ran and attached thereto, and means for attaching the a aid pole pieces to the magnet body, substantially as set forth. \ \ \ 1 electro-m; the combination with the magnet body, of pole-pieces of length considerably greater fV;r Aace be i ng \ ub than the width from, one p do¬ ty , and( made separate there- s the other and made of flat metal plate inclined ii\ a direction transverse to its length, and the othei^p ol^-piece being of angle bar , substui 7. In an electro magnet, magnet body, of p ole-pie combination with the c oh side rably "greater of\lch|;th than the width of the magnet bodyn Wd made separate there- p ole-piece, being above fho\ other and made of flat i\cfjansverso to from, orji metal plate inclined in a dirtsir length, the other pole-p:ieco being ofVlngle bar section, the edges of the two pole-pieces and biflmeiin which the magnetic field is formed, being 3ituatwdV\j different' vertical planes, substantially as sat fort^ (7) Ebis specification signed and witnessed tbis // dap of i /tus, 190J rv- 1. . . 2 . . Oath. State of Count? of iy/ &ur ^SL^t^C THOMAS A. EDI SOI! , tbe above=named petitioner, belno dnlp sworn, deposes and saps tbat be is a citizen of tbe united States, and a resident of Elev/wllyn Park, Orange, in the County of Ensex and State: Of New Jersey; tbat be verilp believes bimself to be tbe original, first and sole inventor of tbe IiO’KOVNEENTR Iff EDECTOO-KACKTKT3 POP. MAGNETIC SEPAT.ATOHS described and claimed in tbe annexed specification ; tbat be does not [mow and does not belteve tbat tbe same was ever [mown or used bp others in tbe TUnited States of Hmerica before bis invention or discoverp thereof ; or patented or described in anp printed publication in tbe Ulnited States of Hmerfca or anp foreign countrp before bis invention or discoverp thereof, or more than two pears prior to tbis application ; or In public use or on sale in tbe Tiluited States for more than two pears prior to this1 application, and tbat no application for patent upon said invention bas been filed bp him or bis legal representatives or assigns in anp foreign countrp more than seven months prior to tbe filing of tbis application. Sworn to and subscribed before me tbis [Seal]- ^ dap of 1 100 3 motarp public. -Ni)Tl**Y NEW WRS»Y, m.e.o. Room No...3lU5. %rf. department or the Interior, United States (Patent Office, WASHINOTON, D. C., AUg. 89 , 1903 , ShonSS A. Edison, CffTT Oaro Prank X> Dyer, i I Orange, H.J. •IATEI'/t OF! AUG 29 jouy ■p^-^-lXj±nT^J Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, #L6§;,‘& 54, filed Aug. 13, 1903, for Electro-Magnet for MWjridtio Sep¬ arators. ~ h i J. mL- . Applioant is required to cancel “{Case Ko.1,118)* fro* the preanble of the specif toation. Claims 1 and 3 are rejected as destitute of patentable novelty ' \S ‘ I/" 1 in view of 89,188, Righter, Sept. 84, 1867j 883,991, Pritn, Jan. 87, 1880 tf is. 6) ; 308,778, Ripley at al., Oot,. 31, 1884, figs. 3 and 8} and 783,389, Winder, June 84, 1983, jjaffietio Separators. Old m 3 Is r ejected as lacking invention in view of the above ’ ' l/' . • cited, references, and English patent 14,368, fhe Edison Ore Hilling Syndicate (lira) , Aug. 10, 1900, Hagnetio Separators. fllni ms 4 and 8 are rejected on the saae referenees a# claim jfc. See Rifjhter and Winder for separate or separable poieF?piei»sv , . ;Oikns 6 and 7 are rejected in view of the above cited referem and :47.8iJ»89, Edison, HWoh 18, 1898, Hagnetio Separators. Jtsaniner, Case No,..?r^../>|)|H!i' Nu,../.. UNITED STATES PATENT OPEIGB, / 4 ■&h i Thomas A. Edison, Electro-magnets for Magnetio Separators. : Room Ho. 315. Eiled August l?th,1903. Serial Ho^ 169, >334. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER 03? PATENTS. Sir:- ! Replying to office action of August 29th, 1903, Ipleaoe amend the above entitled oaae as follows: °:La^ns on f ile, and insert the following cStims: l^In a magnetic separator, a sloping check board, an electro-magnet having an upper pole piece which consists of a plate- sloping downward toward the lower edge of the |hack board\»nd an epqrgtiieg coil, whose width is con¬ siderably le.qs^ than the width of said pole pieoe, substan¬ tially ap sqt forth. 2-,Elni a magnetic^ separator, a sloping check board, an electroj-mag^et having^an upper pole pieoe which consists of a j^ate ^sloping downward toward the lower edge of the check'bo/ird'? a lower polVpieoe which oonsists of a plate extending forward from theSbody of the magnet at an angle to the direction of flow of the naterial, and an energiz¬ ing, coil whose.', width is c on si de'rably loss than the width of -said pole pieces, substantially. as set forth. "'3V In a magbetio separator, a Bioping oheok board, an eleotro- magnet, having an upper pole pieoe which consists of a pisyte feLoping downward toward the ^ower edge of the ohedk board $ a lower pole. pieoe which oonsists of an angle plate having one flange seoured to the body df the magnet \ h.m o.. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., Aprl 1,^.' #0** atiiafi ae amended April Id, M04, further considered. Olatai 1 is Rejected in view of the British patent of record, and any Instance of a coil of amU dimensions in connection with a. wide pole piece -- Richter, Ripley of. al . , dr Winder of record* "'•rClais 8 is rejected Upon the safee references as claim 1. Claim A is rejected as destitute of indention in view .of the references for olaira 1 and 408,684, kfctim, May 7, 1689, Karnetie ' :V • '• •/•■' ■■"• -• . (' ■ ‘ i Separators, shewing pole pieoos formed of detachable ancle irons. 'v ’ Rjcamin er, Mvisicn 77V. V August' 26,1904 Charles g. V/oodroffe, EBq., 188 Eleet Street, London, E.C., England. Bear Sir:- I enclose herewith, a copy of the last Office action in the case of application of Thoms A. Edison for patent for Electro-Magnet for Magnetic separators, filed August 13, 1903, the said action Being dated April 29, 1904. I also enclose copies of all the references which have been cited by the Examiner and a copy of the claims which were last acted upon by the Examiner. As you will observe, these claims are somewhat more limited than those originally filed. The Examiner is unable to see anything patentable in providing the separator magnets of British patent No. 14,355 of August 10, 1900, with extended pole pieces - that is, pole pieces whose width is considerably greater than the width of the energii'rrg coil , in view of the U. S. patents cited as showing pole pieces of this character. There does not appear to be very much chance of obtain* ing a U. S. patent unless we can point out some< difference in princti pie or result accomplished by the Edison device, different t from the principles or results of the references. 'I I’ CharleB S. Woodruff e , EBq,. . . . 2 Will you kindly take up this matter with Ur. Ballen- tine or others who have worked with these separators, and let me know whether or not they consider the subject-matter of the applica¬ tion anticipated by these references and if not, the reasons why; the references do not anticipate. yours very truly, . dii/km. Encs. Department of the Interior UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Washington, D.C. April 29,1904 Thomas A. Edison, Care Prank 1. Dyer, Orange, N. J. Please find 'below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application No. 169,334, filed August 13, 1903, for Electro-Magnet for Magnetic Separators. P. I. Allen, Commissioner of Patents. Case as amended April 16, 1904, further considered. Claim 1 is rejected in view of the British Patent of record, and any instance of a coil of small dimensions in connection with a wide pole piece — Righter, Ripley et al, or Winder of record. Claim 2 is rejected upon the same reference as claim 1. Claim 3 is rejected as destitute of .(Invention in view of the references for claim 1 and 402,684, Maxim, May 7, 1889, Magnetic Separators, showing pole pieces formed of detachable angle irons. Examiner, Division XXV. COPY 1. In a magnetic separator, a sloping check hoard, an electro-magnet having an upper pole piece which consists of a plate sloping downward toward the lower edge of the check hoard, and an energizing ooil, whose width is consid¬ erably less than the width of said pole piece, substantial¬ ly as set forth. 2. In a magnetic separator, a sloping check hoard, an electro-magnet having an upper pole piece which con¬ sists of a plate sloping downward toward the lower edge of the check hoard, a lower pole piece vrtiich consists of a plate . ext enditajr forward from -the .-body, iof -the magnet^alt a'n angle, :to the direction of flow of the material, and an energizing coil whose 'width is considerably less than the width of said pole pieces, substantially as set forth. 3. In a magnetic separator, a sloping check hoard, an electro-magnet having an upper pole piece 'which con¬ sists of a plate sloping downward toward the lower edge of the check hoard, a lower pole piece which consists of an angle plate having one flange secured to the body of the magnet and the other flange extending forward therefrom at an angle to the direction of flow of the material, and energizing ooil whose width is considerably less than the width of Bald pole pieces, substantially as set forth, Chas. S. Woodroffe. FAC. ^ ?<9& .<&cee£‘zJffiee& -Decembe'r. 1904. Frank L. Dyer Esq., Edison Laboratories (Legal Department), OEANGE, N.J. U.S.A. Dear Sir, Edison U, S.A. Patent Application filed Aug. 13th 1903. In reply to yours of August 26th last, I have been in coin- munication with Mr .Ballantine several times, and regret that I cannot give you any assistance in the prosecution of the above application. In view of the numerous references quoted against the- alleged inven¬ tion I have come to the conclusion that there is no invention in it at all. 4SL1 the applications which I have filed on this side in ' countries v/here applications are examined for novelty have been unsuccessful. Yours faithfully, TOUTED STATES PATENT OEEICE Thomas A. Edison Piled August 13, 1903 Serial No. 169,334 Room No. 315. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS SIH: - Replying to Office aotion of April 29, 1904, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Cancel the claims on file and insert the follow¬ ing claim: K , . , / . electro-magnet having i magnetic sAparator, laterally elongated pole pt^oes and an energizing coil whose width is considerably pole pieces, the number of lin&> circuit being greatly below the than the width of said force in the magnetic Ltuhation point of the I pole pieces and the magnetio field b^ing of praotioally uniform strength throughout the width or lateral extent of the pole pieces, substantially aB set foiS| ') In these drawings which are to be read with , and taken as part of this specification:- Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a plan of one of the improved, magnets, and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a magnetic ore separator shewing the said magnet enfoodied therein. As represented in the drawings the improved magnet consists of a body 1 of approximately horse-shoe form and comprising an upper portion 2, a lower portion 3 and a vertical or middle portion the last named of which is er:- circles^ by and concealed within the necessary energising coil 4. The end face of the upper portion 2 is. inclined in relation to the axis of the coil 4, and that of lower portion 3 ip parallel with the said axis, the former face overhanging or projecting more forwardly than. the latter face, all aB shewn most clearly in Figure 3. To the inclined face of the upper portion 2, the upper pole-piece 5 is secured by two bolt3 6 this pole- piece being formed of a flat plate, of iron or soft steel, and to the vertical face of the lower portion 3, the lower pole-piece 7 is secured by two bolts 8 this said pole- piece being formed of iron or soft steel of angle bar section. The respective meeting faceB- of the pole-piece 5 and portion 2, and of the pole-piece 7 and portion 3 are truly planed and surfaced so as to provide the best con¬ tacts possible between the said parts. In the practical embodiment of the improved magnet represented in figure 3 the said magnet i3 supported in such a position that the two pole pieces '5 and 7 are situat¬ ed above a. separating board or partition 10 the upper pole- pi^ce 5 overhanging the front of the partition and the lower pole piece 7 overhanging the rear of this partition. Above the pole-piece 5 is provided a hopper 11 having a suitable feed roller 12 Which delivers the crushed ore from the hopper 11, in a thin stream, on to an inclined ' chute. 13 which, in turn,- delivers it on. to an inclined board or plate' 14. This board 14 serves to check the descent of the' ore so that the ore will fall upon the • upper face of the pole-piece 5 near the lower edge thereof, immediately after it has been brought to rest, wherefore the material will not acquire any appreciable velocity by the time it reachea the lower edge of the Said pole- piece.' • The non-magnetic partlclea falling over the edge of the pole-piece 5, drop by gravity in front of the parti¬ tion 10, til at ia, the left hand aide of it in figure 3, while the magnetic particles, acted upon by the lineo of force between the two pole3 5 and 7, are drawn rearwardB (or rightwards in figure 3) and thereby separated from the descending gangue and caused to fall at the rear or right aide of the partition, all as indicated in figure 3 wherein the resultant accumulations of magnetic and non-magnetic particles are respectively marked 15 and 16, Without in any way restricting the invention to any specific dimensions or proportions it may be mentioned that for dealing with a stream of ore four feet wide, highly satisfactory and commercially successful results have been obtained from apparatus the various parts of which have borne the relative proportions represented in the drawings, the pole-pieces 5 and 7 each being four feet long. 1. An electro-magnet having pole-pieces of considerably greater length than the width of the magnet body, jjO'ZZL . 2. An electro-magnet having pole-pieces of considerably greater length than the width of the magnet body and of a cross sectional area not loss than sufficient to carry ■lines of force creating a magnetic field uniform through¬ out the length of the said pole-pieces., ^ ALfr ^ o-CuL , ' Aiyslebtro-magnet having poxe- -s/ctional/area of! the si the length and cross- and/ bhe width of "the y^ons approximately i itional/area ok the said po\le-pieces gap between then/having propor- In an electro-magnet, the combination with the magnet body, of pole-pieces thereon of considerably greater length than the width of the magnet body one pole-piece being above the other and inclined so that material deliver ed on to its upper surface will by gravity fall off there- from^SroU, L^Uc^cfk, ^ fX. In an electro-magnet the combination with the magnet ' body, of pole-pieces thereon of a length considerably -7- boater than the width of the magnet "body, one pole-piece being above the other and having its edge situated in a vertical plane different from that in which is situated the edge of the lower pole-piece^. ■ In an ele ctro -magnet , the combination with the magnet body^ of pole-pieces of a length considerably greater than the width of the magnet body, and made separate therefrom and attached thereto, and means for attaching . the said pole-pieces to the magnet body, PT. (o In an electro-magnet, the combination with the magnet body, of pole-pieces of length considerably greater than the width of the magnet body, and made separate there¬ from, one pole-piece being above the other and made of flat metal plate inclined in a direction transverse to its length and the other pole-piece being of angle bar section, 9>^7ZTXu&, ^ 0:J In an electro-magnet, the combination with the magnet body, of pole-pieces of length considerably greater. than the width of the magnet body, and made separate therefrom, one polerpieoe being above the other and made of flat metal plate inclined in a direction transverse to its length, the other pole-piece being of angle bar section, the edges of the two pole-pieces and between which the magnetic field is formed, ' being situated in different vertical planes, ^ (uA '^| j‘ Applicant. Address. || | df- . . yU •■ * . ^^4 7 . ■ ■f.: ) ;•/■'■' ■ •• . /jf Title . ^ . dy . C*; Filed Cc <£/?. V ^ /(7tL. Examiner’s Room No / 7 $ . !': ^ ; - !'?■!' ‘ / . • ^ Assignee . V . VAss’g't Exec . Recorded . Liber Page f ■ ' Patent No. 7.77 C: CJ / ,3, Issued C. I J, i<6. 3 6r . 7 ' ,J ; ACTIONS. , ' '^■^^7f7x?r--^rrrrT-..7^kf^i.Utrlrf.77^3'':.^~/.f.^ J6 . . afeeu* -rCZ. 2....7C^mu^.d^O. ...^u^..(^.y..7f.p,d i7 . ; _ j i 3 . . ' . (Lj^. ^ is . . . : 7 ,; 5 20 . j.; (*<.cU.aC. . 7> £?&£.. 21 . : . j|; 1 1 ■■■(fytybdidM. 22 . ' . f i' v . £%&.-.... '.:...‘rT<17 . 23 . ■ - . J I: 24 1 - •) 1 .tfftrf 25 . . j. V . .v. . 26 . | ' f2' •:; . • . 27 . ,.; . 1:.,, . . I. !. |3.:....;...: . 28 . .(. . . . : . ;. . (l 14-,;.., . . 29 . :,:. . . £%5 . . . . . . . . 30 . .'. . . . . . . . . . !: ‘ > FRANK L. DYER, 'k.'-'T "v " ' ^Cojinsel, m%S£ ' I '_ V> ORANGE, new jersey. | ’ Ccoul cU^C-l^ L<-tj ^ /ten*, ■' Qj^J fb^y 'y-t-Ztury, C-t^u — . 'VO/- ‘f£^.< A :% ’ jL~* e.s-'/L/C^ - " -<- V - , : "4 .0O/J- ^5' -/ , / r-~_i d— ■■;*££ 7(V h)Js ov ) a • - p-« L-tislx ~ Aj—isL./. 'n-t-t-zic-C, ~%ci ’ . 0 a 6 S~. 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A ' , /)- J rW/AeSr ^Wwv *■/ IaSLLmA ""y \D^y\x> Wir|o rw i)f &&£#* iUjwttwn- C^SHriv#^ (V/wji) Hot" ^ lu^fruucix Cast-iron work, before being nickel-plated, requires to be first placed in the potash bath, to remove grease, it is then to be well rinsed in cold water, and afterwards immersed in a pickle of sulphuric acid (half-a-pound of acid to each gallon of water) un¬ til the black scale usually found upon its surface becomes readily removable by brushing with sand and water. Some persons use powder¬ ed pumice for this purpose, but the author prefers sand, for the reason that this substance, besides being cheaper than pumice, leaves ohe surface of the work brighter; and since cast-iron work is gen¬ erally required to be left dead (that is, not polished) it presents an agreeably bright appearance, when plated, which the pumice pre¬ pared work does not equal. In cast-iron articles, the existence of numerous "sand-holes" is frequently a source of great trouble to the nickel-plater, inasmuch as it is impossible to obtain a deposit of nickel upon any surface which is not absolutely free from foreign matter. Again, nickel has such a great objection to turning a corner, under any circumstances, that unless the sand-holes are perfectly clean, this metal will not become deposited even in the i most trifling hollows. It is well, therefore, in order to obtain / a deposit of nickel in the crevices referred to, to ascertain that they are quite free from non-conducting matter, which may be done * by means of a sharp steel point, or the work may be brushed with the : steel wire brushes employed for this and similar purposes, and this generally has the effect of rendering slight hollows free from ob¬ jectionable matter. / - 11 130. M. Klein, of St. Petersburg, has succeeded in making electrotypes of iron as a substitute for copper electrotypes, and it is said that the improvement has been eminently successful in its application to bank-note printing, &c.. After having tried solu¬ tions of iron, but with only partial success, M. Klein at last found one which answered his purpose thoroughly. This bath consists of a solution of sulphate of iron, from which the iron is precipitated by carbonate of ammonia. The precipitate is then dissolved in the sulphuric acid. The solution must be evaporated to expel any free acid. Another bath consists of equal parts of chlorate of ammonia and sulphate of iron. Both these baths must be used as concentrated as possible. An iron anode is to be employed exposing about wight times more surface than the copper cathode which is to be coated presents. After being worked sometime, the deposit became faulty, which was found to be due to the presence of acid in the bath. This acidity was proved oto be due to the anode not supplying the solu¬ tion with the proper equivalent of iron-..to replace that which has been deposited, h. Klein then introduced a copper anpde, as well as an iron anode, and the bath soon became neutral again, and the de¬ position was more uniform. (The surface of anode must be extensive) The colour of the deposit dull grey, and somewhat rough, probably owing to the air-bubbles formed during the process. The metal de¬ posited was exceedingly hard, being nearly equal to hardened steel. When heated to cherry redness it became malleable, and as easy to engrave upon as soft steel. The electrotype plates thus formed are said to be very durable - far more so than copper, and hence their importance in bank-note printing. The deposited iron is permanently magnetic. Doubtless K. Klein will improve upon his present pro¬ cess in course of time, but so- far it appears to be a perfectly practical process - at least, in -his hands - and the Russian Govern¬ ment have promptly turned the invention to account. Petition. Go tbe Commissioner of patents : 13our petitioner , THOMAS A. ED1SOU, a citizen of the United States, residing and having hie post-office address at Dlewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, Me <>/ Jersey, Prnfis tbat letters patent mas be granteb to btm for tbe improved PROCESS OP DUPLICATING PHO HO GRAPH RECORDS set fortb in tbe annereb specfttcation ; anb be berebg appoints jfraijlt X. S^er (IRegls*, tratlon IRo. 560), of Eblson Xaboratorg, ©range, Hew 3erse», bis attorney, wltb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbls application, to mate altera* tions anb amendments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business In tbe patent office connecteb therewith. S P !J C in C A T1 0 !! , TO 7JHOM XT MAY CONCERN:- BE IT KNOv/N that I, Thomas A. Edi¬ son, of blewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain improvements in the Process of Duplicating Phonograph Records (Case No. 1,119), of which the ’following is a description: My invent'd on relates to an improved process for duplicating phonograph records from matrices . or molds, and my object is to provide a process for the purpose wherein the necessity is overaWe for making a large number of ori¬ ginal masters when a plurality of matrices' or molds of the same selection requires tto be made, whereby 1 am enabled to reduce tile expense of the \operati on. In carrying my inven¬ tion into effect 1 proceed Substantially as. f allows: A suitable master record is first made on a record ing machine having a specially coarse thread feed-screw, and If the master is sufficiently perfect for the purpose, a mold or matrix is made therefrom by any y/ell known process, as, for example, that indicated in my patent, No. 713,209, of November 11, 1902. The process by which this matrix or mold is made is preferably one by whioh the matrix or mold will be provided with a non- oxidizing record surfaoe, such as gold or nickel, so that it will be very permanent. From the matrix or mold thus made 1 obtain any desired number, say a dozen or more, of duplicate records or submasters by any suitable process. For example, a blank may be shaved very true so as to fit- accurately within the matrix or mold, and be then expanded into engagement with the record surface of the matrix or mold by heat and pressure, as 1 (1) I describe in my Said patent; or, instead, a molten wax-like material may be cant in the matrix or mold, as 1 describe in my patent, Ho. 607 ,662, of" February 5, 1901; or, finally, the matrix or mold may be dipped in a suitable molten, co- agulaDle, wax-like material, which forms a coagulated layer of the desired thickness thereon, as described in patent, Ho. 683,615, granted October 1, 1901, to Miller and Ayls- worth. By whatever process that may be followed an accurate subma3ter will be secured, the bore of 7/hich need not be finished. 1 aim to secure submastb'rs in this Wy which shall correspond accurately with masters now obtained by recording in the .first instance thereon in special recording machines; and, consequently, the original or main mold or matrix should be much longer than the record which it, car¬ ries, and the pitch of the record groove therein should be so selected that viien the submasters have contracted longi¬ tudinally, their pitch shall correspond with that now used in masters made directly in recording machines. This latter pitch, wl.th the materials now used, is ninety-eight and two- thirds threads per inch, but the pitch will vary with the composition employed and with the process followed, as to temperature, manipulations etc. Having obtained^ number of submasters in this way which correspond accurately with masters as now obtained r|^^r'Tfed:lre0tly °n the blan3£ in a 8uitable recording machine ,^4-ma3cg--a-ttambcr of suhmrftthrHSr^^ sub¬ masters by any suitable process, for instance, those indi¬ cated in my patent, Ho. 713,209, above referred to, and from these submolds I proceed to obtain duplicates in the usual way, as indicated in the several patents to which atten¬ tion .has been directed. The duplicates so obtained, when finished on the interior and ends, are commercially salable duplicates, comparing favorably with those now secured in the art from a matrix or mold made fro/n a master obtained directly by recording in the first instance in a special recording machine . These duplicates, when they reach their normal temperature, will possess the standard pitch of thread of one hundred per inch, and v/ill, therefore, ho capable of effective use in standard reproducing machines bof the phonograph type. (L Having now described my 'invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by letters patent is as follows: ‘.-X- 0. y0' A process of making duplicate sound records, which conai in first obtaining a suitable master having a very eoarse pi^ch of r^°Pr,d groove, in forming a matrix or mold therefrom.Vn .securing a plurality of submasters from the matrix oj; mold so secured, in making a plurality of submolds or suborn trices from the submasters, and in Becm from the submolds\or submatricesAduplicate sound records of standard pitch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 2. A process of ma&Uig duplicate sound records, whioh| consists in making an origiiml master record of abnormal length and of abnormally coarseVLtch, in securing a main matrix or mold therefrom, In obtalnS-if; a number of submas¬ ters from the main matrix or mold and\f less pitch, in se-. curing a number of submatrioes or submold's, from the sub¬ masters, and in obWiS^ffro m the submat ricks or submolds duplicate phonograph records of standard pitch /Wstantial- ly.as set forth. ’ N, (3) trbis specification signeb anb witnesseb tbls bap of State Of Kow JerBey, Count? Of Essex, TIIOMAG A. EDI SO If . tbe above=itatneb petitioner, being buls sworn, beposes anb sap3 tbat be is a citizen of tbe United. States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of Hew Jersey; tbat be peril? believes bimself to be tbe original, first anb sole inventor of tbe IMPROVED PROCESS OF DUDL1CAT1HG PHONO GRAPH RECORDS beserfbeb anb clafmeb in tbe annejeb specincntion ; tbat be boes not [mow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever Imown or useb bp others in tbe Vlnlteb States of Hmerica before bis invention or biscoverp thereof ; or patenteb or bescribeb fit anp prfnteb publication in tbe Ulniteb States of Hmerica or anp foreign couutrp before bis invention or biscoverp thereof, or more than two pears prior to tbfs application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe Ulniteb States for more than two pears prior to tbfs application, anb tbat no application for patent upon safb invention bas been fileb bp biin or bis legal representatives or assigns (it anp foreign countrp more than seven months prior to tbe filing of tbis application. Sworn to anb subscribeb before me tbis bap of dfensz' 190 3 2—200. J Jj. ?| ^ Paper Nj2Lj.ItuJ.ac.ti an. ' application should glvo.tho serial number, department of the Interior, ''[/>> United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c. itoaen'ber 'S;190'6. 1 Thomas A. Mis on, Caro yrank T<. Hyor > Alio on IicUioraiory, 6 range, How Jersoy. U. S. PRTEHT OFFICE, DEC 3 1903 M AiLE D. uiication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application. for Proa ties of rjupliisXti hg Phonograph Records, filed Hov. 3,19ns. serial number 179,7.1(5. . .Commissioner of Patents. i This application has boon duly examined. It ifi quits common to produo o an enlarged copy of an original record. At tout ion is called /o the following patents: / r Alison' b rlngllsh Patent ^1644 of 1878, Pic. £9, Graph. , I and Ametjlfejr" "14,1895, -fSSG, P.lB . It is held that, it cannot constitute pa tenth bio inven¬ tion to make' a "matris from such tin enlarged record aid by any of the well known duplicating' processes produce a copy of the enlarg¬ ed record In material that would nqdessarily shrink and produce a record sm 11 or’ than the' enlarged record but equal to, if pot’ larger, than the” original redord. Tlie claims are rejected for rant of patentable invention, in view of the'Vat3nt8 aited,’ and what applicant refers to in the epeoif ibattaa as . being old ways of duplicating. - UNITED STATES PATENT QPPIOE. ThomaB A. Edison Improved Process of Duplicating Phonograph Records Piled November 3, 1S03. Serial No. ,179,716 , HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS. Sir: — Replying to Offioe action of December 3, 1903, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Claim 1, line 4, change "securing" to "molding" Same claim, line 6, change "securing" to "mold¬ ing" . Claim 2, line 4, change "obtaining" to "mold¬ ing". : Same claim line 7, change "obtaining" to "mold¬ ing" . I The claims are believed to be patentable over the references for the following reasons. The invention set forth in the claims is entirely different from anything suggested in the references. The present invention re¬ lates entirely to the duplication of sound records by a series of molding processes. The patents cited do not dis¬ close any molding processes but merely meohanical means for securing copies of records. In both the patents the vibrations are amplified in the duplicate, that is, they are greater in the duplicate than in the original. In applicant's method, there is no such amplification* In both of the patents cited, the process of duplication des- °0nsiBts of a Binsle stePi th*t is, the production °fV directly from an ariginal by a mechanical connection -1- ■between them. In the prooosses claimed, there are a series of Btepe. Euthermore , in the said patents only- one duplicate is made from the original, whereas in the processes claimed a plurality of duplicates (sub-masters), are obtained from the original and duplicates are then obtained from the sub-masters, in each case, by forming a matrix or mold and in molding therefrom. The Examiner states that "it is quite pommon to produce an enlarged copy of an original repord". According to applicant's invention, no enlarged copy is produced. The first copy (sub-master) is smaller than the original and the second copy (duplicate record of standard pitch) is smaller than the sub-master. An allowance of the claims is respectfully fe'cte'iclted }•, Thomas A. Edison By His Attorney Orange , Nev/ Jersey June /C, 1904. 2—2G0. DlV. 3S , Roor tMmtnunitaUona eheuld be eddneeed pj «H« 7)» United States Patent Office, Ih“',AVaar‘“SUJ,.^, MumnwErA Edison laboratory, JUU 7 1904 Orange, Haw jersey. mailed. Please find below a communication from, the EXAM HER in charge of your application, far Process of implicating Phh Records, filod I-Tov. 3,1903, #179,716 . • R J, m&L: This action is in response to the amendment filsd the The claims, as amended, it is believed, define merely duplicating by tho well toaown molding process, tho duplicate -y/ formed by tho process in applicant's patent, seby. 8*1 901, #667, 662, (181-16) and it must be held that no invention can be displayed in duplicating from a dupl icate instead of dupl ioating from tho ' original record, such matter mtom having been referred to in patent to Edison, Sept, 11,1900 ,#657,587, (181-16). The claims are rejected. UNITED STATES PATENT 0PP1CE, Thomas A, Edison IMPROVED PROCESS OP DUPLICATING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Piled November 3, 1903 Serial No. 179,716. Room No. 379. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS SIR:- Replying to Office action of July 7, 1904,. please amend the above entitled case as follows: . • Page 1, rewrite the paragraph beginning - "My invention", as follows: My invention relates to an improved process for ) producing duplicate phonograph records from matrioes or molds. Heretofore suoh reooidB have been produced by f first making a suitable master, forming a matrix or mold around Baid master, removing Baid master and then molding the duplicates successively by means of said mold' %iile it is sometimes possible to remove the master witi. <| out injury from the mold so that it can be used for the I production of another or other molds, it requires ex¬ treme oare and there is always danger of injury to the surface of the master, whereby it becomes unfit for further use. Inasmuch bb the delicate surface of the mold thus produced almost inevitably becomes aor&iohed or marred at sometime during continued use, the life of the mold is limited and therefore the number of du¬ plicates whloh oan be produced from the mold is limited. If one dQBires t4> obtain additional duplicates, it will be necessary to construct another mold, and if the master has been injured or destroyed it will, of course, be neoeseary to produce anotjier master. This in many cases will be impossible, because one may not be able to secure the services of the person or persons who produced the original master, their voices may have changed, or other reasons may prevent the production of a second master. Furthermore, it frequently happens that there is a great demand for a particular selection which it is impossible to fill by the production of dupli¬ cates from a single mold, because of the time necessar¬ ily consumed in producing each dvplioate. Xn order , therefore, to overcome these difficulties, it has been the practice in this art to produce several master re¬ cords at the same time which shall be as nearly alike as possible, so that a plurality of molds can be pro¬ duced, one from each master. This prooess is objection¬ able, however, because the suspense of producing master records of artistic quality is very great, requiring a large number of trials, sinoe the slightest blast or other flaw in the reoord necessitates the discarding thereof. Furthermore, it is impossible to produoe two masters which are exactly alike. The object of the present invention is a process whereby a praotioally unlimited number of sound records can be produced, each of whioh is a duplicate of a single master j whereby any desired number of mold* oan be produoed at any time for molding said records; whereby any desired number of exaotly similar duplicate V V \ / records can tie molded simultaneously; and whereby a 1 permanent and enduring reoord of the master may he ob- | ( tained and preserved for the /.future production of such / molds and records. In oarrying my invention into ef- I feet, 1 proceed substantially as follov/s : 1 Page Z, line 26, cancel - "I make a number of submolds or matrices of", arid insert in place thereof — Sthe main matrix or mold may be filed away. It will not \be required for further use during the life of the sub- jmolds whose production 1 will now describe, but will be / available at any future time for the production of j additional submasters from which submolds may be made. \The submoldB or fggtKig,es are produced from - Page 5, insert after line 7 the following: It is obvious that according to my invention the number of duplicate phonograph records which com be obtained from a single master is multiplied. That 1b to say, suppose that the life of eaoh mold is limited to one thousand operations - then, according to the methods heretofore known, we oan produce only one thousand duplicate copies of the original master, assuming the same to have been destroyed in making the molds. This is the limit to the number of duplicates y/hich oan be produoed from the master in question and therse duplicates can only be produoed suooessiyely. Aooording to my in¬ vention, hov/ever, it will be possible to produoe a thousand Bub-masters from the main mold,to produce a sub*, mold from eaoh sub-master, thereby obtaining a thousand sub-molds, and then produoe from these subBsubdds one million duplicate sound records, eaoh of which is a copy 3. V 1/ I of the original master, and in the some space of time that one thousand records were formerly produced. Another advantage of my invention is that the molding of the sub-masters can be done with great care by the most skillful workmen so that the main mold will not bo injured and the molding from the sub-molds oan be! done very rapidly, without much care, or by comparative# unskilled persons, because a sub-mold oan be replaced at any time without very great expense. rcAf . Rewrite the claims as follows: V'' *’(f7 ^ **'* 1. The process of multiplying sound! records, which consists in producing a suitable master1, forming a matrix or mold therefrom,, molding a plurality of sub¬ masters from said mold) forming a sub-matrix or sub- t' ■ mold from each of said sub-masters and then molding duplicate sound records from each of said sub-matrices or sub-molds, whereby a plurality of duplicate sound records can be obtained simultaneously and the produc¬ tion thereof is not limited by the life of the molds innwhich they are formed, substantially as set forth. 2, The procesls of multiplying sound records, which consists in prodttcung a suitable master having a record groove of abnormally coarse pitch, forming a matrix of moiaitherefEcm^mcllsins a '.plurality of sub-masterB of smaller pitch than BVid master from said mold, forming a sub-matrix or sub-riold from each of said sub-masters and then molding duplicate sound recordB of standard Aid pitch from each of said sub-matrices or sub-molds, ^ whereby a plurality of ^duplicate sound records oan be iH obtained simultaneouslyNand the production thereof is not limited by the life \f the molds in which they are formed, substantially as fcet forth. C&**- Sj ‘>1L0Cs%5> REMARKS This case haB been amended in order to more | clearly set forth the patentable novelty of the invention. ffihe invention is a process of multiplying sound reoorda, and as explained in the specification, the inven¬ tion makes it possible to obtain, for example, a million duplicate secordB within the same period of time that a 4. thousand records ware formerly produced, assuming that the master is destroyed in making the mold. There 1b no suggestion in the prior art of any means by which this result can be accomplished. In Edison Patent Eo. 657,527 cited, a metallic duplicate is produced by electro-deposition upon the in¬ terior of a matrix in order that copies may be made there¬ from by mechanical means, and on account of the hardnesB or durability of the metal, the number of copies whioh can be made is increased. J.f the metallic record is con¬ sidered to be the equivalent of the sub-master of the pres* ent application, the disclosure of the patent fails as a reference, because only one such copy is produced, where¬ as according to the present invention as described and claim¬ ed a plurality of sub-masters are produced and it is only by virtue of this fact that a multiplication of the final copies is obtained. Furthermore, in the reference the metallic copy is not produced by molding but by electro-deposition and it is neoessary th destroy the matrix in order to obtain the copy. Therefore, it is impossible to obtain a plural¬ ity of sub-masters by any means disclosed in this patent. The remaining reference failB to anticipate the claims since it does not disclose any means for multiply¬ ing copies. In eaoh case the duplicate must be produced successively and their production is limited by the life of the mold in which they are formed. Applicant's invention is now clearly set forth and differentiated from the prior art in the specifica¬ tion and claims. 5. The claims are -believed to -be patentable for the reasons sot forth, and an allowance of the oase is recpooti'ully solicited. THOMAS A. -EDISON Hie Attorney. Orange, Now Jersey June v 1905 . 2-260. D i v - 2>5 Room _ 3.7 9 DEPARTMENT 0 Paper No. . J * United States Patent Office, Thomas A. jtdison, Onrg tfnwifc % hyer, ddisori he. bora to ry , Orange ,!few J ora ey. ■ c„ July 8l)t.lS06. I S. POTT OFFICE ■ JUL 25 1905 MAILED. p Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application , for Prpeosa of implicating Phonog-aph Re oorit*, filed JTov. 3, ..1903 ,ao rial number 179,71'j. &.J, _ _ _ . _ Commissionerjffiatmt?. Tills act Ion is in response to the 'amendment filed tho 24th' ultimo. Y/hat urr Humt terms the "aub mo. st or" Is merely the usual duplicate record that is commonly sold ux>on the market. Ap pllo ant desires a patent for duplioating or multiplying these' oommonly sold duplioate records. As has been before stated, there san be no in-ventlon displayed in multiplying or duplioating a dunlloate in stead of duplioating an| original and the claims are aooordlngly. rejected for want of invention in view of the patents before cited. 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OPJiTCE, Thomas A. Edison ) I IMPROVED PROCESS OP DUPLICAT- ) ING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS I Eiled November 3, 1903 I Serial No. 179,716 ) Room No. 379 i HONORABLE COKHJ SSI ONER OP PATENTS: SI R ; Replying to Office action of July 25th, 1905, a reconsideration is respectfully re¬ quested. The Examiner is mistaken when he states that the element termed by applicant the "sub-master" is merely the usual duplicate record that is sold upon the market As a matter of fact the sub-master is the device from which the mold is made by which the duplicates are afterwards pro duced. These sub-masters are never sold and in fact would be useless for purposes of reproduction in an ordinarj) phonograph because the pitch of the record groove does not correspond with the pitch of the feed screw. The Examiner holds that there is no invention in duplicating a duplicate instead of duplicating an original. It should be noted, however, that the claims are limited to molding a plurality of sub-masters from a single mold, forming a sub-matrix from eaoh of said sub-masters, and then molding duplicate sound recordB from each of said sub-matrices. That is, the process provides for a multiplication of copies which would not be obtained by merj ly duplicating a duplicate. Eurthermore there would be no use of this invention in merely duplicating one of the commonly sold duplicate; records, beoause one must take a 1. plurality of identical reoords and make a mold from each of the said reoords, and produce duplicate records from each of these molds. As long as one confines himself to the use of one mold for producing each hind of record, there is no multiplication of copies in the sense in which this word is used in the present application. The claims appear to he entirely novel and an allowance thereof is therefore respectfully solicited. Orange, New Jersey July f ; 1906 . THOMAS A. NMSON By his attorney . 2. Paper No . < ins rc8pe^rt?g\5l^ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON,! ThoiKHt, A. Udison, oaro Pranft h, J)ynr, Miaou Laboratory, Orung» ,11.3V' ■ 'm OFFICE,. XSjL Ll * JUL 27 M A I L E ' V^l 1% Plcascfitid below ticominiuiicatiori front the -EXAMINER- in charge, of ycturapplicatioTi^ t for Procsee of implicating Phone^aph Records* filed -ffowi '■$J, (ML- This notion is Itt: response v,o the argument f J.l*d the loth in* twit . The examiner has carefully con&idered applicant's Argu¬ ment and has noted that applicant hue argued that the sub-masters are of a character unanitedfor use in practical operation ia reproducing, hut it is also noted, that neither of the claims define this characteristic of the sub-musters, nor are the sub-masters defined in the claims in any way to differentiate them from dupli¬ cates made in regular duplicate record material. Whether a plurality of sub-masters or duplicates are made and then duplicates made from the plurality of sub-wasters, is immaterial in a patentable whether one or a plurality be made raises the question of degree only . As the claims 'Are now-drawn ,the_ former ground of" rejection la believed to be rertinent end it ie repeated and made final . " . ' \ 'll * A drawing. illustrating the alleged invention in requested to bo filed. TOUTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ThoraaB A. Edison ) IMPROVED PROCESS OP DUPLICATING) PHONOGRAPH RECORDS : Piled November 3rd, 1903 • Serial No. 179,716 \ Room No. 379 Honorable CommiBsioner of Patents, Sir : — In response to Office] letter of July 27th, 1906, pleaBe amend as follows: Cancel claim 2 and substitute the following: 2. The prooess of multiplying Bound recordB, whioh o ons is ts in producing a suitable master having a record groove of abnormally coarse pitch, forming a matrix or mold therefrom, molding from said matrix or mold i plurality of sub-masters of less pitch than that of said master, forming a sub-matrix or sub-mold from each of said sub-masters, and then molding from said sub-ma¬ trices or sub-molds duplicate sound records of standard pitch, which is lass than jrhat of the sub-masters, whereby a plurality of duplicate Bound records can be obtained simultaneously from the same master and the production thereof is not limited to the life of the molds in whioh they are directly formed, substantially as set forth. 1. 3. The process of multiplying sound records, which o one is t a in producing a suitable master of ooarse pitch, forming a matrix or mold therefrom of the same pitoh, molding a plurality of sub-maBters from said mold of a smaller pitch, forming a sub-matrix or sub-mold from each oi said sub-masters and of the same pitch, and then molding duplicate sound records of a still smaller pitch from each of said sub-matrices or sub-moldB, whereby a plurality of duplicate sound records can be obtained simultaneously and the production thereof is not limited by the life of the mold in which they are formed, substantially as set forth. REMARKS . The above claims have been formulated in view of the Examiner's action of July 27, 1906, and they are thought to embody the suggestions contained therein. It is hoped that op reconsideration, claim 1, whioh applicant , for the reasons repeatedly set forth heretofore, believes to be patentable, may also be allowed. It is requested that the Examiner point cut aB definitely as he can, the nature of the drawing which he thinks should be filed in this case. It is not clear to applicant hov; the oase could be properly illustrated by meanB of a drav/ing. Respeotfully submitted. THOMAS A. EDISON By / , 1910. IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OPE ICE Thomas A. Edison PROCESS OP DUPLICATING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Piled Nov. 3, 1903 Serial No. 179,716 ) ) : Before the Commiss- ) loner of Patents in : Person. brief por appellant. This is an appeal from the decision of the Board of Examiners-in-Chief affirming the decision of the Examiner in finally rejecting the claims of this application. Tho claims, the rejection of which is hereby appealed from, are as follows: 1. The process of multiplying sound records, which consists in producing a suitable master, forming a matrix or mold therefrom, molding a plurality of sub-masters from said mold, forming a Bub-matrix or sub-mold from each of said sub-masters, and then molding duplicate sound records from eaoh of said sub-matrices or sub-molds, whereby a plurality of duplicate sound records can be obtained simultaneously and the production thereof is not limited oy the life of the molds in which they are formed, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 2. The process of multiplying sound records, which consists in producing a suitable master having a record groove of abnormally coarse pitoh, forming a matrix or mold therefrom, molding from said matrix or mold a plur¬ ality of Sub-masters of lesB pitoh than that of said ' master, forming a sub-matrix or Bub-mo Id from eaoh of said Bub-masterB, and then molding from said sub-matrices or sub-molds duplicate sound records of standard pitoh, which 1b leBB than that of the sub-masters, whereby a plurality (1) of duplicate sound rooords etui be obtained eimultaneously from tlio same master and the production thereof is not limited to the life of the molds in which they are direot- ly formed, substantially as set forth. J. The process of multiplying sound records, which consists in producing a suitable master of coarse pitoh, forming a matrix or mold therefrom of the same pitoh, molding a plurality of Bub-raasters from said mold of a smaller pitch, forming a sub-matrix or sub-mold from each of said sub-masters and of the same pitch, and then mold¬ ing duplicate sound records of a still smaller pitch from each of said sub-matrioes or Bub-molds, whereby a plurality of duplicate sound records con be obtained simultaneously, and the production thereof is not limited by the life of the mold in which they are formed, substantially as set forth. The references relied upon aro patents to Edison, #667,662, Feh. 5, 1901, (181-16) Edison, #657,527, Sept. 11, 1900 (181-16) Anot , #539,212, May 14, 1895, (l8l-l6) BTATEOTHT OF TOT CASE This invention is a simple one, but one of con¬ siderable importance. It consists in a process by which molded duplicate phonograph records may be commercially produced in large numbers and are so produced at the manu¬ facturing worts in which the appellant is chiefly in¬ terested. The invention consists in a process which dis¬ tinguishes from known processes hy the interposition of new steps therein. The question to he decided is whether the process evolved by the introduction of these new steps is patentahly different from the old processes, that is, whether the addition of the new steps amounts to invontion or not. By the addition of these now Bteps, a rapid multiplication of the original phonograph rooord is achieved in the production of duplicate records. These (2) atops are referred to In the first of the claims, for example, whorein after the statement that a suitable master record is first produced and a matrix or mold formed there¬ from, it is then stated that a plurality of sub-masters are molded from said mold and a Bub-matrix or sub-mold is formed from eaoh of said sub-masters.. She duplicate sound rooords which form a final product of the process are molded from each of the sub-matrioeB. Previous to appellant's Invention on which this application was filed November 3, 1903, the process of forming duplicate molded phonograph reoords was as follows: A master reoord was made by a singer or other performer singing into the horn of the recording phonograph, whereby the original or master record was cut in the Boft surface of the wax record. Prom this a matrix or mold of metal was made by well known processes, the sound record being carried in relief , that is, reversed upon the bore of the matrix. The duplicate sound reoords which wore to be sold were then molded directly within this matrix by one of several well known prooeBses, which duplicate record was removed from the mold by cooling the record sufficient¬ ly to contract the same so that it might be withdrawn from the mold longitudinally. In this way a number of reoordB, perhaps one thousand, might be produced successively from the matrix. The matrix, however, deteriorated during the process from friction and use, the sound reoord being ex¬ ceedingly delicate, so that at the end of possibly one thousand duplications the mold was unfit for further use. ThiB prooess was well enough for a small output of records, but it obviously was entirely unsuitable for the produc¬ tion of reoords upon the tremendous scale to which appell- (3) ant's business had developed some time before the concep¬ tion of the invention upon which this application was filed. This situation could be relieved in a number of ways. A numbor of matrioes might be formed from the original master record and duplicates molded from each of these matrices. Shis, however, could not be depended upon, since the original or master record which was formed of quite soft wax was liable to injury in removing it from the mold, and honce, no one master record oould be depended upon to form more than one porfeot matrix. Or again, a number of original master reoords might be formed by causing the singer to repeat his performance a number of times. This was the practice v/hioh was adopted at appellant' 3 work3 before tho date of this invention. The singer had to make a good many trials before he succeeded in producing a sound record which waB sufficiently perfect to serve as a master. In the case of a popular selection the singer would have to repeat his performance over and over again. Some time prior to appellant's invention, eaoh performer at the Edison Phonograph Works made five or six reoordB of eaoh selection, v/hioh necessitated sing¬ ing the pieoe a great many times. Shortly bofore appell¬ ant's invention, the demand for duplicate phonograph rec¬ ords grew enormously. A large number of duplicates had periodically to be produced in a short time, since new selections are put on the market once every month. In this limited time it was impossible to make a sufficient even number of duplicates from/rive or six master records and matriosB formed therefrom, and ofteh-as many-as 10 or 15 (4) original records had to he produoed by the performer of a popular selection in order to meet tho demand for that record. It is, of course, obvious that in a task of suoh magnitude tho singer's voice deteriorated and the differ¬ ent master records produced would not ho all of equal excellence. It is also obvious that a high-priced artist of the calihi’o of Slezak and Caruso could not ho expected to devote time and onorgy to making such an enormous number of trials for the production of one given selection. In spite of the imperfections of the practioe above described, no bet-cer procedure was known until appellant's invention, and this practice was carried on prior to that time at appellant's works and in the works of all other sound record manufacturers to the heat of appellant's knowledge and belief. To meet this situation, appellant conceived the idea of a process in which a cingle perfect master record might be duplicated by a rapid multiplication. As stated, up to this time a thousand records for example had been formed from one matrix made from a perfect master, or even fdf teen thousand duplicates had been fanned from fifteen matrices formed from fifteen masters more or less perfect. Appellant's invention introduced a multiplying factor into the proooss. A plurality of perfect records tenned sub-masters are molded with great care from the one perfect matrix formed from the original master reoord. As stated, there might be a thousand of these sub-master records made. Prom each of these sub-masters one matrix or mold known as a sub- matrix is made. Then from eaoh one of tho thousand sub- matrioos a thousand commercial duplicate records might, be formed or one million records in all, the thousand sub- (5) matrices all perhaps being used in the molding of dupli¬ cate commercial reoordB at the same time. NOVELTY 03? THE INVENTION shown by the HE3?ERBHC3j!S CITED This result is not even hinted at in the prior art, an examination of which will disclose the fact the the insertion of the multiplying factor into the process, the formation of a plurality of sub-masters and sub-matri¬ ces from which the duplicates are to be formed, waB origi¬ nal with appellant. PAT33HT TO 35DISON BO. 667.662 Edison's prior patent Ho. 667,662 merely shows one of the processes known at the date of the present in¬ vention for forming duplicates from an original record. In this process a mold was made from a master record and the duplicate records molded in this mold by introducing molten material into the mold around a core, allowing the molten material to set, contracting the said material, and removing the record thus formed together with the core from the mold and separating the oore from the molded record. The 3bcaminer sayB in his statement that the record bo formed is identical with what applicant toms his Bub-master, and that invention cannot be involved in merely duplicating the duplicate records so made. More will be said upon tills point hereafter. PATENT TO EDISON NO. 657.527 Patent to Edison No. 657,527 provides for the making from the original master record of a single raetall- (6) Iio auplioate reoora by electro-deposition upon the inter¬ ior of a matrix formea from the original record. The metallic duplicate record so formed 1b then used as a master reoora in plaoe of the original wax master, the patent contemplating the production of duplicate reoords from this metallic master record by a process of mechani¬ cal copying similar to the well known pantograph. Only a single metallic duplioate record was thus formed from the wax master, since the mold which was formed from the wax master and in which the metallic duplicate was made had to be dissolved in soid and entirely deotroyed in order that the metallio master record might bo extracted from the interior thereof. It would be impossible to make a plurality of sub-matrices from this metallic masted, sinoe they could not bo separated therefrom without des¬ troying the metallic mastor, and no suoh idea was in the mind of the patentee. Thus this patent does not dis- olose appellant's multiplying step any more than does the Edison patent first discussed. Tho Examiner states that this patent discloses one way of duplicating from a duplicate. The hoard of Examiners-in-Chief also state that there would seem to be no invention in carrying this step into the molded record art. More will be Baid on this point hereafter, but it may here bo noted that it would be impossible to carry this step into the molded record art from the disclosure of the patent olted, sinoe only one metallic duplicate record could be formed in accordance with the patent, and henae it would bo impos¬ sible to form a plurality of sub-matrices or sub-masters from either of whioh duplicate records might be formed with multiplication. (7) PATBNT TO AMBIT HO. 539.212 Patent to .Amet No. 539,212, whicli is the remain¬ ing reference in the case, merely discloses the fact that it is old to obtain copies of eh original record by a process of meohonical transference, the movements of the stylus which tracks the record groove of the original or master record being reproduced with amplification by a system of linkages -connected to the recording stylus whioh travels over a rotating phonograph blank. By this means a copy of the original record is made, whioh oopy is somo¬ v/hat larger than the original record because of the lever¬ age, that is, the fact that levers are used in the con¬ nections between the two styluses. Shis does not seem to be at all pertinent to the invention in issue, and the Board of Examlners-in-Chief do not allude to it in their opinion. The Hxaminer in his statement says that Amet discloses an enlarged record from which duplicates of normal size may be made. This is thought to have nothing to do with the issue. consideration ot Jim claims Considering first Claim 1, whioh is In terms the broadest of the claims, it will be noted that a plural¬ ity of sub-masters are molded from the one main mold, which in the art is known as the "mother" mold and sub- matrices or sub-molds formed from each of said Bub-masters, and the duplicate sound records molded from eaoh of the sub-matrices or sub-moldB. It is evident that none of the references discloses all the steps of this process, nor can any or all of the references be combined to pro¬ vide the steps of the prooess. (8) ERROR ON Tlffl EXAMINER AND THE BOARD CONCERNINQ DUELICATIOH OF COMMERCIAL RECORDS In the opinion of the Board of Examiners- in- Chief ooours the following: "It Js pointed out by the Examiner that commercial records are commonly used to make matrioes, which practice seems to us to involve the process here claimed, it being immaterial patentably whether one or a plurality of secondary matrices are employed." This statement, as broadly worded, iB thought to be an error both in the statement of fact and conclusion of law. It is not the common praotice, nor is it possible to buy on the market duplicate phonograph records, that is, cylindrical sound reoordB, form matrices therefrom, and then form duplicate records in Baid ma¬ trices which may be used as duplicate records adapted for sale. This is because the duplicate record which might be obtained and used as a master for the production of a mold and duplication therefrom has a record groove having a standard number of threads per inch, say 100 threads per inch, and the duplicate records formed there¬ from would have a greater number of threads per inch, about lOl-l/j threads per inch, because qf the shrink¬ age of the wax in molding and extraction of the record. Accordingly, the record so made could not be repro¬ duced upon any of the existing talking machines whioh are adapted to play reoords having 100 or 200 threads per inch. Even if it were true that the praotice referred to by the Examiner were possible, it would not involve (9) appellant's Invention oinoe it would merely involve the duplication of one duplicate of a reoord, and not the duplication of a plurality of duplicates of a reoord, such as the plurality of sub-masters provided by appell¬ ant, whereby a multiplication of the reoord is achieved. It may be that in the case of disc sound records, a duplicate sound reoord may be copied in the manner referred to by the Examiner, but aB stated, the process under consideration would not there be involved, since a duplicator would presumably make a mold of only one duplicate of a given reoord, and not a plurality of molds from a plurality of duplicates of the same record, from which multiplied commercial duplicates might be ob¬ tained. There is no suggestion in the record that this has ever been done, and it is thought to be not immaterial, as stated by the Board, but decidedly material patontably whether one or a plurality of second¬ ary matrices are employed. Claims 2 and 3 point out even more distinctly why it is impossible that the invention be anticipated by tho praotice of duplicating duplicates referred to by the Examiner, since in Claims 2 and 3, a master record is stated to be formed which has a reoord groove of abnormally coarse pitch, the mold or matrix formed therefrom, which is the "mother" mold, a plurality of sub-masters of Iosb pitch than that of Bald master molded from the mother mold or matrix, a sub-matrix or (10) Bub-mold formed from each of said sub-masters, and the duplicate sound records formed from Bald sub-matrices, the duplicate sound records being of standard pitch, which is less than that of the sub-masters. As a matter of fact, as is pointed out in appellant's brief before the Examiners- in-Chief , the duplicate records contemplated by appellant's invention have a pitch of one hundred threads per inch, the sub-masters, from which the duplicate records are formed, have a pitch somewhat coarser than one hundred threads to the inch, or approximately ninety-eight and two-thirds threads per inch, and the original master itself has a still coarser pitch of approximately ninety seven and one- third threads per inch. As has been stated by the Board, the patent to EdiBon No. 667,662 states that the master must be larger or of coarser pitch than the desired record to allow for shrinkage, and since appellant must get to his final product in two mold¬ ing steps, he must, of course, allow for two shrink¬ ages instead of one, and must make his molds of corres¬ ponding pitch. The inclusion of theBe limitations in Claims 2 and 5, however, clearly aid in differentiating the same from any suoh practioe as mentioned by the Examiner, namely, that of duplicating a duplicate record, since appellant does not duplicate an ordinary duplicate record, but a record of abnormally ooarse (11) I pitch, whioh oould not bo used as a oommeroial dupli- Ioate. Henoo, the Btatomont of the Examiner that inso¬ far as tho claimed dovioes are concerned, appellant's sub-master is nothing more than tho oommeroial dupli- Icate record commonly sold on the market is inoorroot. ERROR OR THE BXMINERS,IH_OHIEg AS TO | EDI S OH PATENT HO. 657, 527. It has already been pointed out that the Examiners -in-Chief were in error in holding that patent to Edison Ho. 657,527 might instruct an inventor in the molded reoord art as to the proper way to proooed to overcome tho difficulty which appellant met by the invention in issue. Edison, in tho patent referred to, formed a single metallic duplicate from the original mold, and could form only one by the process dosoribed. Erom this one metallic duplioate, commercial dupli¬ cates might be made by a process of mechanical trans¬ ference, such as shown in patent to Amet, Ho. 539,212, but this v/ould givo absolutely no instruction to any one desiring to increase the rapidity of production of duplicates of molded records, as has been pointed out above, on' page 7 of this brief. (12) INVENTIONS OF SIMILAR CHARACTER HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN HELD PATENTABLE. It is thought that appellant's position will now he dear to your Honor. The invention is a simple one, hut it is novel, of great utility, and because of its great commercial suooess and the fact that it v/as vainly sought for a considerable length of time by different in¬ ventors and had not been discovered by any before appell¬ ant's invention* it is thought to be patentable. As to the novelty of the process, it will be conceded that the steps of providing a plurality of sub-masters and forming sub-matrices therefrom have not been suggested by otherB. The deoisions are, of course, uniform that the intro¬ duction of one new step into a process makes a new process thereof. See Carnegie Steel Co. vs. Cambria Iron Co., C. D., 1902, 592, a decision of the U. S. Supreme Court, and Ex parte Patterson, C. D. 1905, 230. As to the utility of the process, the difficulties whioh appellant and his manufacturing company experienced prior to this invention have been noted above. If it is deemed desir¬ able, appellant can furnish affidavits on this point. A few deoisions which are persuasive of the invention in this oase may well be briefly called to your Honor's attention. In Carnegie Steel Co. vs. Cambria Iron Co. referred to, the TJ. S. Supreme Court held that invention was Involved in the JoneB process of mixing molten metal to secure uniformity of the same preparatory to further treatment, the novel step in the process involving the (13) ! use of a reservoir of large size in which the product of a number of furnaces was mixed and. allowed to become uni¬ form, portions only of the composite molten contents of the receptacle being removed, from time to time for further treatment without entirely draining the reservoir. The prior art Bhowed that it was old to provide similar reservoirs, but no one had seen that such reservoirs might be made sufficiently large and the process carried out by the aid of the same to produce the result achieved by the patentee. The Court considered that the fact that a simple matter, had produced a great practical success, demonstrated the patentability of the invention. As the Court observed, a procoBB patent can only be antici¬ pated by a similar process. "It 1b not sufficient to show a piece of mechanism by which the process might have been performed." The Supreme Court defined the situation as follows: "It is true the Jones patent is a simple one and in the light of present experience it Beems strange that none of the expert stool makers who approached so near the consummation of their desire, Bhould have failed to take the final Btep which was needed to convert their experiments into an assured success. This, however, is but the common history of important Inventions, the sim¬ plicity of which seems to the ordinary observer to pre¬ clude the possibility of their involving an exerciBe of the inventive faculty. The very fact that the attempt which had been made to secure a uniformity of produot seems to have been abandoned after the Jones invention oarae into popular notice, is strong evidence tending to show that this patent oontain$1something which was of great value to the manufacturers of steel, and which en¬ titled Jones to the reward due to a successful inventor.1 It would seem that this situation was on all fours with that presented by the present case, Appellant's invention has achieved tremendous practical suoosbs, and since his invention the former practice of manufacturing (14) molded duplicate records has been abandoned. As was well stated by the Court in Goss Printing Press Co. v. Scott, 108 P. R. 253, on page 261 "It is not nearness to an unsolved problem, but a solution of it, that secures practical results, and benefits the publio to the extent of earning the grant of a patent in return." The Examiner seems to be of the opinion that appellant's Invention amounts only to a duplication of steps or a change in degree, which oannot amount to in¬ vention. However, it is well settled that a change in proportion or size or degree, or a duplication of Bteps or parts does involve invention when a new function is attained or a new or better result obtained, or the same result attained in a more economical and efficient manner. In the case of Goss Printing Press Co. vs. Soott, above olted, an invention in printing presses was held to be patentable, in which, apparently, the patentee only took the presses which he found standing side by side and banked them one upon another, it being contended that the change involved was a reconstruction, rearrangement and duplioation. The Court helii that this change was one, which though simple, produced a vastly more .efficient result and was accordingly patentable. As the Court stated: "The test in such cases is not whether dupli¬ cation exists, but whether duplication produces, not more duplication of product or funotlon, but a new unitary additional, result, and not the mere aggregate of prior, separate mechanism." Parker v. Hulme, 1 Pish. Pat. Cas. 44, Ped. Cas. Ho. 10,740. Appellant's invention produces a new result, namely, the production of a great number of better reoordB in a shorter time than was previously possible. In the case of Zinsser v. Kremor, 39 P. R., Ill, the Court stated: (15) " ’To think it way safely ho said that wherever a change in the method of making an article of manufacture produces a different and bonoficial reBUlt, although the difforenoe conoiote only in improving or cheapening ’the article, and the change and its advantages had not b^eii seen or made by others (than the patentoe) interested in seeing and making it, there is sufficient evidence of ' • invention to sustain a prooo3s patent. Here the efJeeV of the change is to improve and also to cheapen. ” V ' i Appellant's invention both cheapens and improves the product by the addition of the new step in the process, The remarks of the Court in the oase of Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Co. vs. Hew Haven Gas Light Co., 39 F.R. 368 are also pertinent. In that oase, in a process for making gas, the substitution of the fixing ohamber of one patent for the fixing ohamber of another patent where¬ by an Improved result was attained was considered patent- able invention. The Court eaid: I" But the inquiry is whether the adaptability of the Siemane superheater to fix the gas of the Harknbse patent was self-evident to the intelligence cf those skilled in the art. If it had been, why waB not the sub¬ stitution made? ***««♦* **««•» *** + <.*** If the making of this change had been an obvious thing, falling within tho range of ordinary meohanioal adapta¬ tion, it is probable that those skilled in the art would have sought to avail themselves of its advantages; yet, as appears by tho prior patents in the reoord, the more expensive method of fixing the gas in retorts heated by external firea was everywhere followed. The various manufacturers in this country who were making gas accord¬ ing to the Teosie du Motay process, and using the oxter- nally fired retort, did not discover what' is now asserted was an obvious thing. The fact that the older organi¬ zations which it 1b now olaimed were susceptible of being modified by mere meohanioal skill into the apparatus of the patent remained without any suoh modification until the patentee made it, and his improvement when made was eo useful and valuable as to commend itself at onoe to those skilled in the art to whioh it relates, is suffi¬ cient to resolve any doubt whether the improvement embodies invention in favor of the patent. " In the matter of Ex parte Ralteyer et al. C.,D. , 1891, 302, a prooeee for preparing Portland Cement was (16) held to he patentable because of a new process step which consisting in testing a portion of the mass after the materials are mixed in order to determine proportions. The then Commissioner of Patents quoted Cochrane vs. Deener, 94 U. S. 780, and held that one of the stops of the process being novel for the purposes in hand, novelty was given to the process considered as a whole. He said: "The process in question is a very simple one; but simplicity does not negative invention. That the results of this simple process are useful in a high degree sufficiently appears. This marked utility in result, coupled with this novel process, iB in my opinion suffic¬ ient evidence of patentability. " As to the point that a change in degree, such as the substitution of a plurality of sub-raaBters and sub¬ matrices for a common duplicate record and matrix formed therefrom for the production therefrom of commercial dupli¬ cate records, may amount to invention where an improved result is attained, attention may also be directed to Wostinghouse Air Brake Co. vs. Christensen Engineering Co., 123 E. R., 306, in which the change in size of a train pipe air passage was the only new feature, and the oase of Weston Electrical Instrument Co. vs. Stevens, 134 E. R., 574, in which the only change was a different proportion¬ ing of the coilB of an electrical measuring device, where¬ by an improved result was attained. The patent waB sustained in eaoh oase. Appellant's process is novel, useful, and in¬ volves invention, and hence the patent prayed for should be granted. The novelty is shown by the fact that the (1?) I references fail to disclose a process in which duplicate sound records are molded by providing a plurality of sub¬ molds and the so-oalled sub-matrioes formed from a single perfect mold and from which duplicate records are formed with greater perfection and with a great saving in time and efficiency of apparatus. Neither are the claims anticipated by the practice referred to by the Examiner of duplicating a duplicate record, which practice does not involve the multiplying factor introduced in appell¬ ant's process by the use of a plurality of sub-matrices from which the duplicates are formed, and which practice could not be used in connection with the manufacture of molded duplicate cylindrical phonograph records. The invention is useful as shown by the fact that the tremen¬ dous production of duplicate phonograph reoordB amounting in the case of the National Phonograph Company to many millions a year, could not be carried out without its aid. lastly, the inventive element in the claims appealed is shown by the great commercial success of the process con¬ sidered in connection with its novelty, the fact that it was not discovered until long after the ill for which it proved an efficient remedy had been in existence, and the fact that the previous methods were discarded upon the introduction of the new improved process. Further, it should be noted that Claims 2 and 3 carry a further limi¬ tation which is not anticipated by the prior/arti and which is necessary in the practical carrying out of the invention as applied to cylindrical sound reoords, namely, (18) that the master record , sub-master and duplicate reoorda should he successively molded and of finer pitch. There¬ fore, It Is thought that tho claims are patentable and allowance of all of the same by your Honor Is respect¬ fully reqpested. Consideration of the attached affidavit of Walter H. Miller is also requested. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON His Attorney. Of Counsel. Orange, New Jersey April yth, 1910. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WASHINGTON, D. O. May 23, 1910. In the matter of the ) Applioatlon of ) Thomas A. Edison, ) ' Prooess of Duplicating ) Phonograph Reoords; ) On Appeal to the Commissioner. Piled Nov. 3, 1903 , ) Serial No. 179,716. ) Sir: You are hereby informed that the deoision of the Exam- iners-in-Chief has been affirmed by the Commissioner. Please find enclosed herewith a copy of the decision. By direction of the Commissioner: Very Respectfully, Chief Clerk. Thomas A. Edison, c/o Prank D . Dyer, Edison laboratory, Orange , N. J. April 0, 1010, 31.0. In the United Rtuteo Patent Office. Ex parte Thomas A. Edison. Application for Patent. Appeal from Examlners-in-Ohiof . Procoss of Duplicating Phonograph Rocordc. Application filed November 3, 1003, No. 179,716. Mr. Prank L. Dyer for applicant. This iB an appeal from the doc is ion of the oxumincrs- in-chief affirming the action of the primary examiner rejecting tho claims of this application, threo in numbar, of which the following its sufficient to illustrate the invention: "l.^Thc process of multiplying sound rooordo, which con¬ sists in producing a suitable motor, forming a matrix or mold tlicref rom, molding a plurality of nub-metoro from ouid mold, forming a nub-matrix or cub-mold from each of aaid sub-musters, and then molding duplicate aound records from eaoh of said nub-mat rices or nub-moldn, whereby a plurality of duplicate aound records can be ohtuined si¬ multaneously and the production thereof ie not limited by the life of tho molds in which they are formed, substan¬ tially an act forth." Tho references cited are: Amot, May- 14, 1B95, No. 539,2135 . Edison, Sop. 11, 1900, No. 657,527} " Pob. 5, 1901, Ho. 667,602. ,,, s Tho claims cover a process for reproducing sound rec¬ ords and has for its object to Incroaso tho number obtainable from a single master record. It Is old in the art, as shown by tho patent to Edison, Ho. 667,662, to make records from a maotor record by first forming a matrix around the raster record which will have the sound record in negative on the inner aurfaco there¬ of and then molding the commercial records in this matrix by sui table apparatus. It is stated on pago 2 of the specifica¬ tion oi this patent that when tho record is shrunk to enable it to bo withdrawn from the matrix tho re is also a contraction longitudinally of about 1 ft und that: "Por this reason it is desirable ttat the original record from which the matrix is made 1c forced on a phono¬ graph or allied talking-me.di ine having a fewer number of threads on its feed-screw than the instrument on which tho duplicates are finally used, in order that when the con¬ traction has progressed to its finality tho pitch of the record-thread on the duplicate will correspond to tho Pitch of tlio foed-scrow of tho roproducing-maohino " * *“ The process of the appealed claims amounts simply to using the rocords manufactured in accordance with tho abovo procoss, or some of them, as master rocords themselves, and repeating tho procoss of the patent upon each separately, i.c. making a matrix around it and molding records in. that matrix. Applicant contends that his process is not simply this because if this were done the rocords made in tho second or nub-matrices would have too fine e pitoh for the feed screws* of commercial machines, because of the shrinking in the second matrix, Tho patentability of the claims cannot depend, how¬ ever, upon the particular feed screw pitch of the machine upon which the record is to bo played. In foot tho clainrn are >' 3 ■broadly for the reproduction of Bound records unit apply to disk rocorda with which no food screw ia used, as well as to cylindrical rocorda. Furthermore, it la obvioun that, if the prooosn of the patent io to ho repeated on a record reproduced by it, both shrinkings must be taken into account whoro it ia d ooired to have the record from t.ho nocond matrix n’nov/ a given pitch. It cannot be held that o It her tho mere repetition of the patented process upon rocorda produced by its ueo, or tho calculation of Lho original pitch so ao to produoo a particu¬ lar desired pitch .after n stated number of such repetitions of the process, requires the exercise of invention. It has been urged in bohalf of applicant that if the supposed invention ic so evident in view of the patent to Edison, it would have been used heretofore. The obvious answer to this ic that if the process sot up in the claims hac not boon used commercially, it is presumably because commercial demands did not justify it. It in cloar that the chance of imperfections in the final record increases in direct proportion' to the number of times the elementary process ic repeated and it in not to be ejected that such repetitions would bo made use of unless commercial conditions rendered it nooossary. The decision of the examiners-in-chief is believed to bo right and is affirmed. 0 oranis sio nor. 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U if* bd o v- — w.-rtL. t -p~ j 4i~*-***l i ^ ^ -w- it* «===? -f v J_4— 1 M- ^ ^ ** -TT^ pL-^- ^ p d. •tc. S ^ ^ 7 *T1 e,v cUvvJ^, 1 4-cu^^J — ~ ** • iL dJv^^i i 4 Jr m r "5 ss^st. The object of this invention is to produoe a recording me¬ chanism capable of recording sound v/aves phonographically, more truly representative of the original v/aves and their quality than has hitherto been found possible, and v/ithout any loss in volumneover the phonographic records now in general use. The invention consists in the introduction of a new princi¬ ple in phonographic recorders and mechanism, whereby such principle is made effective for producing the required results. The invention further consists in various other details for improving phonograph recorders generally. At the present time those skilled in art have been unable to record and reproduce music having all the tones within the range of music sufficiently like the original to obtain a record that is saleable commercially; this is especially true of the piano and, notv/ithstanding many millions of phonograph records have been made sold, piano records alone are not sold and are not found in any cata¬ logue of the manufacturers. With recording instruments existing before this invention, it is impossible to produce a satisfactory piano record. If it is attempted to record the overtones which gives music its pleasing qualities, the instrument must be made very sensitive, as the waves which form overtones are many times weaker than the fun¬ damentals. If the recorder is made sufficiently sensitive to so record these overtones, the powerful fundamental tones of the base act so violently upon the recorder as to throw the record¬ ing knife out of the recording material in the case of cylindrical records and give excessive arnptitudes in the case of flat records. If the recorder is made so insensitive as to prevent this latter action no overtones are recorded and the quality is lost, while at the present time manufacturers of cylindrical records use the piano as accompaniment only an x^amsdsaEBadt. The deep base notes are never used, but /those in the higher register; in addition the vibrating parts of the recorder itself is sympathetic to the graver tones and serves only to intensify these serious defects. I have by exhaustive experimentation discovered that the true sound waves over the whole range of music from the most grave to the highest pitched tone do not actually have the amp- titudes which are implied by the throwing of the recording knife out of contact with the record surface and the vibrating periods of the recorder itself need not necessary be grave; that this is due to defective mechanism constructed upon a wrong principle and that if certain changes are made in the principle of the mechanism it may be adjusted with sufficient sensitiveness to record the necessary overtones and the most powerful base notes of a piano and permit the reproduction, the almost perfect quality of the original tone and with a greater volumne than has hitherto been thought possible. I have traced down and ascertained by experiment that the cause of the excessive and false arnptitudes of vibration is due ira to the elasticity of the record¬ ing mechanism itself and by eliminating principal part of this elas¬ ticity. The true arnptitudes due to the sound waves do not cause the recording knife to be thrown from the recording surface -when the recorder is rendered sufficiently sensitive and that the grave tones of the diaphram may he changed to a higher rate and of such a small 0~i -\.v ’ ;-v- jsl-v-ttX (rr'? amptitude aamfco- reTTOr-d- ifeho--ovar.fconas . The ordinary recording mechanism now in general use con¬ sists of a circular diaphram generally of glass about l,l/4 inches in diameter and from 005 to 007 of an inch in thickness. This dia¬ phram is secured to a chamber by being placed between two or more rings of rubber at its edges and clamped or cemented to the edge of such opening. The recording knife Is generally . ( fastened to the center of the diaphragm & connected to a lever secured to the edge of the diaphragm to take the thrust of the knife in cutting the record. The elastic members of this Combination is the glass disk when flexed by the pressure of the sound wave and the elastic rubber which is strained by the flexing of the disk. If foriiiliuettation such a disk was cut' in sections like the spokes of a wheel, we would have a number of vibrating reeds each elastic and flexing by itself as well as flexing by distortion of its rubber support, and sympathetically resonant to some tone in the lower register of the piano, harp or similar instrument. Independent of the fact of its having a tone or vibrating period, it has a mass and if moved by a force applied at the end of such a lever a large amount of the po wer applied must be used in distorting the rubber clamp in addition to that used for flexing the sector lever- and this mass under the spur of the stored power in the rubber tends to make several movements when only a single impulse wasgiven to its end; thus it cannot possibly follow the sound waves of music. If a number ofimpulses are applied to the end having the same period of vibration of the sector itself, the amplitude due to the first few waves will be less than the following waves, although these waves wsriaV all have the same amplitude, hence there can be no true record of a tone the same as the sector, and this is true of the whole diaphragm which is simply a large number of sections so to speak. It is impossible to make the rubber clamps all alike, hence there are many parts or sections of the diaphragm with different vibrating periods. Even in the case of waves having vibrating periods unlike the diaphragm, their action on the diaphragm causes energy to be stored up in the elastic clamp around the edges, and the action of this stored energy on the mass of the diaphragm tends to force it to make more vibrations than there are sound waves, producing interference and false amplitudes not corresponding to the sound waves, and a large proportion of the energy contained in the sound wave is lost as heat in deforming the 3 3/4- inches of rubber which secures the edges of the diaphragm, which energy, if applied to flexing the very elastic glass would greatly increase the volume of sound, and permit of the recording of the excessively weak overtones. I may mention that the heat lost by distorting rubber is very much greater than glass, as the latter is a substance of great elasticity and minimum internal friction, while rubber is Just the contrary. Another defect of the recorder in general use is that the diaphragm is placed under strain by the act of the pressure necessary to force the recording knife into the record material, and this varies not only with the material, but the material itself varies in hardness over different parts of its surface and also cannot be made to run true hence there is an ever varying flexing of the diaphragm Independent of the action of the sound waves, and /this continuous flexing of itself distorts the waves when increased and diminished by the action of the sound waves, the two work in conjunction to produce distortion, in addition to this the fundamental tone of the diaphragm itself which is grave and of great amplitude constantly varying as the tone is prolonged produces additional distortion. In the recorder of my invention, a very wide departure in con¬ struction is made. The diaphragm is not secured at the edges but floats in a viscous liquid or semi liquid. The diaphragm is secured at its cei'ter to a lever or reed which also has the recording knife faatened at its end about the center of the diaphragm. When assembled the diaphragm and reed is afloat so to speak, and sustained entirely by the clamped end of the JAsvwr. The viscosity of the semi liquid around the edges is such that when the recorder is adjusted so the knife tracks the record mater¬ ial to the proper depth, the diaphragm has no stress upon it, it is in its most sensitive condition, if the record cylinder is eccentric or a part of the record harder than another part the viscous liquid offers scarcely any resistance to a motion of translation to such slow movements hut on the other hand acts near¬ ly as a rigid body to movements of great frequency sound waves . The edge of the diaphragm makes scarcely any movement and yet is free of all strain whereas if the record is untrue the edge of the diaphragm may make movements several times greater than those produced by the sound waves. Thus no matter what variation takes place in the hardness of the material or reasonable amount of eccentric motion of the record takes place, the diaphragm is un¬ stressed and in its most sensitive . condition. The viscous semi¬ fluid acts to close the chamber completely and thus permit of a rise and fall of barometric pressure which permit sound waves and being non-elastic no energy is stored up to distort the sound wave, and the amount of energy abstracted is less than if gWgg* clamped between rubbers or other elastic material, and such energy is not returnable to the mechanism as motion to produce distortion. In addition, this want of elasticity changes the funda¬ mental note of the diaphragm and environment from a grave note of high amplitude to very much higher note and a greatly reduced amplitude so much reduced that the combined effect 6f the sound wave and the diaphragm in tune with it is entirely insufficient to throw the knife from the record or disturb in an appreciable amount the quality of the recorded sound. The viscosity of the material used around the edges is such that its surface tension prevents it from flowing to any extent at ordinary temperature zpk slight gravity gradients, hence the recording apparatus if kept level will he serviceable for several then days and^the viscous semi-fluid is quickly and easily renewed. In fig. is shown the general arrangement of the Recorder. Description. Pig. 2 shows an enlarged vi ew of the edge of the diaphragm immersed in the viscous semi-fluid. Pig. 3- the recording stylus and reed connection. Pig. 4- the tracking hall and the record knife. By adjusting the position of the large hall upon the record the whole recorder can he made to approach and recede from A the face of the recording material and thus permit of the tracking of the recording knife to the required depth into the record material In the act of forcing the knife into the record material the lever t B is flexed at its point of fastening A. If the reduced section of the lever at A is made stiff the lever will he very little flexed and there will he hut a slight movement of the ddge of the diaphragm in the viscous semi-liqMd and during the act of flexing of the lever the diaphragm will also he flexed due to the retardation of its movement through the viscous liquid hut when the knife is once tracked all stress on the diaphragm is removed to rapid movements like sound waves the resistance to motion is powerful and the dia- phragin has very little, if any, to and fro movement, the recording being due almost entirely to flexing of the diaphragm. If the part A of the lever is made very thin the lever will be flexed to a greater extent and the movement of the diaphragm in the viscous liquid will be greater but in no case will the edge of the diaphragm touch the metallic parts but always be free and immersed in the liquid. A movement of more than .020 of an inch will seldom be required and the angles shown should be sufficient to permit of movements of this amount. It is necessary to keep the quantity of viscous fluid if used in the manner shown down to the smallest quantity to permit of its surface tension holding it in position, and not flow to any appreciable extent by gravity. Of the many viscous semi liquid experimented upon that produced by burning pure crude para rubber is the best. A piece about l/4 of an inch square and 2 inches long it is rubbed while still burning is set on fire at one end and as it softehs ana jmelts ' upon the edgefi N of a dish, its character resembles a thick varnish, it has great surfaoe tension and great viscosity, is not changed in the atmos¬ phere and altogether is a peculiar substance and well adpated for the purpose. It can be produced of various degrees of viscosity by manipulating the heat, and thus give a range for varying conditions, - the space between the diaphim (fig. 2) and the brass chamber will usually be .025 and be¬ tween the part f about. 005. The diaphragm way be of glasi or any HHikahla desirable material. The reed B is preferablyl of white pine or similar light wood and of a constantly varyij: section, deeper than it is wide and secured to the foot K in the center of the aiaphm by cement, preferably melted shellac the foot itself is preferably made of magnesium to insure lightness. The end of the lever B at X is thined down so tnat h will vibrate easy and be unsympathetic with any note within the ranegfiof music and on account of the ranging varying section will give no harmonics which will distrub the record, The stiffness at A should be such that the act of tracking the knife in the record should not cause the edge of the disphm to be forced against IT (fig. 2). The thickness at A which is easily changed serves to adjust the. sensitive¬ ness of ' the whole vibrating portion of the recorder - and the energy stored up in the elasticity of the portion at A is quite small as compared to that in a diaphm clamped in rubbers at its edges hence the movements of the vibrating apparatus due to its own elasticity or capacity to return stored up energy is very small and negligable and therefore the full effect of the condensation and rarif ications of the sound waves come into full plabfetf without the disturbance * . i produced by elastic mechanism of the recording mechanism itself as now used. It is obvious that the principle can he varied in many ways that it can he used for recording on the disc form of talking machine to prevent the recording of excessive amplitudes produced hy the conjunction of the sotad waves and elastic recording mechanism and which the re-j 6 1' produced need\jpfl floes not and cannot follow hut jumps across and also to record the sound xautK more perfect, strengthening the overtones and increasing the volume of sound. On phonographs with cylindrical records ,volumBe A of sound with nearly perfect quality obtainable hy this in- vention^early double that obtainable by the apparatus now generally use d^ the quality of v/hich is so poor as to be dis¬ agreeable and unsaleable; this is due as previously stated to conversing the energy and not frittering it away in in¬ ternal friction of elastic material and utilizing nearly the whole of the energy of the sound wave in flexing the diaphrai? and not storing it in the mechanism, io trvJb ti Tne form of recorder v/hich I have devised and shown in Fig.l also has some advantages over those in common use as the chamber for producing the final pressures upon the diaphragm is small and of proper proportions and at the samel time so arranged in relational to the receiving funnel that the sound waves do not suffer any partialm or total de¬ flection and at the same time the wall friction is reduced. This results in increasing the power of the sound waves to act upon the diaphragm increasing the volume of sound espec¬ ially the weak overtones so necessary to give quality to music . (Describe here) Jig. 4 shows the method of supporting the recording mechanism on the record to take care of the eccentricity of the record itself. This principle is old in the art hut not no v/ used, hut the improvements 1 have made upon it per¬ mits it to he utilized with great advantage. These improve- W — ■>' ments consist in adding ai#“ adjustment to the pressure foot A ^ whereby the depth of the, knife entering the record material may he varied, and secondly to the use of a saphire hall A which permits universal adjustment and does not wear the record. CLAIMS : A vibrating diaphragn for recording sound waves secured to a support and its edges floating free in a viscoJs semiliquid. A vl id rating diaphragm for recording sound waves connected to a reed, free to make movements of translation, or equivalent device to support the diaphragm and take the thrust of the recording knife. A vibrating diaphragm for recording sound waves, wholly supported against gravity by a support independent at or near its center. A vibrating diaphragm for recording sound waves wholly supported against gravity by a reed or its equivalent A vibrating diaphragm /'or recording sound waves wholl.y supported against gravity by a reed or equivalent device and having its edge immersed in a viscous liquid. A vibrating diaphragm for recording sound v/aves form¬ ing part of a chamber in which the effects of sound waves produce pressure thereon and closing the aperture between the diaphragm and chamber by a viscous liquid. A vibrating diaphragm for recording sound waves helc. in position by a reed or equivalent device with its end se¬ cured to a support adjacent to such diaphragm in combination with a chamber for producing sound waves pressure and an in¬ elastic connection between the edges of ta diapgrahm and chamber to permit of varying jj r s s s ure s . A vibrating diaphragm inelastically connected to and forming a part of a closed chamber whereby changes of pressure due to sound waves may take place to flex the diaphragm with¬ out storing energy returnable to the diaphragm. In a recorder for recording sound waves the use of" a'" diaphragm not in contact with the pressure chamber and closing the space between the diaphragm and such chamber by an inelastic yielding material sufficiently to permit of the varying pressures within the chamber and produced by sound waves to act almost wholly and with full power in flexing the diaphragm and producing the record. Etc. 1st Claim, to the record 2nd. Claim 3rd Claim. 3-i 4th Claim. 5th Claim. The adjustment of the recorder in relation The use of a ball -(see what graphaphone user) The use of a sapphire ball. CWV - rr Reed for va lying section deeper etc. Reed v/ith large section and adjusting its Y I vibrating period and sensitlvesness by diminishing section at primal support. 6th Claim. Burnt rubber. 7th Claim. Recorder so the funnel and recorder is part of a whole. 8th Claim. Recorder so that sound wave in its pas¬ sage from the funnel to the diaphragm chamber or section shall suffer no total Reflection of the wave. 8th. Ditto and only suffer such partial deflec¬ tion is necessary to raise the amplitude of the wave. 9th. The recording edge of knife on a line with th support of the reed so that is a straight and no loirgen*^ thrust. 10th. Ditto and the peculiar knife shown. 11th. A viscous semiliquid of so great internal viscosity and surface tentiion that the latter restrain it from flowing. 12th. Bloating diaphragm - unstressed at its edges. 13th. Magnesium foot to hold knife and support diaphragm and reed. 14th. light non-metallic material for reed. 15th, Adjusting sensibility of reccrder by varying I the size or length of the reduced part at the point of sup¬ port. lGth. The method herein described of raising the t. p M vibrating period of a sound recording diaphragm, so that its A fundamental note will not materially distgsrft the record anu permit of recording reproduction of sounds of great volume . 17th. The method of making sound records wherein ths false amplitudes due to the absorption of energy in elastic recording devices used other than the diaphragm is eliminat- A ed. 17th. The method of recording sound v/aves consist¬ ing in the use of a diaphragm bunstressed except by sound waves. 18th. The method of dampening the movements of the edges of diaphragm for sound recording by immersing the edges in an iiilacsddce: inelastic viscous semiliquid. And others so if we hax lose one combn, we can hold another. I suppose you will have a mechanism patent and a method patent, 1 believe we can work up a patenton a record itself. For instance - Claim - A new article of manufacture consisting of a cylindrical phonographic or sound record free from abnormal waves with the record made continuously from end to end with out breaks and capable of reproducing sound with as great a volume as those v/ith breaks in the continuity. In case disc machine - Claim a record having the same volume of sound but wholly free from waves of abnormal amplitudes v/hich the reproducing point will not follow. A record having a continuous unbroken groove v/ith an undulating surface formed by the effects of sound v/aves ca¬ pable of reproducing sound equal in volume to those records having a broken or non-continuous groove , and of such a character that the overtones shall be more prominent than those records with non-continuous grooves of equal volume. Ditto - a record of same volume with unbroken groove in which the overtones depressions are plainly descernable by the microscope in contradisdinction to records of equiv¬ alent volume v/hich no overtones can be detected. Above also leaving out unbroken groove. A record with continuous unbroken centour none of the record waves cutting into those adjacent on the next line and of equal volume to record having waves of such amplitude at places as to cut into the adjacent record. Ditto - and further characterized by microscopically descernablifcy continuous produced by overtones, etc. r ~ ' 1 'v in '-> _ /*■>-/ • m , yFolio No. 7± . Serial No. .// THOMAS ALVA EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his poat-fiffioe address at Llewellyn Dark, Orange-, Essex County, New Jersey, (Drags that letters patent mag be oranteb to biin for tbe METHOD OP RECORDING SOUNDS set fortb in tbe annexed specification ; anb be berebg appoints jfranh at. s>ger (iRegfs* tration mo. 560), of tEbfson Xaboratorg, ©range, mew 3erseg, bis attorneg, with full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute this application, to mafie altera* ttons anb antenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb therewith. spbcieioation. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: - BE IT KNOWN, That I, THOMAS ALVA EDISON, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Ebb ex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OP RECORDING SOUNDS -^(Oaue Nu,— . . )=~ 0f which the following is a description: - My Invention relates to improvements in methods of recording sounds, particularly of that .type in which phonographio reoords are formed, and whioh records are of varying depth, hut the invention may he employed in connection with records of the gramophone type., whioh are of uniform depth, hut of irregular conformation. The object of thiB invention is to record sound waves phonographically, more truly representative of the original waves and their quality, than has hitherto been found possible and without any loss in volume over the phonographio reoords now in general use. The invention consists in the application of •H^^olple^Bwi^reoording^ound waves phonographically, and relates to methods whereby such principle is made effective for produo ing the required results. The in¬ vention further consists in various other details for improving the recording of sound waves generally. At the present time those skilled in the art have been unable to record and reproduce musio having all the tones within the range of musio sufficiently like the original to obtain a record that is salable commercially; this is especially true of musio of the piano and, not¬ withstanding many millions of phonograph reoords have been made and sold, records formed of piano musio alone are not sold and are not found in any catalogue of the man¬ ufacturers. With methods of recording existing before this invention, it is impossible to produce a satisfac¬ tory piano record. . If it is attempted to record the overtones which give musio ltB pleasing qualities, the instrument rnuBt he made very sensitive, as the waves which fora overtones are many times weaker than the funda¬ mentals. If the recorder is made sufficiently sensitive to so record these overtones, the powerful fundamental tones of the bass aot so violently upon the recorder os to throw the recording knife out of the recording material in the oase of cylindrical records and give excessive amplitudes in the oase of flat reoords. If the recorder is made so insensitive as to prevent this latter action no overtones are recorded and the quality is lost. While at the present time manufacturers of cylindrical reoords use the piano aB an aocompaniment, the deep bass notes are never used, but only those in the higher register; in addition the vibrating part^ of the reoorder itBelf is sympathetic to the graver tones and serves only to inten¬ sify these serious defects. I have by exhaustive exper¬ imentation discovered that the true sound waves over the whole range of music from the most grave to the highest pitched tone do not aotually have the amplitudes which are implied by the throwing of the recording knife out of oontaot with the reoord surfaoe and the vibrating periods of the reoorder itself need not necessarily be grave; that this is due to defective meohanisa constructed upon a wrong principle and that if certain Changes are made in the meohanisa so that it will operate upon a different prin- oiple, it may be adjusted with suffioiont sensitiveness to rsoord the necessary overtones and the moBt powerful baoB notes o^a piano and permit the reproduction,' .X/vuU. — ^ almost perfeot quality. ef^e^i4^7ialr±Dne=3WKLAwith a greater volume than has hitherto been thought possible. I have traoed down and asoertained by experiment that the oaUBe of the exoessive and false amplitudes of vibration is due to the elasticity of the recording mechanism it- and by eliminating the prinoipal part of this elas¬ ticity, the true amplitudes due to the sound waves do not cause the recording knife to be thrown from the recording surfaoe When the recorder is rendered sufficiently sen¬ sitive and that the grave tones of the diaphragm may be ohanged to a higher rate and of such a small amplitude as not to distort the- record. The ordinary recording meohanism now in general use consists of a circular diaphragm generally of glass about l-l/4 inches in diameter and from .006 to .007 of anr inch in thiokness. This diaphragm is secured to a chamber by being placed between two or more rings of rubber at its edges and clamped or cemented to the edge of suoh opening. The reoording knife is generally fast¬ ened to the center of the diaphragm and conneoted to a lever secured to the edge of the ohamber to take the thruat of the knife in outting the record. £he elastic members of this device are two, vis.: the glass disk which is flexed by the pressure of the sound waves and the elastic rubber which is b trained by the flexing of the disk. tfor the purposes of illustration let suoh a disk be out in sections like the spokes of a wheel; there will be a number of vibrating reeds each elastio and flex¬ ing by itself as well as flexing by distortion of its rubber support, and sympathetically: resonant to some tone '*4 in the lower register of the piano, harp or similar in¬ strument. Independent of the fact of its having a tone or vibrating period, It has a mass and po.ss^^reight and if moved by a force applied at the end of suoh a seotion a large amount of the power applied must be used in distorting the rubber clamp in addition to that used for flexing the seotion, and this mass under the action of the stored power in the rubber tends to make several movements when only a single impulse was given to its endj thus it cannot possibly follow the sound waves of mUai°’ n,™^8r °f ^ulsea are applied to the end whioh Jhave— impulses the same period of vibration the seotion itself, the amplitude due to the first few waves will be .less than the following waves, although original sound waves may all have the same amplitude, hence there . . , - 'f- can be no true record of a tone the same as the sector. A * and this is true of the whole diaphragm whioh is formed of a large number of sections, bo to speak. It is im¬ possible to make the rubber clamps of uniform elastioity, henoe there will be many parts or sections of the dia¬ phragm with different vibrating periods. Bren in the oase of waves having vibrating periods unlike the dia¬ phragm, their action on the diaphragm causes energy to be stored up in the elastic olaqp, and the action of this 1 0tored energy on the mass of the diaphragm tendB. to force it to make more vibrations than there are sound waves, producing interference and false amplitudes not correspond¬ ing to the sound waves, and a large proportion of the energy contained in eaoh sound wave is lost as heat in deforming the rubber (which extends around the periphery of a circle of abot$ 3-3/4 inches in > ... ciroumference), which energy, if applied to flexing the very elastio Glass would greatly inorease the -volume of sound, and permit of the recording of the exceedingly weak overtones. 1 may mention that the heat lost hy distorting rubber is very muoh greater than hy distorting glass, as the latter is a substance of great elasticity and minimum internal friction, while rubber is just the contrary. AnothOT-defB~gt~Df~the~recorder in general— ubp- is that the dtaphragn is placed under strain by the^act of the pressure necessary to force the recording knife into the record material, and this varies not only with the material, but the material varies in/hardnoss over different parts of itB surface and furthermore the record cannot be made to run true, hence/there is an ever varying flexing of the diaphragm independent of the aotion of the sound waves, and this oonjjinuoua flexing of itself dis¬ torts the waves oaused/by the sound waves, the two work in conjunction to^produoe distortion. 3\ir thermo re the fundamental tone of the diaphragm and its ela^tio support (which) is grave and of great ampli¬ tude constantly varying as the tone is prolonged produo es adS±tto3rat~di!rbo-rt-lon. tf/:t--y/e y- / In recording sounds according to my invention, a very wide departure in methods .is made. The diaphragm is not secured at the edges but floats in a mass of vis¬ cous liquid or semi -liquid material. The diaphragm is secured at its oentsr to one end of a reed which is siq>- P or ted at its other end by an elastic connection from the chamber, and has the recording knife fastened at its end about the center of the diaphragm. When assembled the diaphragm and knife are afloat so to speak, and arc sustained entirely by the supported oha of the reed. The viscosity of the semi-liquid material around -5- the edges ia spoh that when the recorder ia adjusted 00 the knife tracks the record material to the proper depth, the diaphragm will have no Btreaa upon it. It ia in Ita moat sensitive condition, and if the record oylinder is eo- oentrio or a part of the .record harder than another part, the viaooua liquid offers scarcely any reals tanae to a no¬ tion of tranalation to such slow movements hut on the other hand acts nearly an a rigid hody to movements of great I frequency similar to sound waves. The edge of the dia¬ phragm makes scarcely any movement and yet is free of all strain whereas if the record is untrue the. edge of the dtaphragu may ma|:e movements several times greater than those produo ed hy the sound waves. Thus no matter what f variation -takea^lac^ in the hardness of the material or reasonable amount of eccentric motion of the reoord takes ! place, the diaphragm is unstressed and in its most sensi¬ tive condition. The viscous semi-liquid material acts to dose the oharaher completely and thus permits of a rise and fall of barometrio pressure which permits sound waves and being non-elastic no energy is stored tip to distort the sound waves, and the amount of energy abstracted is less than If the diaphragm were between rings of rubber or other elastip material, and such energy is not return¬ able to the mechanism as motion to produce distortion. In addition, this want of elasticity changes the fundamental note of the diaphragm . and .environment from a grave note of high amplitude to a vary much higher note and of a greatly reduced amplitude so much reduced that the oombined affect of the sound wave and the diaphragm in tune with it is entirely insufficient to throw the knife from the record or disturb in an appreciable amount the quality of the reoorder Bound,. The viscosity of the material used around the -6- edgea is such that its surface tension prevents it from flowing to any extent at ordinary temperature at slight gravity gradients, henoe the recording apparatus if kept level will ho serviceable for several days and then the viscous semi-fluid material is quiokly and easily renewed. In order that the invention may he better un¬ derstood, attention is direoted to the .accompanying draw¬ ing, whioh shows a sectional view of one form of mechanism used to carry out my method. The hollow barrel or head 1 which conneots with the usual horn (not shown) is flexibly supported on the | phonograph by y/ell-toiown means (not shown) and is joined | to the body 2 at the side thereof. S 1110 diaphragm 3, of glass or mica, is connected at its periphery to the bottom of the chamber ft by means I of a mass of viscous or semi-liquid material 6, bo that j it will be entirely supported against gravity and the | thrust of the cutting knife solely by the elastic reed J, j the material ft forming a seal to close the joint between | the edges of the diaphragm and the chamber. The reed is preferably made of white pine or similar light wood and is of varying vertical section, deeper than it is wide and ie secured to the foot 8 by a cement, preferably melt¬ ed shellac. The end of the reed at 10 is made much thinner, so that it will vibrate easily and the reed increases gradually dn vertical dimensions, towards the fixed ex- iremity, the configuration of the^tir* reed being such I that it will be praotioally unsympathetic with any note of great amplitude, and tin account of the varying vertical section will give no harmonics that would tend to disturb the record. The end 10 of the reed is scoured to a pillar 11 formed upon a continuation of the body 2. -7- The stiffnese of the reed at 10 should be suf¬ ficient, bo that the act of tracking the knife in the record will not cause the edge of the diaphragm to .he AJUuCsy- foroed against the edge of the 'body1 4, hut only moved in the visoous liquid. The lenife illustrated is of usual form. The reed J7 forms a continuation of the knife, and 1b in a direct line of the thrust caused hy the action of the record upon the knife and is not tangential aB has hitherto "been the practice. 'Whan the reed is arranged at an angle to the thrust caused by the action of the record oh the knife, and so that it will he tangential thereto, the knife has a tendency to "chatter", which injuriously affects the record. The mass of viscous or semi-liquid material 6> does not serve to support the diaphragm against gravity, hut serves as a moving point or points about which the diaphragm vibrates. It is neoeBsary to keep the quantity of viscouB material in use in the manner shown, down to the smallest quantity to permit of its surface tension being sufficient to hold it in position, and not flow to any appreciable extent by gravity. Of the many viscous or semi-liquid materials experimented upon, that pro¬ duced by burning pure orude para-rubber is the best. A pieoe about l/4 of an inoh thick and two inches loftg is set on fire at one end and as it softens and melts it is rubbed while still burning upon the edge of a diBh. In character it reaembles a thick varnish, it has a great * surface tension and great visoosity, it is not ohanged by action of the atmosphere and altogether is a peouliar substance and well adapted for the purpose. It can bo produced of varying degrees of viscosity by a proper manip¬ ulation of the heat and thus give a range for varying conditions. Another visooua semi-fluid material which is oapable of considerable variation is that produced by acting upon boiled linseed oil by warn nitric aoid and b topping the re-aotion when a great volume of yellovi^iitri- ous fumes come off and then throwing it into a large vol¬ ume of water, afterwards washing it free from aoid. The_ shorter the period of time that the aoid is allowed to act the more fluid iB the resultant. The space between the inner edge of the diaphragm and the body A will usual¬ ly be .OaO of an inoh and between the edges of the dia¬ phragm and the inside encircling flange ^ about .010 of an inch, and below the lower edge of Uie diaphragm the flange :4_ 'should project a sufficient distance to hold the viscous material. These dimensions can be varied to meet Varying conditions. In the act of forcing the knife into the reoord material, the reed ^ is flexed at its point of fastening 10. If the reduced section of the reed at 10 is made stiff the reed as a whole will be very little flexed and there will be but a slight movement of the edge of the I diaphragm dn the viscous semi-liquid material, and during j the act of flexing of the reed, the diaphragm will also I be flexed due to the retardation of its movement through the viscous liquid, but when the knife is onoe tracked I aL 1 stress on the diaphragm is removed. To rapid move- lueuts, like sound waves, the resistance to motion is power¬ ful and the diaphragm has little, if any, to and fro move¬ ment at its edges, the recording being due almost entirely to flexing of the diaphragm. . If the part 10 of the lever is made very thin, tt the lever will be flexed to a greater extent and the move¬ ment of the diaphragm in the viscous liquid will be great¬ er, but in no case i will the edge of the diaphragm touch the metallic parts, but will always be free and immersed -9- in the liquid. A movement of more than .02 of an inch will seldom he required and the proportions illustrated should he sufficient to permit of movements of this amount. The thickness of the reed at 10 is easily changed, and serves to adjust the sensitiveness of the whole vibrating portion of the recorder and the energy stored up in the elasticity of that portion of the reed at 10 is quite small as compared to that of the diaphragm clamped in rubbers at its edges, hence the movements of the vibrating apparatus due to its own elasticity or capacity to return the stored up energy is very small and negligible, and a;!' therefore the full effect of the* oondenea t ions and reuai- fdcjitions of the sound waves oomfe itit^full play without the disturbance produced by dastio-meehknlsm of the re¬ corder mechanism as now used. It is obvious that the principle of operation can be varied in many ways and that it oan be employed for recording on machines of the disk fora, to prevent the making of a record of excessive amplitudes, produced by the conjunction of the sound waveB and elastic record¬ ing mechanism and which the reproducing needle doeB not and cannot follow, but, on the contrary, jumps aorosB, and also to record the sound more perfectly to strengthen the overtones and increase the volume of sound. The apparatus disclosed herein is not olaimed in this application but forms the subject-matter of an application for patent filed on even date herewith and no ,q')4 numbered serially /| Haring nov; described my inrontion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by I,etters Patent is:- 1. The method herein described of making sound records, which consists in, raising the ribrating period of^ a sound 'record diaphraga so that its fundamental note A will not materially distort the record and pernit of the recording of sounds of great relume, substantially as set 2. The method of making sound reoords, which con¬ sists in eliminating the false amplitude due to the ab¬ sorption of, energy in the elastic ■ *- f-*1— S '/to xfai “^otheruhan the diaphragm* subs Carr iigy in the elastic recording dor iocs, used, . to XCi- c>-|— h©ne8, Sound Boxos; Jo3m'B'6n,lTimo '5, 1900, #5.53,073, 0rEunophon‘i8 Johnson, May 88, 1901, #375, 331, Sound Boxo8,Onu'iophono.B!' Johnson, May 26, 1901, #675, 532,! Aovnd BoxeS, l.-OwhopHoJias ' 1 Claims 1 p-nd 2 uro objected to toefiuune indefinite and' * ’o oop. u 3© they define a here principle- or intangible result.: ; department of the Interior, United States Patent Office . I, 190.3.. SIR: The Commissioner directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your order of . for copies of patents. In reply you are advised that all of the patents ordered that are in print have been mailed to you this day, except those enumerated below, the supply of which is exhausted. If these copies are indispensable to you, please inform the office at once and the question of reprinting them will be given prompt consideration. , _ _ balanceJsJield- it Respectfully, The copies exhausted are: £ 7 3~<3>t 7 ? . -D i y UNITED STATES PATENT OPHITE. Thomas A. Edison METHOD OE RECORDING SOUNDS Piled November 13, 1903. Serial No. 180,999. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OE PATENTS: Sir: — Replying to Office action of December 11, 1903, please amend the above entitled case as follows: 'Page 1, line 5, cancel "(Case No. ‘'Same page, re-write line 19 as follows: "a new principle to the recording of sound wave s phonographically11 . Page 2, line 20, change "parts" to "part". ‘"Pago 3, re-write lines 2 and 3 as follows: "bass notes of a piano and permit the reproduction of the origi¬ nal tone wi th almost perfect quality and with a". ^Same page , line 9, change "amplitude" to "amplitu¬ des". Page 4,, ling 12, change "have impulses" to "im¬ pulses have". ^Same IJhe, change "of" to "as". Some page, line 14, after "although" insert "the". Same page, line 16, after "as" lnser,t1‘"that of". Page 5, ohijicel lines 7 to 21 inclusive and in¬ sert in place thereof the following: "The recorder in general use is also defective ’ by reason of certain other causes which cooperate to pro¬ duce distortion of the diaphragm. Eirst, the diaphragm is Room Ho. 379. A . I ( '' 14 -l- V V ' plaoed under strain by the pressure which is necessary to force the recording 'knife into the record material, Thfese pressure varies not enly with the material hut with differ-:, ent degress of hardness ocouring upon different parts of the surface of the record material. Second, the record itself oannot he made to run absolutely true! This two causes work in conjunction to produce an ever varying flexure of the diaphragn, independent of the action of the sound waves, and this continuous flexure of itself dis¬ torts the record produced by the sound waveB. Third*, the fact that the fundamental tone of • o : the diaphragm and its elastic support is grave and of great amplitude, and constantly varies as the tone is prolonged, produces additional distortion." Page 6, line 14, cancel "takes place". Same line, after "or" insert "what". ‘^Page 7, line 6 from the bottom, ohange "tire" to "entire". Page 8, line 4, change "body" to "flange". ""Page 9, line 8, change "4" to "2". Change the numbering of pages 11 and 12 to 10 and 11 respectively. S Page 10, lines 12 and .13, ohange "condensation and ramification" to "condensations and "rarefactions". Same page, lino 13, change "come" to ficomes". ^Same page, line 14, ohange "elastio mechanism" to "elasticity". ^Same page, laBt line, after "serially" insert "180,998". Claim 1, line 3, after "diaphragm" insert "by ipeans of a non-elastic dainper", -2- _ _ _ vv n&mr of a mv-aiR-d* ’ •». Claim 2, line 4, after “diaphragm" insert "■by- applying a viscous semi-liquid to the outer portion of the diaphragm. Claim 3, line 2 after "diaphragm" insert "having its edges entirely unsupported and held against Vibra¬ tion by a viscous semi-liquid material, whereby the dia¬ phragm is". Same line, cancel the comma after "unstressed" . Claim 4, line 3, insert a comma after "viscous". Insert the followigg claims: 6. frhe method of making sound records which consists in the use of a\diaphragm supported at its centre by a reed and dsampen^Aat its edges by a non-elastic damper, substantially as set forth. 7. The method\f making sound records which consists in the use of a diaphAgm supported at its centre by i reed and dampened at itsXedges by a viscous semi-liquid, substantially as set fo|-tl\ 8. The method of md Id. n& sound records ijhich con¬ sists in eliminating falseVvibaation of the diaphragm due to elasticity of the diaphragm, support , by supporting the diaphragm at its centre and dampening the circumfer¬ ence thereof by means of a viso\us sd^i-liquid, substan¬ tially as set forth, 9. The method of making soun)i re co^dB which consists in eliminating false vibrations 0f the diaphragm due to elasticity of the diaphragm supporjr, Bw- supporting the diaphragm at its oentre and dampening Ae circXaference thereof by means of a non-elastic darnpeA substantially as set forth. \ ' /// ■ /Xcy- -3- 1 / ARGUMENT. The claims a3 now amended are believed to clear¬ ly distinguish applicant's invention from the references and to he patentable thereover. The invention which forms the subject matter of this application is different in principle from all of the references. As set forth in the specification, Mr. Edison has discovered that certain excessive amplitudes and false vibrations are set up by the ordinary phonograph recorder, on account of the elas¬ ticity of the recording mechanism itself; that is to say, the parts which support the diaphragm being elastic, re- tturn to the diaphragm (by reflection) certain false vibra¬ tions which distort the record by Interfering with the true vibrations aet up by the sound wavuB . It is Mr. Edison's object to entirely eliminate this transmiss¬ ion or reflection fif false vibrations and he accomplishes this by dampening the edges of the diaphragm by means ££ a viscous semi-liquid, which does not permit the edges of the diaphragm" to be vibrated by the very quick impulses of the sound waves. In Patents Nos. 675,331 and 675, 332 to' Johnson, the diaphragm is supported at its edges by the adhesion or capillary attraction of a liquid. The edges of Jthe.' diaph¬ ragm are not prevented from bibrating as by Mr? Edison's invention, but on the contrary are permitted to .vibrate ks freely as possible. . Thus the patentee says: \ "In employing a liquid damper the friction suoh as usually exists, as where solid gaskets of rubber or other compressible materials are used, is reduced a minimum, if not eliminated, and the elasticity jof the liquid when properly applied allows, the vi¬ olation of the dianh without breaking the properly mragrn to ifny 7fTG -M also lines r? Lines 39 to 46 of Patent Ho. 675, 332 - see 62 to 56 of Patent Ho. 675,331.) It is evident that the "elasticity11 referred to is merely the action of the capillarity or surface ten¬ sion of the liquid. Thus in figs. 3 and 4 of patent Ho. 675,331, it is clear that flexure of the edge of the diaphragm will either flatten or elongate the film of liquid, and that the surface tension of the liquid will tend to restore the diaphragm edges to their normal posi¬ tion. This tension, together with the elasticity of the diaphragm will cause -a return movement of the diaphragm heyond its original position and a senies of vibrations will take place. This result can he obtained only by using a liquid having little' viscosity, sinceaa liquid or semi-liquid having considerable viscosity will not change its shape quickly enough to respond to sound vi¬ brations, and being also inelastic wil} act to completely deaden all vibratiom of the diaphragm edges due to sound waves. The patentee states that - "Different kinds of liquids may be employed such as water "and various kinds of oils, oil being preferable". ■„ Inasmuch as water and.many kinds of oil possess ^scarcely any viscosity, it is clear that the patentee has not specified any substance which can be called viscous,, water being known aB a mobile liquid. The ■(patentee doeB not describe the materials used as being viscous. In Patent Ho. 675,332, there 1b no mention of any,, viscosity in the liquids. In lines 54 to 66 on page 2, of Patent Ho. 675,331, the following statement appears: "The gasket or film of liquid applied in the man¬ ner herein described admits the diaphragm to vibrate freely throughout its entire area on acoount of the elasticity of the said liquid, while at the same time •5- f . i f ■ *h I V r* v this liquid gasket, which is viscous to a certain extent, clings or adheres to the diaphragm and to the roof of the sound "box casing and acts asaa damper to prevent the diaphragm from vibrating too freely, the capillary attraction or adhesive qualities of the liquid being sufficient to prevent the diaphragm from breaking away from the liquid film." The statement that the diaphragm is permitted to vibrate freely on account of the elasticity of the liquid, is; '.a repetition of the one previously considered. The context shows thatmpatentee here uses the word "viscous" in its popular sense to describe the property df the liquid by which it clingB or adheres to the dia¬ phragm and to the sound box casing/ This is the original meaning of the word, it being derived from the Latin viscosus meaning sticky, and is defined in the Century Dictionary as follows: "3-. Glutinous; clammy; sticky, adhesive; tenacioiis, 2. In physios , having the property of viscosity." That this is the meaning of the word in the pa¬ tent is again apparent from the fact that water is the only liquid specified and this is well known to be a very mobile liquid. ^ The patentee in Patent 2Jo,. 675,332 makes his meaning, clearer. In this patent- b|.e employs means which permit, , a larger quantity of liqui^-to be used, and states that thereby "the elasticity of the'’ damper is somewhat in¬ creased". ■ (lineB 101-2 p. 11) This probably ^e^lns that, ihe diaphragm can vibrate with greater amplitude with¬ out breaking the film of liquid.; ^ The deunping effect is explained as., foljofs: (p. 2 lines 28 - 34). / "The edges or portions tadjaceiit the edges of the diaphragm being immersed in , 'the- liquid and the dia¬ phragm vibrating in said liquid will necessarily be f V It is of course obvious that any liquid, -gven though it be mobile as water, will offer some resistance to the passage of a body through it, or to any change of shape . In review, the main point to be observed is that the patentee relies upon capillarity to support his dia¬ phragm and permit it (including its edges) to vibrate free¬ ly. In order that the diaphragm edges may vibrate, the liquid must beaable to change its shape quickly. There¬ fore, it oannot be a visoous liquid, viscosity being the quality of flowing slowly. Mr. Edison's invention departs entirely from thesa principles, in that instead of using a mobile liquid such aswater to elaBtioally support the edges of the diaphragm, and incidentally dampen the same to a very slight extent, he supports the diaphragm at its centre and dampens its edges by means of a material which iB semi¬ liquid and which is possessed of great viscosity, so that the edges of the diaphragm cannot respond to sound vi¬ brations, being completely deadened. In Patent No. 651,076, the diaphragm is con¬ fined in place by wax or gum of slightly elastic nature. This wax is clearly not a semi-liquid as called for by the claims. Furthermore, it permits the edges of the diaphram to vibrate (page 1, lines 58 to 63). No particular wax is specified. The wax is not described as being visoousqi but on the contrary is described as being elastic, and as permitting vibrations of the diaphragm. For these reasons there is believed to be no anticipation of Mr. Edison's invention (see also claim 2, specifying "an adhesive plastic material." and claim 3 specifying "a wax or other elastic cements . In Patent No. 500,281 to Edison, the diaphragm 1_J_ -7- 4 consists pf a cup-shaped body, supported at its centre by means of the lover which carries the recording or re- produc ing stylus. The edges of the diaphragm. are not con¬ nected with the frame of the recording or reproducing mechanism in any manner. There is no dampar.of any hind and there is no viscous semi-liquid material used.; It is believed that the claims are clear- ly distinguished from the disclosure contained in this patent/are; patent- able thereover. An allowance of the claims is respectfully solicited. Thomas A. Edison J£y Orange, N. J. His Attorney •'Ob'tbber 24,1904. Paper Nc&,KaJ.._. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, If United States Patent Office, 190#. * Washington, d. c.t NOVSmb sf 15,1304; Thomas A. Edison, (Jura T^onk T„ Jiygv. f .Id is on Laborat ofy , Orange , H. J . [] fv p'n',','n NOV 15 1004 Please find below a, communication from the EXAMINER in charge of y for Hot hod of Ho cordin'; Sounds, filod ITov. 13,1905,#1£ If, tA ’ Thi3 uetion Is in response to the amendment filad tho 25th ult lino. It is undoubtedly true that both Johnson and tho present applicant have tho same objects in view in constructing their respective sound Jjoxss. That is, both are attempting to eliminate falad vibrations in tho diaphragm by dampening the edge of the diaphragm. Johnson attempts to eliminate such supposed defeats ' by providing a liquid or oil gasket at the rim of his diaphragm ' and applicant provides a gasket ."d^more consistency than that employed by Johnson and lying between the gasket of Johnson on one hand and the wax or other well known sealing gaskets of ■known devises. It is not 3eon why in the device of the present ^pplioant tho edge of tho diaphrajja will not vibrate Just as Johnson^ device vibrates sines it is not held from vibration, but is mounted in substanos of such a aonsistenoy as burnt rubber yhieh must permit, euoh vibration. ' The question at" issue seems to be whether it is more than d difference ih the degree of aonsistenoy of the material #180,999— - -!?. of which the sealing gasket is made to provide a burnt r«Db or gasket suoh as applicant has, instead of an oil casket suoh as Johnson has, the former being of a gre atar degree* of consistency than ' the latter.' ' It is not b si laved that'sthS dampening Basket of Johnson is alastio in the sense that it would oausa counter ' vibrations to d9 set up in the edge of the diaphragm, but it is believed that the word "Mastic" as used' in Johnson's sp'ebifion- tioh refers only to the property of the oil in yielding with the diaphragm when vibrated or in adhering to the SB-uie. fho claims as amended, must be rejected because' they define the alleged process that must necessarily be carried out whenever Johnson'd'kievioo is utilized in making records and the claims must moreover be '"ejected because they define the mere '/ mechanical operation performed oy the utilization of the apparatus' and hot a proper patentable process. UNITED STATES PATENT OMTCE, Thomas A. Edison : METHOD OP RECORDING SOUNDS : Room No. 379. Piled November 13, 1903 : Serial No, 180,999 : HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS 8 I R : — Replying to Offloe aotion of November 15, 1904, please amend the above entitled case aB follows: Cancel claims 6, 7, 8 and 9 and insert in place thereof the following olaims:- - — — 6. The method of making sound records which con¬ sists in impressing upon a plate or disk whioh 1b con¬ nected to a rigid frame by liquid, or serai-liquid mater¬ ial which is characterized by great internal friction or I viscosity, vibrations whioh are representative of sound waves, and in recording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate, substantially as set forth. 7. The method of making Bound records which consists in impressing upon a plate or disk the edges of whioh are connected to a rigid frame by liquid or semi-liquid mater¬ ial whioh is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity, 'vibrations whioh are representative of sound waves, and in recording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate, substantially as set forth. 8. The method of making sound records whioh con¬ sists in directing sound waves into a sound box comprising a rigid frame and a plate or disk connected thereto by a liquid or ssmi-llquid material whioh is characterised by great internal friction or viscosity, and in recording the vibrations of said plate, substantially as set forth. 9. The method of making sound records which con¬ sists in directing sound waves into a sound box comprising a rigid frame and a plate or diBk, the edges of which are aonneoted thereto by a liquid or semi-liquid material whioh is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity, and in recording the vibrations of said plate, substantial¬ ly as set forth. 10. The method of making sound records which con¬ sists in impressing upon a plate or disk which is con¬ nected to a rigid frame by a liquid or semi-liquid mater¬ ial which is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity, vibrations which are representative of sound waves, and in recording in suitable material the vibra¬ tions of said plate by the cutting action of a knife moving up and down with respect to the record surface, sub¬ stantially as set forth. 11. The method of making sound recordB which con¬ sists in directing sound waves into a sound box comprising a rigid frame and a plate or dink c innected thereto by a liquid or semi-liquid material which is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity, and in recording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate by the cutting action of a knife moving up and down with respeot to the record aurfuoe, substantially as set forth. IS. The method of making sound records which consists in impressing upon a plate or diBk whioh is connected to a rigid frame by a liquid or Bemi-liquid material which is characterized by great Internal friction or viscosity and whioh is connected at or near its centre to a support oapable of carrying the weight of the said plate, vibra¬ tions whioh are representative of sound waves, and in re- 2. oording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate, substantially as set forth. 13. The method of making sound reoords whioh con¬ sists in directing sound waves into a sound box comprising a rigid frame and a plate or disk connected thereto by a liquid or semi-liquid material which is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity and whioh is connected at or near its centre to a support capable of carrying the weight of said plate, and in recording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate, substantially as set forth. 14. The method of making sound reoords whioh con¬ sists in impressing upon a plafee or disk whioh is connected to a rigid frame by a liquid or Bemi-liquid material which is characterized by great internal friction or viscosity and whioh is connected at or near its centre to a support capable of resisting the thrust of a recording stylus, vibrations which are representative of sound waves, and in recording in suitable material the vibrations of said plate by the cutting action of a knife moving up and down with respoct to the record surface, substantially as set forth. 16. The method of making sound reoords, which oon- Bists in direoting sound waves into a sound box comprising a rigid frame and a plate or disk conneoted thereto by a liquid or semi-liquid material which is characterized by great internal friction or visoosity and whioh is connected at or near its center to a support oapable of resisting the thrust of a recording stylus, and in recording the vi¬ brations of said plate by the cutting action of a knife moving up and down with reopeot to the reoord surface, sub¬ stantially as set forth. --- — -- 3. _ _ _ _ _ ■A R (1 D MIS I- Tile Examiner states that 'Doth Johnson and the applloant attempt to eliminate false vibrations in the diaphragm by dampening the edge of the 3ame. This iB un¬ doubtedly true of applicant's device, but the dampening action of the Johnson liquid gaskets of Patents Hos. 675,331 and 675,33a, if it exists at all, is very slight, for the reason that the liquids used (water or oil) are such as to permit the edges of the diaphragm to vibrate freely. ThiB fact is stated again and again in the speci¬ fication of these patents, see lines 48 to 56, page 1, and lines 54 to 66, page 2, of Patent No. 675,331; and lines 39 to 46, page 1, lines 99 to 104, page 1 ani¬ lines 22 to 54 page 2 of Patent Wo. 675,332. It is true that Johnson describes the liquid as a damper, but he states that it is so only to a very slight extent, lines 22 to 25, page 2, Patent Wo. 675,332, whereas applicant Uses a semi-liquid having very great damping properties. It is of course true that water has a certain degree of viscosity, or as Johnson says "is vis¬ cous to a certain extent" (page 2, lina 59 of Patent No, 675,331), but this is equally true of every liquid whatsoever. Now, it is perfeotly olear from Ills speci¬ fications that Johnson has not selected a material having a. high degree of viscosity in order to obtain a strong damp¬ ing action. The only liquid speoifled is water, a liquid having almost no visoosity. This liquid is able to ohange its shape very quiokly - quick enough to respond to eouftd vibrations. It is well known that water will convey sound very readily. This, however, 1b not true of the burnt rubber used by applicant. It ohanges its shape very slow- IXy. Its Internal friction 1b bo great that It oannot move quickly enough to respond to sound vibrations and therefore it does not permit the edges of the diaphragm to move practioally at all. It is just as though the edges were held by an unyielding material except that ae will be point¬ ed out , it does not cause false vibrations of the diaphragm as does a clomp of rigid material. Johnson finds that the water evaporates so rapid¬ ly that it. needs constant renewing and therefore prefers to use a liquid which will evaporate slowly (lines 47 to 53, page 2 of Patent No. 676, ool). Por this reason he BUggestB the use of oil, and this appears to be the only reason why he uses oil; he does not state tiiat he uses an oil which has greater viscosity than water, or which will produce a greater dampening effect upon the diaphragm. He introduces the liquid from an oiler. It is not a slow flowing oil because Johnson says that in this manner "the liquid will at once be properly distributed and ad¬ here to the peripheral portions of the diaphragm" (lineB 4 to 7, page 2 of Patent No. 675,331.) The Examiner states that the consistency of the material used by the applicant lias between that of the liquid used by Johnson!, and i-thq ' .wax or other well known sealing materials of known devices. It has been pointed out how the effect of applicant's material differs from the liquid of Johnson, and it will now be shown that its effect is also different from that of wax or other rigid or semi-rigid bodies. When the edge# 0f the diaphragm are clamped to a rigid support between surfaces of metal, rubber, wax, or other rigid or semi-rigid material, the vibrations of the diaphragm are not true. They do not correspond accurate¬ ly with the impressed sound vibrations. This faot is I pointed out on page 308, vol. 1 of a treatise entitled - "Theory of Sound", by John William Strutt, Baron Rayleigh, MaoMillan & Co., London, 1877,; from which I quote:- "Unlese the oontrary assertion ha£ been made, it would have Beemed unnecessary to say that the nodeB of a supported plate having nothing to do with the ordinary Chladni's figuree, whioh belong to a plate whose edgeB are free. "The realization of the conditions of a sup¬ ported edge is scarcely attainable in practice. Ap¬ pliances are required capable Of holding the boundary of the plaTe at reet .* and of such! "a nature that they give rise to no couples ab out~~tanKentral axes. We may conceive the plate to be held in its place by friction againBt the walls of a oylinder oiroum- Boribed closely round it." The diaphragm of applioant and the diaphragmPof all phonograph reo orders in common use are supported plates within the meaning of Rayleigh, that is, their edges are held against vibration, but diaphragms whose edges are held against Vibration by wax, rubber gaskets, and the like, are imperfect because while suoh materials may be capable of holding the boundary of the plate approx¬ imately at rest they are sufficiently rigid to reflect vi¬ brations back to the diaphragm or to give rise to "oouples about tangential axes". The author, in order to work out his mathematical formulae for plates having their edges supported, con¬ ceived the plate to be held in place by friction against the walls of a rigid cylinder. This, of course, is an ideal structure which can never be obtained in praotioe, but the conception iB interesting as an ideal, and appli¬ cant's structure is seen to be a dose approaoh to the ideal since the edges of Mb plate are held in place by the molecular friction of a material adhering to the walls of a rigid oylinder. This material is rigid with respect to vibrations whioh are as rapid as those of Bound waves, and while it is true that its consistency lies between the mobile liquids of Johnson on the one hand and the well 6. known waxen on the other, it is believed to aooomplish a result which in more perfeot than either. The Johnson diaphragms are similar to plates whose edges are free, since the liquids used have not enough v^soosity to render them "capable of holding the boundary of the plate at rest" and with diaphragms supported by wax, rubber, etc., the supports probably "give rise to oouples about tangential axes”. The claims as amended clearly distinguish ap¬ plicant's invention from the prior art* The claimed methods are different from those previously known and are a step in advance, being in faot a olo^e approach to ideal oonditionB. The claims are therefore believed to be patentable, and an allowance of thedaBe'is respectfully solicited. EDISON His Attorney. THOMAS A. , By Orange, New Jersey, 2—2 m. United States Patent Office, Washington, d. C., IIAcembor' 7,1908. Thomas A. Bdison, Caro Prank 1 T>y*r, Edison J,abc:r8tory, 0l-4UlCR»H.J. Please find below a eommunioaiio/t, from, tor Method of R°oording Sounds, filed nov. 18, 1903, serial number This action is in response to the amendment and drawings filed the 13th ultimo. , . ‘ The claims of this cans after careful consideration, mast be re, leased in view of the .patent of Johnson cited and explained, in. the last action and also because the claims define merely the neoessary use or function of the device disclosed, which device is claimed in another 'application of the present application that is involved in interference upon issues defining the device the use of which is defined in the present claims. 7 TOUTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison ) METHOD OP RECORDING SOUNDS 5 Piled November 13, 1903 ) Serial No. 180,999 ) Room No. 379 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS S I R : ~ Replying to Office aotion of Deoember 7th, 1905, pleaBe amend the above entitled case by cancelling claim 1 and renumbering the remaining Claims. A further consideration of the olaims is respect¬ fully requested. The. olaims are limited to the use of a viscous semi-liquid whioh is applied to the outer portion of the diaphragm and aots as a damper to prefent movements of the edges of the diaphragm in accordance with sound vibrations. There is no disclosure in the reference of any material having more than the very slight, visoosity whioh water possesses. Applicant uses burnt rubber, a substance whioh is exceedingly visoous. Referring to the Examiner's ground for red action , that the claims define merely the use or function of a de¬ vice disclosed in another application* this fact is be¬ lieved to be immaterial, beoause it merely means that it is necessary to use apparatus is oarrying out the method, whioh is true of all methods; The methods olaimed are not me- ohanioal methods since they involve the recording of Bound waves; Although these waves are converted into mechanical movements by the diaphragm, yet the waves themselves are of suoh complexity and the diaphragm 1b affected so greatly by the means used in supporting it, that the problem of properly recording the said waves is not a meohanioal one, hut is one wiiioh involves the moleoular properties of matter. Viscosity, whioh the material used in damp¬ ening the edges of the diaphragm possesses to a high degree is generally believed to be moleoular friction, and this property is relied upon to eliminate obj eot ionable vi¬ brations whioh would otherwise be present. The claims are believed to be olearly suoh methods as are subjeot to patents, and an allowance thereof is respectfully Boli- oited. THOMAS A. EDISQH bv ti£: His Attorney. Orange, Hew Jersey Hov ember ^0 1906 . D1V..J1S . Room. . Z.7$ 3 .K .71— DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C., DnCSISb H'.” 14,11)06. Thoms A. Ml non, Ci,a-p t wr.1'. 7 1. D;"-'T , H&A son 7 oratory, . .. Orange .JT.-J. Mease find below a communication from the EXAMINER , ii^ ohiirge of j/aar appUtmUon, for Method- o?-. Recording Sounds, f-ile'd :tc.y, 13, 1903, #180,999. (Mr- _ _ _ Commissioner of Patents, This notion 4a reeronsive to t :e amendment filed poo. 1,190.6. In so far as the alleged method claims are concerned, applicant appears to hare only usod the oil gasket of Johnson #676,331, or the elastic cement of Johnson ,#651, 076, in a phonograph recorder instead of- in a gramophone recorder., Applicant ia believed to be in error in his statement • that the references disclose no aatorinlh having a greater viacoaioty than that possessed by water. . Certainly oil baa And elastic cement has greater viaocsiety and internal resistance than water. ■’ pie claims are rejected in viewof the patent, for instance of T)di8on,#454,9*l,and the patenta of Johnson cited, it being held that applicant has merely aubntitntedthe elastic cement or the oil gasket of Johnson for the mbbep . -in rings of Hdison. IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OHIO!. Thomas A. Edison ) METHOD OP RECOBDING SOUNDS j : Room No. 379 Piled. November 13, 1903 ) Serial No. 180,999 ) HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS :f S I R : — Replying to Office action of December 14, 1906, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Claim 1, line 3, after "damper", insert - applied to its periphery Claim 2, line 4, change "a viscous semi-liquid" to - a liquid or semi-liquid having great internal friction or viscosity Claim 3, line 2, change 11 a vIbcoub eomi-liquid material" to - a semi-liquid material having great internal friction or visoosity - REMARKS- Pur t her consideration of the claims is respectfully solicited, in view of the argument filed in the companion case, serial No. 180, 998. Patent No .454,941 appears to have nothing in comrnoi with the invention of the present applicant, einoe it dis¬ closes the diaphragm with its edges clamped between gasketi in the well-known manner, aid ia entirely incapable of 2-260. Dlv - Room _ All COMimuMforfW should be addrouftfa “The Cdmhmilonar of Patou I.,*5 Paper No . jstaSff “sw • DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C., Ifov. 11,1907. Thomas A. .Edison, Cara "‘rank i. D.yer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, N» J, , ,- v .V , .v7T,:. MG'/ 11 1007 Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge ~0f your .for Method of Recording Sounds .filed Mov. IS, 1903 , aerial number 180.999. This action is in response to the amendment filed the 2,3rd ul tiino. Tiio claims of applicant's companion application #180,998, for the Apparatus for Recording Sound, having been allowed, it is held that the present claims for alleged methods which comprise merely the functions of the elements which form the apparatus, cannot he allowed. It seems that whatever of invention there may he, must reside In the apparatus and not in its necessary operation and accordingly the present claims must he rejected . IN SHE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas A. Edison ) METHOD OF RECORDING SOUNDS ) ) Filed Novembor 13, 1903 ) Room Ho. 579 - Serial No. 180,999 ) HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS: SIR: In ansv/er to Office action of November 11, 1907, reconsideration and allowance of this case are respectfully requested. The rejection in the Examiner's last action is based wholly on the theory that the present claims of this application comprise merely the functions of the elements which form the apparatus in applicant's companion application. It is respectfully represented that the process claims of this application involve elemental action. (See ex parte Weston 94 0. G. , 1786) (See former arguments of applicant in thiB case) Respectfully submitted. THOMAS A. EDISON By ^ His Attorney Orange, Hew Jersey November f , 1908. United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, O. C„ 31 Thomas A. Edison, Care EratiTc I, Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, New Jersey . Flense jlnd below a uom muni-cation from the EXABIBER in charge of your application, #180M999°d °f Reoordin« bounds, .tiled Nov. 13 ,1903, serial number XBk Commiuiomr pf Patents, Nov. ltf,1908. This action is in response to the letter filed the 11th instant . The examiner cannot see that the claims express anything more than the function or operation of the apparatus and the claims are accordingly finally rejeoted for reasons' before stated . $4 ! <%t & (1 /I,! i / rf] a n. cJL. £L 1/ Up )■ >"Y - eyQ!Qc st }\+.A-tu+4jl^ OJ/a ~(\.r- ^ /}/ s'e L! wL Ctf\'OQ4Styfc.. 0( Cl , : ^ /A. ^1>. J>lf ^-loX-'fay JL ^c/,r •TKUa^ -Ai~ ^ i/'lo A^ejyci Pc&^d^ t s’ 97' G pMst* ej£r ’•< -> ^ c^> b<^- d ‘cdT'-t^. ^ ^ n _ _ I • Up ^ A— Kfc. If- ^OlXe <*f v^i. 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ED1SOH, a citizen of the United State, residing and having his post-office address at Llewellyn Parle, Orange, Essex County, Hew Jersey, progs tbat letters patent mas be oranteb to bint for tbe IMPROVEMENTS FOR PRIMARY BATTERIES set fortb In tbe anneieb specification ; nub be berebg appoints jfranlt X. Bper (meals* tration mo. 560), of Eblson Xaboratorg, ®ranoe, mew 3erseg, bis attorney, wltb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbis application, to mafte altera* tions anb aineubments tberefn, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb tberewttb. S P Z 0 I f I C A I 1 0 H. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: BE IT KNOWN that 1, THOMAS A. EDISON, of Llew¬ ellyn Park, In the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and UBeful IMPROVEMENTS POR PRIMARY BATTERIES (Case No. 1125) of which the following is a specification. My invention relateB to improvements in primary Batteries and particularly to primary Batteries of the La- lande type, wherein copper oxid is opposed to metallic zinc in a caustic solution. When Batteries of this kind are employed in automobiles, launches, elevators, carB and other moving structures, it is important that provision should Be made to prevent spilling of the electrolyte owing to the causticity of the latter, and it is one of the objects of th j,. present invention to provide a primary Battery in which this result shall Be effected. Heretofore with batterieB of thiB type, the frame in which the copper oxid electrode has Been sustained, has Been formed of metallio copper, But the employment of '! this metal is somewhat expensive Besides which metallic copper is not entirely insoluble in the solution under the effect of electrolysis. A further objeot of the invention is to provide a cheaper and more permanent frame for the copper oxid electrode and to this end X oonstruot the same of iron in the proper form and having a oarefully nickel plated sur¬ face, the nickel film Being preferably welded in a non¬ oxidizing atmosphere so as to adhere more tenaciously as wel-£. 1. as to overoome any condition of tension therein as 1 de¬ scribe in my patent Mo .734, 522, dated July 28,1903. with batteries of the type under consideration as heretofore made, the zino plates have been supported by copper rods and in order to reduce local action between the metalB the surface of the copper rod, at leaBt so much thereof as may be immersed in the solution, has been amalgamated. But this praotioe is more or less expensive and the looal action is still present. A final object of the invention is to improve the battery in this respect and to this end I support the zino electrode by means of an iron rod, whose surface is carefully nickel plated as explained. The local aotion between zinc and iron, and particularly when t'he latter is niokel plated, is extremely small, being much less than the local action between zinc and copper. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in v/hloh, Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of the improved cell; Figure 2, a plan view showing the cover partly broken away and illustrating also a portion of the rubber diaphragm; and Figure 3, a bottom view of the frame for sup¬ porting the copper oxid electrode. In all of the above views, corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference. The jar or vessel 1 is made of some material not affeoted by the solution, such as porcelain, hard rub¬ ber or carefully niokel plated sheet iron or steel. This jar is formed at each oorner with an integral lug 2 and through Vslafch of these lugs iB upwardly extended a bolt 3 held in place by a nut 4. The bolts 3 pass through the 2. Ltha-oever Icover 5 “a49 preferably .of hard rubber or porcelain, and the latter is damped tightly in plaoe by thumb nutB 6 engaging the nuts 3 and sorewed dpwn on the top of the cover. In order to make a tight joint between the cover and jar 1, I interpose a sheet 7 of soft rubber between the same. By thus using a sheet of rubber for the purpose, the latter also acts to pack the openings in the cover through which pass the hangers for the' electrodes. The copper oxid electrode 8 is clamped between two channels 9-9 connected together at their lower ends by a bolt 10 and each seoured at its upper end to a threaded rod 11, passing upwardly through the cover as shown. Above the channels 9 I place washers 12 so as to make a tight joint with the rubber dia¬ phragm 7 and 1 clamp the parts firaly in place by nuts 13, engaging the rods 11 above the cover 5. Binding nuts 14 are carried by the rods 11 and with which the proper oircuit connections may be made. The channels 9 are made of sheet iron formed in the proper shape and carefully nickel plated, after which the nickel film is welded in position in a 6(7Y\jjYv- niej^el oxidizing atmosphere as I describe in my said patent. 1 preferably string on the channels 9 above the electrode S, hard rubber sleeves 15 extending below the surfaoe of the solution and which prevent short circuiting of the bat¬ tery in the event of a copper film forming on top of the solution as Sometimes oocurs in practloe. The zino elec¬ trodes 16 are arranged on opposite sides of the oopper oxid slectrode and are oast around a fork 17 from the oenter of vhioh extends a rod 18 having a reduoed threaded portion L9 as shown and clamped tightly in plaoe by a nut 20. The threaded shank also carries the usual binding nut 21 for naking the proper connections. -Thb fork 17 and rod 18 are madeof iron carefully nickel plated and with the nickel 3. film preferably welded in plaoe as explained, in order that the coat may be reduced and a structure secured in which the deteriorating effeots of local action are reduced to a minimum. Having now ^described my invention, what I olainir l desire to secure by letters patent, is - 1. In a primary battery, the combination of a ' jar or vessel formed with integral lugs in its corners, bolts extending upwardly from said lugs, a cover secured in place by said bolts, a packing material between the oov- ■ and jar and electrodes s 2. In a primary battery, the combination of a jar or receptaole formed \with lugs in its oorners, bolts extending upwardly from seUd lugs, a oover held in place by said bolts, a sheet of packing material interposed betv;eer| the cover and jar and extending over the bottom face of the cover and electrodes sustained by said cover and passing through said sheet of packing ^material , whereby the latter packs the openings through which the electrode supports ex¬ tend, substantially i ''Wt for (a A. in' a battery of the type described, ^ ^port for (a oteper oxid) electrode made of nickel plated iron, substantially ahset forth. , i. . i \ cAUv rtuw /Ji»ctunW cwA ■cl, 4. fh. a battery of the type ’described, a Bup- port for (the copper Miid)eleotrode made of niokel plated iron channels clamped together to support the electrode ^fictionally, substantialize set forth. ^ ^ , ji. In a batter^o^the type described, ^a sup¬ port for (the oopper oxid)eleotrod\made of iron with a nick¬ el film welded thereto, substantially^ as set forth. /. In a battery of the ty^>e described, a zino electrode and a nickel plated iron supporter said eleo- trode, substantially as set forth. \ . | . . . if . . . Ubl3 specification signet) mio witnessed tfolfl tiaB ot -^^z/ 190 5 1 . rSL_ Oath. State Of Hew Jersey Count? Of Esbox . THOMAS A. EDISON , tbe above«=nameb petitioner, being Duly sworn, Deposes anb sags tbat be is a citizen of tbe United States, and a resident of of Rlewellyn Park, Orange in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey; | so.: tbat be perils believes bimself to be tbe original, first anb sole Inventor of tbe IMPROVEMENTS POR PRIMARY BATTERIES DescrlbeD anb claimeb in tbe annejeb specification ; tbat be Does not Know anb Does not beiteve tbat tbe same was ever Known or useb bs others in tbe Ulniteb States of Hmerfca before bis invention or Discovers thereof ; or patenteb or bescribeb in an? printeb publication in tbe VluiteD States of Rmerfca or ang foreign countrg before bis invention or Discovers thereof, or more than two scars prior to this application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe mniteb states for more than two sears prior to this application, anb tbat no application for patent upon safb invention bas been flleb bs him or bis legal representatives or assigns in ans foreign countrs more tbait seven months prior to tbe filing of tbfs application. Sworn to anb subserfbeb before me tbii TOotars public. [Seal] J^sKS, Thomas A. Hdison, O/o Prank L. flyer, Orange, 5T* J. I*loa8e /Z/tfZ below (i connmCtil Department of the interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., nao gp 22 , 1903. n. from the EXAMINER in oharge of Ser. no. 168,427, filed November 83, 1903:-- "Primary Battery". ^ : «!>•;.-*, f2M~ . _ _ ‘ _ Commissioner 0/ Patents. The words in parenthesis, pacsl, lino 4, should be cancels! since private id entification marks are no lone or permitted in the specification. •The word non- oxidising should evidently be substituted for "nickel oxidising" line; 80,-. pages. . ™he cla Iran in this case cover three independwit inventions: (1) the specif io form of battery Jar or vassal, covered Jjy.'cl&'tns 1 and 2} (8) the specific form of copper oxide electrode, covered by claims 3, 4 and S, and (2) the speoifio form of nine electrode, covered by claims 6 and 7, Each of these inventions is capable of use independently of the other without its funotion be inc in any. way modif ied. The olulms must bo restricted to a b ingle in¬ vention in advance of action on the merits. Attention is called to the following patents: 713,174, Nov. 11, 1908, Fayloc, British 4478 of 1884, Lalande, see Figures 4 and B. , \ >900 electrolyte by means of nickel-plated supports, substantial¬ ly as set forth." ARGUMENT. A reconsideration of the Examiner's requirement of division and an action upon the meritB of the claimB are respectfully requested. The devioe which formB the subject matter of the claims is an improved type of battery and the parts which applicant desires to cover by the claims, are capable of use only in batteries. If the parts were capable of use in structures other than batteries, it is believed that the Examiner's requirement would be a proper one, but or in view of the reasoning of Commission Hall in ex parte Willcox and Borton 45 0. G. 455; 1888 G,X>., pages 144 to 159, it is believed that all of the claims are properly examinabl( in a single application. . In the decision referred to, the loamissioner upon a state of facts quite similar to the present, discusses the question of division in a most com¬ prehensive manner, perhaps more elaborately than has been done since that date , bringing out clearly the reasons why division should be required in some cases and should not be required in others. The following language used by the Commissioner seems very appropriate: " Sewing-machines of several distinct types consti¬ tute a distinct class in classification in the Office and in industry. This machine operates certain tools or simple im¬ plements - such as, for instance, the needle. It possesses certain "parts", which are manufactured separately by the manufacturers, and to which, an separate articles, invention has turned attention. They are not manufactured and sold ~~ sx independent separate parts wi th separate functions for separate use as machines or implements to be used separately by themselves, but to be fitted into and take the place of corresponding* parts which have been broken or worn out in sewing-machines put upon the maricet. These mechanisms or parts are not known or recognized by manufacturers or vends rp as entire machines for their separate uses and purposes. The presser-foot mechanism is an instance of this kind. H has no other function, use, or purpose except to take its place as a part of the general organism, as femur or tibia does in the human organism. They are manufactured separately and remain upon the manufacturer's shelves until called for to take their plane in the particular sewing-machine of that manufacture. Such transient and pieoemeal existence in several ty does not impart to them the character of complete machines or articles which must be applied for in separate applications. Hot only this, but it may be said of the clash of sewing machines and of any other distinct and recognized class of machines of which there are distinct t types or varie¬ ties all comprehended in one of the official classes, that it is not required by the principles of the Herr decision ;that t3ia known parts of a known machine are to be separately! patented merely because they are capable of use in all ma¬ chines of the particular kind or class in which they are , presented. Such parts not being separate machines in lnduetl and trade, are not any less sub-machines or parts of a Bewing- machine because they may be used or applied in one or' in all| the types of sewing-machines. Before they can be required to be separately applied for and separately patented either dustr^es, and are capable of use in other relations than in sewing-machines" . In view of the praotice as thus set forth, it is believed that the claims should be embodied in a Bibgle application. Orange, N.J. July, /2, 1904. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON, His Attorney. 3—260. department of the interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., July 22, 1904. Thomas A. Edison, O/o Frank L. flyer, Orange, IT. ,T. Please find below a communication from the EXAM HER in charge of your application, Sor, 7To,« 102,487, f 11 art JTovemb.ir 23, 1903s "Frlntry Batt, ery«. Commissioner of Patents. Ra tlylng t.o the o o ffitaunica tion filed July 13, 1904: The reqnir eaent of division, mart a in the la«t Office latter, la in accordance with tha following decisions: , Bt parte Healey, 84 0, 1281; ex parte Robey 92 0. »., 1035; ex parte Fox A Barrett,, 99 0. (*., 882; ex parte A-lana 100 0. 0., 483; ex parte Tyler 100 0. 0,, 686, The new claim 8 may be claimed with invention (2) or (3) but cannot, be claimed with invention (1). The olaime are eaoh re J acted under Steinmeta va. Allen, 109 0, 0., 849. Action upon the merit! in suspended until the clafcis are limited t.o a single inventing Bee ex parte PiokleB, 109 0. 9., 1888. Claims 3, 4 and 5 are each objected to as being indirect, since the copper oxide electrode has not, been poaitiveiy included as an element of the claims. It should either be included, or the reference to a specific type of electrode omitted. TOUTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison, j IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIMARY BATTERIES, j ROOM NO. 175. Filed November 23, 1903, ) ) Serial No. 162,427. ) HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, SIB: - Replying to office action of July 22, 1904, I hereby authorize and request the cancellation of claims 1 and 2, reserving the right to embody the subject matter thereof in a divisional application. Renumber the remaining claims. Claim 1, (original 3) line 1, after "described" insert - a copper oxid electrode and - . Same claim, lin> 2, change "a copper oxid" to - said. Claim 2, (original 4) line 1, after "described" insert - a copper oxid electrode and Same claim, line 2 change "the copper oxid" to - said Claim 3, (original 5) line,!, after "described" insert - a copper oxid electrode and Same claim, line 2, change "the copper oxid" to - said. An action on the merits is respectfully solicited. THOMAS A. EDISON, By >©. Orange, New Jersey, His Attorney. AugUBt 1904. Thornes A. Ed is on, O/o Trank J.. Oran;; 9, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., October 1 1904. Please find below a co Vo. IP, 2, AVI \t"i ary Battery initiation, from the EXAMINER in charge of nonr aunlicdtiontiiO\, -\ filed JTovcraber 23, \m Bellying to the 0 ormmhi cation filed Align a t 86, 1904: The claims are finally rejected for the reason that they cover two independent subjects of invention, which were indicated in the first Office letter by "(8)“ and »(3)». s—soo. Div..S. _ Room _ 1.7 5 . liIS Paper No?.* _ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOP Thomas A. Edison, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., January 10, 1905, c/o Frank D. Dyer, Orange, IT. J. Please find, below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of. your application. Sor. Do, 182,487, filed November 23, 1903:- "Primary Battery". CM. ~ : Commissioner of Patents. Replying to the communication filed December 31, 1904: Claims 1, 2 and 3 are each rejected on 684,204, Oct. 8, 1901, Edison, (711), ih view of 678,722, July 16, 1901, Edison, (713). The former patent discloses the use of a nickel-platod support for copper' oxide in a battery. The latter discloses the use of nickel- platod iron as a support for active material in an alkaline elec¬ trolyte. It is therefore considered there is no invention involved in making a support for copper oxide of nickel-plated iron. As to olaim 3, it is considered there is no invention involved over the references. The invention consists in using nickel-plated iron as a supportnfor active material in an alkaline electrolyte. The nickel-platod iron has no function in the battery apart from the fact thdt.lt is not acted upon by the electrolyte. Conse¬ quently, it is considered there is no invention involved in adapt- £• ing it to hold a certain active material, as the references, disclose its use in supporting another active material. X Fqiio No; 70 .... Serial No. //^ g^'AV' ^ ; • . : I'fvv'..'- Annlirant. Address. Filed 2~3>j . . Examiner’s Room No / 7 ^ ; Assignee . . . . •Ass’g’t Exec . Recorded . Liber Page Patent- No., Issued. ACTIONS. 1... . 16 . 2... 17 . 3 1 ■ 18. 4.. . . . . 19 . 5.. ■ . ?/ ..// 20 . 9 . - •> : • 6...J X . ;..v£. r . . -V- . 21 . 7-j. 8... 1 4^4 . . . : . 22 . 23 . 9... 24 . 10... 25 . in... . r . :}: 7i.±7,jZ.,*.: i. 26....... 12:, 7, 27 . i 13.... . ^ . 7 . 28 . 14... 29 . 15:.. 30....... FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. '-1 — ^yr—r c if- JU .. |3^xttr-W4>"’"'44" | ”XrtT ^ ^2Xt U— ~rags that letters patent mas be granteb to btm for tbe REVERSIBLE GALVANIC r/j. BATTERY- set fortb ht tbe annexed spectticatton ; anb be berebjj appoints ffranh %. ®ger (iRegis* tration mo. 360), of JEbison Uaboratorp, ©range, mew Serseg, bis attorneg, with full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbis application, to made altera** tions anb amenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office comtecteb tberewftb. SPECIFICATION. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: y' •; BE IT KNOWN that 1, THOMAS A. EDISON, of Llew- 'ellyn Park, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful REVERSIBLE GALVANIC ^BATTERY -fCatae Ne-rH26)- , of which the following is a speci¬ fication. My invention relates to a reversible galvanic battery of the type employing' an alkaline electrolyte and insoluble active materials, and my object iB to provide an efficient combination for the purpose. . The invention con¬ sists in utilizing bism^uth oxid as the depolarizing material giving up oxygen on discharge. I find that bis- miuth Ijytfroxid when applied to an iitriert flake-like insolu- able conducting material, such as flake graphite, so as to cover the flakes or soales with a thin film, -(£jr is capable of affective use as a depolarizer in batteries of this type, The new depolarizer may be opposed to any suitable oxidiz- iblJS’ material, such as iron or oobalt, as l have described in patents heretofore granted; or instead, it may be employed; in batteries of the alkaline zincate type in which metallio zino at the negative electrode is oxidized on discharge and dissolves in the solution, the zino being plated out on the succeeding charging operation. Preferably, however, I oppose the depolarizer to an oxidizable element in which finely divided.^ electrolytioally aotive^ metallio iron is ad¬ mixed with a readily reducible metal, such as mercury, sil¬ ver or copper. IjLO-a-notfee-r^ In constructing the improvedddepolarizlng elec¬ trode, 1 apply the blsni'Vith'! hydroxid in the form of exceed¬ ingly thin films to the flake-like : inert conducting mater¬ ial, preferably by missing the moist hydroxid with flake n graphite and kneading the mixture in a Chillian mill having rollers of the proper weight, the kneading process being continued until the resulting mass is uniformly dark and •appears to be wholly composed of graphite. Preferable pro¬ portions are eight parts, by weight of blsmj-uth hydroxid and two parts by weight of flake graphite, but these proportions can be considerably varied. The mass obtained in 'tfifes way is preferably maintained under pressure in perforated* pockets whioh are assembled in grids as I have described in patents heretofore granted. jh'-O-' The negative electrodes are made in the usual A way and preferably utilize finely divided, eleotrolytioally active^ metallic iron with a readily reducible metal added thereto, the whole being maintained in perforated pockets secured in position within suitable grids. The electrodes so made are employed in an alkaline solution^ re ferably a 20 per cent solution of potassio hydrate. 1 find that when such a combination is first used the voltage iB quite low, but by long continued charg¬ ing and discharging the bisn^uth hydroxid appears to .be raised to a high condition of oxidation going from-one stage I f-voitage— 1 •fruf^i / , 3. A depolarizing electrode for alkaline reversible galvanic batteries utitizing bismutth'i hydroxid and a flake-like innert conducting material, substantially as set forth. 4. A depolarizing electrode for alkaline reversible galvanic batteries* utlliai&g bism-ilthh hydroxid in a high condition of oxidation and a flake- likei inert conducting material, substantially as set forth, j 5. A depolarizing electrode for ,, alkaline reversible galvanic batteries bismMtthh hydroxid and flake graphite, substantially as set forth. 8. A depolarizing eleotrode for alkkline reversible galvanic batteries utilizing blsmtutthi hydroxid in a high condition of oxidation and flake graphiie , sub¬ stantially as set forth. /■ /> / \ V. A depolarizing electrode , for,' alkaline 'reversible galvanio batteries ^atSiging bismiWtifc . hydroxid and a flake-like ^Anert conducting material the hydroxid in- applied-! in the form of very thin irilms, /sub¬ stantially as set forth. > / i<' .// 1 ^ 8* A depolarizing eleotrode for alkaline reversible galvanic l»t hydroxid maintained under pressure in perforated pockets, substantially as sot forth. 17. A depolarizing electrode for reversible galvanic batteries comprising bism;tfthh hydroxid and a flake like . inert conducting material maintained under pressure in perforated pockets, .substantially as set forth. 18. • A depolarizing electrode for reversible galvanic batteries comprising bismuth' hydroxid and flake graphite maintained under pressure in perforated pockets, substantially as set forth. XEbis specification signeb anb wltnesseb this bag of iso -5 _ gd,. Mltness : 1, . 2. . . _ Oath. THOMAS A. EDISOK , tbe above-nnmeb petitioner, being bnlg sworn, beposea anb sags tbat be is a citizen of tbe United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, inthe County of Egg ex and State of Hew Jersey; tbat be verilg believes blmaelf to be tbe original, first anb sole inventor of tbe GALVANIC BATTERY bescribeb anb claimeb in tbe anncjeb specification ; tbat be boes not Imow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever Known or nseb bg others in tbe Ulniteb States of Hmerica before bis invention or bfscoverg thereof ; or patenteb or bescribeb in ang prlnteb publication in tbe Xfiniteb States of Hmerica or ang foreign countrg before bis invention or biscoverg thereof, or more than two gears prior to tbis application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe Ulniteb States for more than two/ gears prior to tbis application, anb tbat no application for pntent upon salb invention bas been fileb bg him or bis legal representatives or assigns in ang foreign countrg more than seven montbs prior to tbe filing of tbis application. Sworn to anb subscribeb before me tbis 190-5 [Seal] [ Room No.l?.&- •7 (f 3-200. - iirsT- III Rlvo.tlio'iiorliil'niiinbof,' DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. United States Patent Office, Washington, d. C., J)90emb*r 22, 1903. ' : Thomas A. TMieon, '• C/o Prank I.., Byer, Orange,. H. Ji Pie, wo find below a ec Ser.No. 182,428, filed Nov saber 23, 1903:- ■Reversible Galvanic Batteries". The words In parenthesis In line 4 of pace 1 should be can¬ celed, alnce private narks of identification are no lone or permit¬ ted In a specification. It, is suggested that the word pole be inserted after the word • "negative" line 18,. pace 2. The word "utilizing" is objected to as beinc indefinite in clain8 1 to 15 Inclusive. It is suggested that the word contain¬ ing be substituted. Claims t, 0, 9 and 10 are objected to in the words "to which the hydroxld is applied etc.", since this 1b a reference to the proc ess of manufacture. It is sucg acted that the words carrying the hydroxld be substituted for the words "to which the hydroxld is applied" in each of claims 7, 8, 9 and 10, The 0 distraction covered by claims 16, 17 and 18 /.is. capable' ,(of illustration, and under Rule 50 a drawinc Bhould be furnished. Claims 1, 2 and 11 are e ich rejected upon British 1862 of 1887 Abel, Batteries, Secondary, Claims 5, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14 are each rej sated upon Abel above cited, taken in connection with - 678,722, July 16, 1901, Bdieon, Batteries, Secondary, f Abel shows it to. be old to mix the depolarizing material with the Bdison 8er. TTo. 188,488 . 8 con tact inn subBtaaose, such aB powdavtd carbon, To substitute for this the flake Graphite employed by Edison woftld not involve invantion» nor io it seen that it Involves any invention to em¬ ploy the bismuth hydroxid el eotrorte with any deeired negative pole electrode, anch aa that disclosed by Bdieon oitad. Claim 18 is rej acted upon Abel takai with 787,117, Hay 8, 1803, Bdison, Batteries, Secondary. Claim 16 ifl rej acted upon Abel oitad, taken in connection with each of 379,578, jaar. 80, 1888, dibson, Batteries, Seoondary, 700,137, Stay 13, 1908, Bdison, ■ » Olairae 17 and 18 ara rejeoted upon Abel taken in connect ion with Bdison (700,137). MEMORANDUM TOR MR. EDISON. Regarding cases Nos. 76 and 77, covering the use respectively of bismuth hydroxide alone, and mixed with nickel hydrate as the depolarizer, the principal reference is the British patent to Abel, No. 1862 of 1887. This patent describes various oxides and hydroxides of silver, copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt and bismuth. How many bodies are comprised in this list, and what of them are operative? Note that in the Edison cases, reference is made generally to "bismuth hydroxide". If there are more than one of these hydroxides, the specifications should be revised. Unless all the hydrates of bismuth are active the cases should be refiled. August 17, 1904, Case - Hanifen v. E.H. Oodchalk Co. -Fed. Rep. Vol. 84, (Circuit Court of Appeals - Judge AcheBon) Page 651. This brings us to a consideration of the British patent of 1881 to James Booth. The case, we think, turns upon the question whether the Booth patent disclosed the Bywater inven¬ tion. How, it is a well-settled and familar doctrine that an invention patented here is not to be defeated by a prior foreign patent unless its descriptions or drawings contain or exhibit a substantial representation of the patented invention in such full, clear and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it appertains, without the necessity of making experiments, to practice the invention. Seymour V. Os¬ borne, 11 Yfe.ll. 516,555; Cahill v. Brown, 3 Ban. & A. 580,587, Ped. Cas. Ho. 2^291. Case - V/estinghouse Klee. & Mfg. Co. v. Saranac Lake Elec. L.Co. Ped. Rep. Vol . 108, p. 227 (Judge Coxe). The publication relied on must describe the inven¬ tion in such a complete, clear and precise manner as to enable those skilled in the art to reproduce it without the aid of the patent. If the differences are only those which the skill of the art will readily supply the publication will not be destroyed as an anticipation, but it will be destroyed if these differences relate to essential features, and independent investigation and experiment are required to explain obscurities and supply omis¬ sions. The mere assertion that the desired result has been accom¬ plished without stating how, without describing the means which nroduced the result, is insufficient. Walk Pat. 57; Hanifen v. Godehalk Co., 28 C.C.A. 507, 84 Ped. 649. hr-trTT) Qtl Case - SfWrtl 1 v. ChariRbe-r-ia-i-n . U.S. Su. Court Eep . (Howard ,Vols. 5 ,6 ,7 ,8) p. 5) But when the specification of a new composition of matter gives only the names of the substances which are to he mixed together .without stating any relative proportion, undoubted¬ ly it would be the duty of the court to declare the patent to be void. And the same rule would prevail where it was apparent that the proportions were stated ambiguously and vaguely. *Por in such cases it would be evident, on the face of the specification, that no one could use the invention without first ascertaining by ex¬ periment the exact proportion of the different ingredients required to produce the result intended to be obtained. And if the speci¬ fication before us was liable to either of these objections the patent would be void, and the instruction given by the Ciruit Court undoubtedly right. Case - V/estinghouse Air-Brake Co. v. Great Northern Ry. Co. Fed. Rep. Vol . 88, p. 263. (Circuit Court of Appeals - Judge Shipman) The prophetical suggestions in English patents of what can he done, when no one has ever tested hy actual and hard ex¬ perience and under the stress of competition the truth of these suggestion^ or the practical difficulties in the way of their accomplishment, or even whether the suggestions are feasible, do not carry conviction of the truth of these frequent and vague statements. The nature and character of the invention of 376,837 vrere , in the record heretofore before this court, put to rigorous tests by examination and cross-examination in court; and the re¬ sult which was then reached is not shaken by merely a single sentence in the English patent. Case - Matheson v. Campbell. Fed. Rep. Vol. 78, p. 915-916 (Judge Lacombe) In other words, having himself experimented only with three or four bodies out of a group of hundreds, he proposes to set himself in the pathway of future experimenters with any or all of the other bodies, and, as the result of each new experiment, is disclosed, will fire away at it, calculating to "hit it if it is a deer, and miss i± if it is a cow." That this is precisely what is contended for is manifest from the statement, orominently set forth in appellee's brief: "The inventors were entitled to protect themselves against such as might try to steal their broad discovery, by the general statement that many of the bodies included in the general formula might, when subjected to their process, produce naphthol-black; and that the products so produced from those that did work were the equivalents of the product resulting from the specific ma¬ terials set forth in the example. Without this or something of the kind, the real invention could have been appropriated with impunity, and this pioneer patent for a most valuable discovery would have beem almost valueless to the inventors". This assertion at once suggests two criticisms: (1) The patent contains no general statement that "many of the bodies in¬ cluded in the general fonnula might" etc. The general statement is that "all such bodies will", etc. (2) The inventors did not make any such "br.oad discovery." They made the specific discovery that some di-3Ulpho acids, treated according to their process, would produce their product. The broad discovery that all sulpho aoids may be thus transformed they certainly did not discover, for it is apparently undisc ove rable , since most of them cannot be thus transformed by the process of the patent. Some future experi¬ menter will have to make some new discovery, and invent some new process before these other sulpho acids can be transformed into napthol-black . We are referred to no authority, and know of no principle, which will sustain the complainant's contention that he can thus, in the language of the circuit court "speculate on the equivalents of his claimed invention, and thereby oblige the public to resort to experiments in order to determine the scope of the claims of his patent." Case - Badische Anilin & Soda Fabrik V. Kalle. I’ed.. Rep.. Vol1..94iV, ps.. 166-167;; -i Judge. Coxep. . Unless the prior puhlicatlon descrihes the invention in such a full, clear and intelligible manner as to enable per¬ sons skilled in the art to comprehend it and reproduce the pro¬ cess or article claimed, without assistance from the patents, the publication is insufficient as an anticipation. Cohn v. Corset Co., 93 U.S. 366, 370; Seymour v. Osborne 11 Wall. 516,555 Tllgh- mann v. Proctor, 102 U.S. 707,711; Powder Co. v. Parker, 16 Blatchf. 295, Fed. Cas. Ho. 625; Bowers v. Bridge Co., 91 Fed. 381,408. In Tyler v. Boston, 7 Wall. 327, the patent contained the following statement: "The exact quantity of fusel oil which is necessary to produce the most desirable compound must be determined by experi¬ ment". The court says: "A discovery of a new substance by means of chemical combinations of known materials is empirical and discovered by experiment. Where a patent is claimed for such a discovery it should state the component parts of the new manufac¬ ture claimed with clearness and precision, and not leave the person attempting to use the discovery to find it out 'by experi¬ ment.'" See, also, Wood v. Underhill, 5 How.l; Grant v. Raymond, 6 Pet. 218; Consolidated Electric Light Co. v. McKeesport Light Co., 16 Sup. Ct. 75. A description which is insufficient to support a patent can hardly be relied on as an anticipation. In each instance the same precision is required. If the alleged anticipating matter leaves the description incomplete requiring extrinsic investiga¬ tion to make it complete it fails as an anticipation. ; -i Folio No. . 72 ..... If . ; Applicant. ■ j%/' ? y -Serial 'No. ../ r"” Address. > Title . ; : f Filed ...,. -J-3y/ f:0r£. \ i > ?** i Assignee 4 V, ^C-o /?-- /7 . . C.2%z- Examiner's Room No / 27 2 aLiSds. 7 fjk \ , Ass'g't Exec/2J<^^d|l,^ Z/' -Tiber'/. lC’ 7 Page .3.*?. • | - Patent No.&^'y, 0. Issued ^7 ACTIONS. \ .. '£y^...-?h i6 2..2i2uiJ>.uU.<^£.^. . .<%•:■.. a*t..f.aiy£... . 17 . 3 . lkn.:^.^,...'.y"..2. . 1 8 . >4 .//sws". 'yirtX jU .J.qo..£~'. 1 9 . * \ ”ML ' * -#"T“ «— €) -A-* _ f_-CL/ UL-g. ecu n.^p-t- “" . 0f^ vt.L£JU.e, - d«~t - ; d( ' C ,■*—** L^T M ,'J •• o-o C~ X 'tyjp*. eO-,' \-f ^ 7 2:^2 Z£&r~ l~ -:.. *. • ’ ‘ ‘ r ' . . . •(, iu u ^-7 ~«-c -u2^ — L- - _ __L _1 _i. _ v . 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IssuecL^I t?-4£+ ^CtCf“ uofi-^C^d- uJ (jJU-cS^tj 6* o-t* fiJs^ yf(i •&' -txVMt^V: ‘v-1- ^ ■•> v - - ,- - - J ' " P** Q^-6~e- r - tdtt iLdLO-t A-< 4U-t^t vvc* tU A/UijCr-j LvcCvjt-/ ^0-*-<74, £ C-La~^> 4u •/-i . ^ *Lg~& — vckj-^d^ iO y j<=f — cr|tC^ titi>'R-^- . \ltd ?U>f CjZM+tLuf'* j _.^Jj_..._- ■’ 1“ %vrUM Os Wlu (/ iH/Y «/"W a, sjti/io. 6px^^uL„{ tjj c^c<^M^h’vyU &*£ . - / , JL ~L~. 4J^v* ; j cjxi^iiA-ti h'%^ f HAJ~ JL— * H touv^ fc : ^ K , V- . /.-•• J tr 3 : > • ^ «i~#» v /u -*4 ^tLj ^ *7"* ■ Uok, vJU£W ^ sldcL 6~>; A . hfTJUul ITVVUAsAAM* 1^- Ct^yW&AMt-tM*. (yAl.iAjL.Cue [, ,L , i cQ fafaAiCfofl' ' J -Uxu Av^° 1 ' / , ' %u.yV caJ^^X rAA^v ^pwd^? (A,IU VW VuJ c-jAnJ^i i^t^fvjr {W^ V/^ ' “ . , A **$" ^ v'kAl Folio No. Title. V \ ;fy' Assignee . iffr- . Ass’g’t Exec . A/, / 9? Y- . Serial No A. / £ 6"-^ 8^ Address. . . Examiner’s Room No f o' J . Patent No. Zfjt ~j , "'J^r C? Issued Page . ..... \5 M l‘;:v'Vy, <6.....v ■ 27. . . f mOte EXAMINER in ditar te of Bor. no. 217,001, Tiled July 25, 1904:- "ITethod of Perf orating Sheet Hetal for Stornge^atterles" . _ _ _ _ Commissioner of Patmls. Replying to the communication filed December 7, 1905: Claims 1, 2 and 3 aro each rejected on: 704,306, July 6, 1902, Edison, in vie-;- of the raf of e nco 3 of record. Edison discloses a pocket made of alast lo sheet metal provided with purfonations . The. refer¬ ences. Taylor, Sperry, Porter and ICuettnor uhov/ that It is old to have the burrs forming part of tho perforated shoot perpendicu¬ lar to. the plane oif the Ghoet. It does not amount to invention therefore to modify the structure disolosed by Edison in this par¬ ticular. i*1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. ^ Sir: The Commissioner direots me to acknowledge the reoeipt . of . - ooupon^Srdering copy of patent No Replying to the same you are informed that there are no oopies of this patent in stock at present. Copies will be ordered reprinted, however, and furnished without unnecessary delay should you desire to await reproduction, in which event please notify the office and return the inclosed coupon. Respectfully, Chief Clerk. F w ( (_ : /■•■■' ■'^ ■• - ■■■?..■■ ■: ■ '. •• . ■'■"'3s Folio No. .'ii/tiJ y' Serial No. 4^ H/'ya'Z- Applicant. Address. _ . (£2:^ . FRANK L. DYER, Serial No.'?1?' ^ X X b I’ ■ Folio No. . ISO T itle . ^ Filed . . A <9? ^ . Examiner’s Room No mi^pyoi . . . J 6.... FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.. Petition. Co tbe Commissioner of patents : I IBour petitioner , THOMAS A. EDI SOU, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his post-office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, Hew Jersey prags tbat letters patent mag be Granteb to blm for tbe PROCESS TREATING GRAPHITE POR USE IN ALKALINE STORAGE BATTERIES set fortb In tbe annexed specification ; anb be berebg appoints if rani! X. Eiger (Elegis* tration mo. 560), of Eblson Xaboratorg, ©range, mew 3erseg, bis attorney?, witb full power of substitution anb relocation, to prosecute tbis application, to nml:e altera* tions anb amenbments tbereln, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb tberewitb. SPECI5TCATI0N. TO ALL WOM IT MAY CONCERN: BE it known, that I, Thomas A. Edison, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful PROCESS OP TREATING GRAPHITE POR USE IN ALKALINE STORAGE BATTERIES, of which the following is a specification: In an alkaline storage battery employing an insoluble active material in the make-up of one or both of its electrodes, it is desirable to secure conductivity between the active particles by admixing flake graphite therewith. Por example, in my improved Btorage battery, I admix flake graphite with the nickel hydrate in the make¬ up of the depolarizing electrode. Since the flake graphite employed serves only for the purpose of securing conduc¬ tivity between the particles and in no sense is an active material, it is important in the first place that the gra¬ phite should present the maximum extent of surfaoe and the minimum bulk, since in this art it is highly important to reduce weight and bulk to the greatest possible extent, and this is particularly true in connection with storage batteries for automobile work. In the second place, it is important that the aotive particleB should be distri¬ buted upon the graphite flakes in comparatively thin films, so that substantially each active particle will be in oon- taot with a conducting surface. This latter point is important because if there are any considerable portions of the activp material that may be out of contact with the graphite flakes, it becomes dlflfioult to effect an electrolytio action therein to oxidize or reduce suoh iso¬ lated portions of the active mass, and consequently the capacity of the active mass is correspondingly reduced. By obtaining the flake graphite in the finest possible division of its scales and laminae, but without grinding or reducing the area presented by each flake and by so ap¬ plying the active material to the graphite flakes that the active material shall exist thereon in the form of very thin films , I obtain a construction in which the maximum capacity of the active material is presented in the least possible bulk and of the least possible weight. In order that the maximum conducting surface of the flake graphite may be secured, I find it possible to commercially split up or subdivide the graphite flakeB, owing to the laminat¬ ed chaKadtEr thereof , without, however, grinding the same or reducing the area of the individual flakes to an ob¬ jectionable extent, by admixing a sticky substance with the graphite to form a more or less pasty mass, which is then passed between rollers or between a flat surface and a rolling surface. Preferably, the operation on the flakes .is of the latter character and is performed in a Chilian Mil, the pressure on the rolls being light enough as not to orush or grind the particles. 1 find that this rolling operation tends to split up the graphite flakeB into the several laminae composing the same, so that if the opera¬ tion is oontinued to a sufficient extent, the resulting flakes will be excessively thin qnd will expose substan¬ tially the maximum surface to the active material. This spliting up of the graphite flakes under a rolling opera¬ tion is probably due to two causes, first, the pressure applied to the flakeB exert a longitudinal stress which -2- M- tends to slide the laminae with respect to each other, and second, the pulling apart of the flakes, as a portion of the mass tends to he carried up with the rolling surface. Owing to the presence of the sticky material which covers the exposed surfaces of the flakes, this splitting up of the flakes he comes possible, since the adhesion between the individual flakes is greater than the oohesion between the laminae composing said flakes. Furthermore , as soon as a splitting oonurs the fresh surfaces will be immediate¬ ly covered with the sticky material, so that the operatior is automatically repeated until the desired extent of sub¬ division is secured. The invention m ay be carried out in a number of ways . In the first place, a comparatively sticky binding material may be added to the graphite, and after the lat¬ ter hue bean properly split up, the sticky material may be removed and the vary thin flakes carefully admixed with the active material. Preferably, however, the active material itself is rendered sticky, so that after the flakes have been split up no removal of a separate binder requires to be effeoted, and at the same time, the rollinf operation results in the active particles being very uni¬ formly distributed over the flakes. As an example of the first process, a water soluble substance, like molasses or glue, may be added to the graphite so an to form a stioky mass, which, after repeated rolling to split up the laminae, may be washed in wuter to dissolve out the binding material and leave the graphite in the form of excessively thin flakes to which the, aotive material may be applied in any suitable way. Or, instead, a non-water misoible binding agent -3- may be employed such as a solution of resin in petroleum, whioh hinder may he afterwards washed out hy means of a solvent, such as naptha or gasolene. As an example of the second and preferred pro¬ cedure , and assuming the active material to he used to he nickel hydrate, the latter may ha Hindered more or lesB sticky hy a strong solution of alkali, such a3 potash or soda; or ammonia may he used for this purpose. After the mass has been properly rolled, preferably in a Chilian mill, it. is then allowed to dry or is artificially dried, where¬ by the alkali, if used, will he absorbed, or the ammonia, if used, will he evaporated. V/hen subjected to this treat¬ ment, the nickel hydrate will he distributed uniformly over the graphite flakes, and the latter will he subdivid¬ ed to their ultimate condition of fineness, presenting the maximum conducting surface with the minimum hulk, and practically all of the active particles being in contact with tha conducting surface. Instead of this treatment, 1 find it possible to make nickel hydrate sticky hy drying the same after precipitation, until somewhat damp, and in this condition, the process can ha affectively carried out, and will result in the desired splitting up of the graphits flakes, and the distribution of the active materialsuni- formly thereon in the fora of very thin films. Having now described my invention what 1 claim as new therein and desire to secure hy betters Patent is as follows: 1. The prooess of treating flake graphite for use in alkaline storage batteries, which consists in sub¬ jecting a sticky mass containing flake graphite, to con¬ tinued rolling, the pressure being sufficient to subdivide the graphite flakes, bjit insufficient to grind the same, -4- substantially as set forth. 2. The prooess of treating flake grohfcite for us in alkaline storage batteries, which consists in adding a binder to the flake graphite and in then sub¬ jecting the sticky mass to a rolling operation, the pres¬ sure being sufficient to subdivide the graphite flakes, but insufficient to grind the same, substantially as and for the j/urposes 6et forth. 3. The process of treating flake graphite for use in alkaline storage batteries, which oonsists in adding an active material in a sticky condition to the flake graphite and in subjecting the mass to a con¬ tinued rolling operation, the pressure being sufficient to subdivide the graphite flakes, but insufficient to grind the same , substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 4. The process of treating flake graphite for use in alkaline storage batteries, which consists in fonn‘’ ing a sticky mass of flake graphite, nickel hydrate and alkali, and in subjecting the sticky mass to a rolling operation, the pressure being sufficient to subdivide the graphite flake, but insufficient to grind the Bame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. Oath. State Of New Jersey, Count? Of Essex THOMAS A. EDISON , tbe above*nameb petitioner, being bulg sworn, beposes anb sags tbat be f3 a oltizwn of tbe United States, and a rosident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and state of Ifew Jersey; tbat be mils believes bimself to be tbe ordinal, first anb sole inventor of tbe PROCESS OP TREATING GRAPHITE EOR USE IN ALKALINE STORAGE BATTERIES. bescrlbeb anb clalmeb in tbe annejeb- specification ; tbat be boes not (mow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever itnown or useb bg others in tbe Ulniteb States of Hmerica before bis invention or blscoverg thereof ; or patentcb or bescrlbeb fit an? printeb publication in tbe Ulniteb States of Hmerica or ang foreign countrg before bis invention or blscoverg thereof, or more than two gears prior to this application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe Ulniteb states tor more tbnn two gears prior to tbis application, anb tbat no application for patent upon saib invention bas been flleb bg him or bis legal representatives or assigns fit ang foreign countrg more than seven months prior to tbe filing of this application. Sworn to anb subscrlbeb before me this “ g 1 [Seal] Ulotarg public. Department of the Interior, 0,1 SERIES OF 1900. Mr»JUAJJ6 hD.a,jQxJ!Z-J- Q/m ,.,19ojJ t tf SIB: j I have to aelenowledge the receipt of the petition, specification, oath, and \ ? nour alleged imerovement in .. 5 with Fifteen Dollars as the first fee payable thereon. 3 The papers are duly filed, and your application for a patent will he talent. | ]» up for examination in its order - f You will he duly advised of the examination. Very respectfully, cL^h— -tS-J—VL— - Commissioner of Patents. | iJ.-A _ _ 7a _ 3r.^jJL?..;. . Note.— In order to constiluto nn application for a patent, tho inventor la by law required to famish his petition, specification, oath, and drawiugs (whero tho uataro of tho case admits of drawings) and to pay tho required fee. No application is considered as complete, nor can any offioial action bo had thereon, until all its parts, as here specified, are furnished In duo form by tho inventor or applicant / T/d Issue Division. S-lSl. Serial No.. 226, -/ VS ----- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ■ Thomas A. Kdiacn, L. Tver, s> X». C.JTfty^.J.+osnst _ , 190- - J? SIR:— Your APPLICATION for a patent fof£6h 12111*11 O VJSMJ2N T IN Prooass of Treating Oraphifce jfor Use in Alkaline storage Batteries. _ . _ ^ Filed _ _ , l&e _ , has hem examined and ALLOWED. Tha final fie, T wanly Dollars, imisj paid, and the letters Patent bear dale as of a day not later ■ than SIX MONTHS from the time of tlfspresent notice of allowance. If the final fee is not paid mthitrtlmt period the patent will he withheld, and your only relief will he hy a renewal of the application, with additional fees, under the provisions of Section 4897, Revised Statutes. The OJIco aims to deliver jmtcntttftpon the day of tlicir date, and on which their term heyins to run; hut ' to do this properly applicants wilifio expected to pay their final fees at least TWENTY DA YS prior to the ' conclusion of tho six months allowed them hy law. The printing, plwlolillwgraphing, and engrossing if Hie several patent parts, pryyp-atory to final signing and sealing, will consume the intervening lime, and such work will not ho dmacjnttil after payment of tho necessary fees. ' When you send the, final fee you will also send, DISTINCTLY AND PLAINLY WRITTEN, tho name of the INVENTOR ajuyTlTLB OF INVENTION AS ABOVE GIVEN, DATE OF ALLOWANCE ( which is • the dalo of this circular), DA TE OF FILING, and, if assigned, tho NAMES OF THE ASSIGNEES. ' If you tlcsir&rl have tho patent issue to ASSIGNEES, an assignment containing a REQUEST lo that effect, togetherfiph tho FEE for recording tho same, must he filed in this Office on or before the dato of . After i^ho of the patent uncertified copies of tho drawings and specifications may ho purchased at ) iccop'B oants each. Tho money should accompany tho order. Postage stamps will not he ) Respectfully, Harch 31st, 1905 Honorable Commissioner of Patents, SIR:- Washington, D.C. 1 enclose check for #20. in payment of the final government fee in the application of ThomaB A. Edison, filed October 1, 1904, allowed November 1, 1904, Serial No. 226,776 for PROCESS OP TREAT 1 NO GRAPHITE FOR USE IN ALKALINE STORAGE BATTERIES, of Tidiich kindly acknowledge receipt. Very respectfully, ARK. Petition. Go tbc (Commissioner of [Patents : 39°ur Petitioner , THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitisen of the United States, residing and having his post office address at Llewellyn Park, Ofcange, in the County of Essex and State of Hew Jersey, Prags tbat letters patent mag be otanteD to btm for tbe PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS. ' set fortb in tbe annexeb specification ; anb be berebg appoints Jfranli %. ®ger (TReols* tratfon tlo. 560), of Ebtson Xaboratorg, ©range, mew 3erseg, bis attorneg, wltb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbis application, to inn he altera- tions anb amenbments tbereln, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb tberewltb. . ct/laeS. . §111121 CAT I OH TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, have invented a certain new and improved PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS, of which the following is a description: This application is a division of an application filed August 30, 1904, Serial No. 222,702. My invention relates to an improved process for making phonograph or other talking machine records , and my object is to secure a sound record which shall he of practically exact quality, and at the same time very loud. Such a record when secured, may he used directly on the phonograph or other sound reproducing machine, hut it is preferably employed as a master from which copies are ob¬ tained by any approved process of duplication, as for ex¬ ample, by a molding operation. The invention is practioabl for use not only for the production of phonograph records, but also for the production of so-called gramophone re¬ cords, wherein the record exists as a sinuous groove of substantially uniform depth. In making a sound record of either of the types referred to, there are certain factors wh^ih enter into thy operations and by reason of which the quality of the recorded sounds is affectedso that the record is not tru¬ ly representative of the original sounds. The most ob¬ jectionable of these disturbing influences which 1 have encountered in my experiments in phonographic recording, is due to the inertia and momentum of the diaphragm and the recording devices, carried by or connected with the same. As a re spit, when the diaphragm is subjected to vibaations of considerable amplitude, the momentum of the parts causes the recording knife to cut to a dispro¬ portionately great depth, and this aberration is mani¬ fested in. the suceeding vibrations. Consequently, 1 find that the quality fif the recorded sounds is in inverse ra¬ tio to the loudness thereof, so that when the attempt is made to make a very deep record, or a record of great amplitude, the louder notes are generally of poor quality and are out df proportion to the notes or sounds of less amplitude. Another disturbing influence, which I have en countered in my experiments with- the phonograph, and by which the quality of the records is affected, is due to the fact that the horns heretofore used have been respon¬ sive to certain tones, either fundamental or secondary, within the range of ordinary music, and in consequence, such tones are greatly emphasized and become objection¬ ably distortedin the reproduction. Obviously, the tones which may thus become undply amplified, depend upon the length of the horn used, but since it has heretofore been necessary to employ horns pf considerable length, say from 18 to 36 inches, in order that the sounds may be pro perly collected to make the record loud enough for prac¬ tical purposes, the tones to which they may be responsive either fundamental or secondary, will always exist in the range of ordinary music. 1 am not aware that these ob¬ jections have ever been successfully overcome, and here¬ tofore, the volume of the phonograph, or other sound re¬ cord has been largely restricted because of hhe same. The objeot of my invention is to overcome these objections. To this end the invention consists, firstly, in making an original record in suitable recording material , of re¬ latively weak volume and in which errors due to momentum will be largely eliminated. Secondly, the invention consists in making use of a horn of such a length that it is responsive only to tones beyond the range of ordinary music, so that the objections due to "funnel tones" will be eliminated. 1 am enabled to make use of a very short horn, say from four to five inches in length, for the reason that the sounds to be recorded are relatively weak In this way the record v/ill be more nearly representative of the original sounds; and from the master so secured, a duplicate is obtained by a process df mechanical trans¬ ference, but wherein the record may be increased in volume to any desired extent./^ tn such a duplicating operation, the master and blank are rotated at a sufficiently low surface speed as to prevent any disturbing influence;;, due to momentum. Furthermore, in order that there may not be objectionable wear on the original master during the duplicating process, I first prefer to reproduce the mas¬ ter J|)h metal, and from thiB metal copy, 1 secure the am¬ plified copy of mechanical transference . In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatio view show*1^ portion of the original master, or metallic copy thereof. Figure 2 is a dross sectional view through, the original recording stylus, show- A\L i-Cfc-U 'J-OX- •] 'i-C . I , ing a recorder .020 of an inch in diamete^. , 1 Figure 3 a* diagrammatic view of the amplified duplicate record. Fi¬ gure 4 a cross sectional view through the recorder used in cutting the amplified duplicate, illustrating the -same cutting to its full deptb^ ~J Figure 5 a plan view t of the preferred embodiment of the mechanical duplicating up¬ on line 6-6 of Figure 5. paratus. Figure 6 a cross sectional view/showing the shaving knife for trimMng the blank to the exact shape and size as the original record. Figure 7 a correspodd- copy of the original record, and Figure 8 a sectional view on hhe line 8-8 of Figure 6. In all the above views eorresponding parts < i represented by the f In carrying the method into effect, 1 first make an original record by means of a recorder 1, (Bee Figure 2) of small cross section, the. record being of low ampli¬ tude. Thus, in Figure 1, 1 illustrate such a record, wheeein the maximum width of the record groove is only about one-half of the ay&likable surface, or about one two- 7 hundredth^ of an inch. In making such a record, 1 am en¬ abled to employ a very short horn, say ^ from four to five inches in length^ owing to the low amplitude of ths sounds to be recorded?, and such a horn is not responsive to an injurious extent to any tones within the range of ordinary music, so that the objectionable "funnel tonea" may be eliminated. I find that reooidB of this kind, although very faint, are of superior quality, not only because the work Imposed on the recorder is slight and consequently, the recorder is free to more readily re- I spond to the original sounds, but also and principally i because the vibrations are- not affected to a noticeable extent by the momentum of the parts, so that disturbances from that cause are practically eliminated. Obviously, the quality of the master record so obtained will be further improved by the employment of a very short horn, as explained, and by which the formation of "funnel tones" will be substantially overcome. Having obtained a master of this kind with a substantially perfect record thereon of low amplitude, 1 secure a metallic copy therefrom by j any suitable duplicating process, as for example , those described in jny patents, Nos. 657,527 and. 680,520, dated September 11, 1900, and August 13, 1901 respectively. I now obtain an amplified copy of the metallic master thus secured, preferably in an apparatus by which the record is mechanically transferred and amplified, ifcn ouch an apparatus dealing with vibrations of excessive minute¬ ness, it is necessa ry that the surface on which the record is transferred should be of the exact shape as the metallic master. It would be very difficult to secure a metallic master that would be absolutely cylindrical and much more difficult to secure a blank of absolutely the same size, and for this reason 1. prefer to make use of a shaving device, working in advance of the recorder, and by means of which the blank will be cut to the exact size and shape of the master immediately before the record is cut therein. A suitable apparatus for the purpose is in¬ dicated in the drawings wherein the metal master 2 is car¬ ried on the mandrel 3, and the blank 4 is carried on the mandrel £5. These mandrels are rotated simultaneously by any suitable gearing.^ A carriage 6 is mounted to tr •avel on a rod and at its forward end is supported toy a regu¬ lating Bcrew 8, working on a front bar 9. The carriage is fed longitudinally by a feed nut 10, engaging a feed . screw 11. Mounted on the carriage is a lever 12, pivoted centrally and very much exaggerated in the drawings, since in actual practise the master and blank would be lo¬ cated very close together and a very short lever would be used. Preferably the lever 12 is in the form of a sma3^ truss, so as to possess the maximum rigidity, and in or¬ der to prevent any flexing of the lever in operation, 1 prefer to maintain it under a condition of stress, as for example , by means of small adjustable tie rods 13.- By stressing the lever practically tto the end of the elastic limits, I secure a perfectly rigid construction by means of which the most minute movements of one end will be transmitted to the full extent at the other end thereof. At one end, the lever carries a shoe 14, made preferably of sapphire, and adjusted by a screw 15, said shoe bear¬ ing upon the surface of the master 2 and being wide enough to overlap several of the record grooves thereon. This shoe may be carried from a spring 16, as shown. At itB bther end, the lever 12 carries a cutting or shaving knife 17, made of sapphire, and of any suitable Bhape for engag¬ ing the .blank 4. A spring 18 maintains the shoe 14 and knife IB in engagement with the master and blank re¬ spectively. Obviously, when the master and blank are ro¬ tated, with the shoe 14 in engagement with the former, the knife 17 will cut the blank to the exact shape and size as the master. The carriage j> also carries a duplicating lever 19, (See Figure 7) whose pivot is bo arranged as to give - 6 - the desired amplification. Ordinarily, an amplification of two to one will he sufficient. This lever is construc¬ ted like the lever 12, and is also maintained under normal tension, biing stressed practically to its elastic limits so as to he free from vibrations . At one end, the lever 19 carries the reproducing hall 20 from the adjusting screw 21, and at the other end iB provided with a record¬ er 22, which as shown in Figure 4, is preferably of a dia¬ meter ;ofj about .040 of an inch. The recorder and repro¬ ducer are maintained in engagement with the blank and mas¬ ter respectively, by an adjustable spring 2Z. In order that there may not be any lost motion at the pivots of ,,the levers 12 and 19 , I preferably mount these levers on ^very. small torsion wii'ep 24 and 25, carried on the brack- J e^s 26 upon the carriage £ and held from rotary movement - by ,/the screws 27. Consequently any movements of the levers 12 and 19 are afforded by torsional elasticity of the pivots 24 and 25 , which movements are obviously slight since the movements of the ends of the levers rarely excee^ a thousandth of an lnoh, in practice. The recorder and reproducer work closely adjacent to the shaving knife 17 and shoe 14, as shown, so that a sound record will be cut in the blank 4 immediately after it is trimmed off to the proper shape. By means of the duplicating mechanism des¬ cribed, the blank 4 will be provided with a record therein (see Figure 3) whisii will correspond with that on the original master, except that it will be very much amplifi- ed^suoh a record will be obviously of superior quality since, of course, the mandrelB 3 and 5 will be rotated slowly enough as to prevent any momentum of the parts ^from affecting the duplication. The finished amplified duplicate record may now be used directly for reproduc- 7 - 7 - t±i>n, but it is preferably employed as a master from which duplicates are secured in any suitable way, such aB by a molding process. Any other duplicating process well known to those skilled in the art, may however, be employed for securing copies from such a master. Having now described my invention, what I claim i therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is X. The process of making sound records, which consists in making an original recordof low amplitude, and in then obtaining ah amplified copy therefrom, substan¬ tially as set forth A S . The process of. making sound records, which con¬ sists in making an Original record of low amplitude, and : / in then obtaining an amplified copy therefrom by mechani- v cal transference , substantially as set forth. ! The process of making sound records, which con¬ sists in making the masteA record of low amplitude, in ob¬ taining a metallic copy therefrom, and in securing an am¬ plified duplicate fn'om a metallic Copy , substantially as set forth. \ \ The process of making soWd he cords, which con¬ sists in making the master record ok loX amplitude , in l' obtaining a metallic copy therefrom, and im securing an amplified duplicate from the metallic cdpy \v mechanioal transference, substantially as set forth.X \ 5. The prooess of making sound re cord A which con¬ sists of engaging a recording stylus with a mdvahle tablet and in vibrating the recording stylus under the\inkluence of sound waves collected by means of a horn, who^ length is sufficiently short , so that its fundamental tone will he beyond the r^nge of ordinary musicip substantially as set forth. 4. The process of making sound records, which con¬ sists in engaging aVecording sjiylus with a movable tab¬ let and in actuating \he stylus by the influence of sound waves of low amplitude\and colleoted by means of a horn whose length is sufficiently dhort so as not to be responsive to tones v/ithin the range of ordinary music, substantially as set forth)^ 0^ The process of making sound records, which con¬ sists in first securing a record of low amplitude, in ro¬ tating the same adjacent to a rotating blank, engaging a cutting knife with the blank, regulating the cutting knife by the rotating master, whereby the blank will be trimmed to the exact Bhap^of the master, and in mechan¬ ically renording on the blank an amplified copy of the record on the master by mechabical transgerence , substan- ls set forth. \ The process of making sqund records , which con¬ sists in first securing a record of low amplitude, in ro¬ tating the same adjacent to a rotating blank, engaging *a cutting knife with the blank, regulating the cutting knife by the rotating master, whereby the Vlapk will be trimmed to the exact shape of the master, and inNmechanically recording on the blank immediately after tW action of the cutting knife an amplified copy of the record on the mas¬ ter by mechanical transference^ substantially Nsb set forth tially a ttbis specification signeb anb witnessed this bag of tsOiiT . . . .^L. . . Mttncos : l. «3a . 2 . ^U^a-S- ^7-i^Ce^ Oath. State Of new JerB3y, Count? Of Essex THOMAS A. EDISON , tbe above=uameb petitioner, being bulg sworn, beposes anb sags that be is a citizen of tbe United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, tbat be verilg believes bimself to be tbe original, first anb sole inventor of tbe PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS bescribeb anb claimeb in tbe annejed specification ; tbat be boes not (mow anb boes not belteve tbat tbe same was ever (mown or useb be others in tbe Ulniteb states of Hinerica before bis invention or biscoverv thereof; or patenteb or bescribeb in ang prfnteb publication in tbe Ulniteb States of Smerlca or ang foreign conntrg before bis invention or bfscoverg thereof, or more than two gears prior to tbis application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe Ulniteb States for more than two gears prior to tbis application, anb tbat no application for patent upon salb Invention bas been fileb bg bint or bis legal representatives or assigns in ang foreign conntrg. more-tban-seven- montbs-prlor=to*tbe-flltng-of-tbi8-appl(catlon. 3—260. Div.„Ji Room';.?!.... Papop department of the interior. United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., 3?9DrUH.iy 37,1905. Thonas A. .'Id is on, Oaro ?"nnk 7.. Dyer, :1^ Claims 1 and 3 are rejected in Yiov: of the pat ant of Amet >!Tay 14,1895, #539,313,(181-15). Claims 3 and 4 are vej eetad in view of t ho pat ant of Amst and applicant i 3 patents referred to in his specif ioati on, it being held that it would not oonstituta invention to substitute applicant, b metallic duplicate original for the master record of Ainet, Olid ms 5 fu^i 5 f flnglish pa tent of 1878, wh tah show several short homs » rejected in view of applicant's 4>f 187( or mouth pieces for use in recording and seo also the foil owing patents!! Edison, May 18, 1398 ,#337, 879, (181-3) j?diaon,?oby. 19, 1878, #300, 631, (181-3) J Herrlnston,7Tov. 13,1838, #393 m953 (181-8). UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas A. Edison : PROCESS OP MAKING SOUND RECORDS : Rooin Ho. 379. Piled January 31 , 1905 s Serial No. 243,492 : HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS SIR:-- Replying to Office action of February 27, 1905, please ‘ainend the above entitled case as follows: Page 4, line 2, after "diameter" insert - the Beale being one-half that, of Figure 1. Same page, line 6, after "depth" insert — - the scale being one-half that of Figure 3. Same page, line 22, change "hundredths" to — — — — hundredth ----- Same page, Ifine 23, cancel the after "sey". Same page, line 24, change the semi-colon to a comma. Same page, line 25, change the comma to a seml-oolon. _ page 5, last line, after "gearing" insert - - at a low speed, so that the surface Bpeed of the master is sufficiently low as to prevent any disturbing influence due to momentum or inertia of the moving partB — _ _ Cancel claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and insert in plaoe thereof the following claims:- —1. The prooetfsof making sound records, which con¬ sists in mounting a oiknk upo# a rotating support, en¬ gaging a out ting knife\tk^r ewlth so as to trim the same, and then, without any alteration of the position of the blank with reBpeot to its BupWt, recording on the blank by meohanioal transference an amplified copy of a master reoord, substantially as set forth\ I The-Vroo^ss of\ making kouAd records ^ wfai\oh o\>n- 1. IeistB in mounting a blarik upon a rotating support, trim¬ ming the blank and then, without any alteration of the posi¬ tion of the blank upon its support, engaging with the blank a reoording stylus whiohNls connected with a repro¬ ducer stylus traoking a master record, and rotating the master and blank at suoh slow speedkae to praotioally eliminate defeots due to momentum and\inertia of the mov- 1^. T|. Tim prooesB of making sound records, which con¬ sists in engaging a reoording stylus with a suitable record surface, oauBing the Btylus to vibrate in accordance with sound waves and with ve^y slight amplitude, and in then ob¬ taining by meohanioal transference an amplified oopy of the original reoord, substantially as set forth. ^ The prooees of making s^und records, whioh ooneiets in engaging a reoording styles with a suitable reoord surfaoe and in oauBing said stylUB'to vibrate with very slight amplitude by sound waves oolleotekxby a horn sufficiently short as to have a fundamental tone beyond the range of ordinary musio , substantially as set f orfch. The prooess of taking sound records, which con¬ sists in making a master reoord of low amplitude, in ro¬ tating the same adjaoent to aVotating blank, engaging with the master and blank respectively a reproduoer Btylus and reoording stylus oonneoted by\an amplify!:* lever con¬ nection, and. in rotating the maeterNand blank at such slow speed as to praotioally eliminate defects due to momentum and inertia of the moving partB, substantially as Bet Renumber olaims 7 and ( i 6 and 7 respect ively. ARGUMENT. The olaime have been amended to olearly bring out the patentable novelty or the invention. The idea of oaueing the reoording etylue to vibrate with very slight amplitude in making the master reoord bo as to eliminate defeots due to inertia and momentum of the moving parts is believed to be broadly new; also the idea of rotating the two mandrels in the meohanical transferring operation at suoh slow speed as to eliminate defeots due to iner¬ tia and momentum of the moving parts; and also the idea of trimming the blank and then reoording thereon without removing it from the mandrel or in any way altering its position on the mandrel. An allowance of the claims is respeotfully solicited. THOMAS A. EDISON By _ His attorney. Orange, New Jersey ^January 4th, 190s . i — 260. Div... 190 IT 4^tXjNo .HySyffeL will be heard by the {t^I^rs-i^Chief on the f day of QMXL'UsJtl. , 190^, It is the oase on the assignment for that day. The hearings will oommenoe at o ' clock, and as soon as the argument in one oase is concluded the succeeding oase will be taken up. If any party, or his attorney, shall n,ot appear when the oase is called, his right to an oral hearing will be regarded as waived. The time allowed for arguments is as follows: ' Ex parte cases, thirty' minutes; Motions, thirty minutes, each side; Interference appeals, final hearing, one hour each side. By special leave, obtained before the argument is commenced, the time may be extended. The appellant shall have the right to open and oonclude in interference cases, and in such oase a full and fair opening must be made . Briefs in interference appeals must be filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 147. Respectfully, IN THU TTNITKD STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas A. Edison PROCESS OF MAKING SOUND RECORDS Filed Jan. 31, 1905 Serial No. 243,492 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, SIR: The applicant dQBires to inquire whethor the appeal of rejected claims in the above en¬ titled case haB "been decided by the Honorable Board of Examiners- in-Chief . The applicant haB received the decision of the Honorable Board in application Serial No. 222,702, decided March 25th, 1909, and it would seem that thiB case Serial No. 243,492 muBt have been decided at the same time, Blnoe it was a division of Serial No. 222,702, the appeal being heard at the same time as the latter, and in the decision of the Board in Serial No. 222,702, it is stated that the Board has found invention in the divisional application, Serial No. 243,492. Appli¬ cant haB not, however, reooived any decision in the above entitled case. Respectfully, THOMAS A. EDISON ___ ) i ) Room No. 379 ) Orange, New Jersey March if , 1909. His Attorney Lbttku No. B.B.Q.-F. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. March 31, 1909. In the matter o f the Application of Thomas A. Bdison, Process of Making Sound Records; Piled Jan. 31. 1905, Serial Ho. $43,492. Sir:- In reply to your letter of the 29th instant, you are advised that the appeal in the above entitled ease is still pending before the Board of Exarainers-ln-Chief , and when a decision is rendered, you will be duly informed thereof. By direction of the Commissioner: Very respectfully j Chief Clerk. Thomas/ A. Bdison, tt>owo/o Prank L. Xlyer, Bdison laboratory. Orange, H. J. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, / WASHINGTON. D. C. By direction of the Commissioner s Very reBpeotfully , Appeal 3To. 1662. U. 8. Patent ' Off ico, April , 1909.. Hof ore the Examiners-in-Chief , on Appeal. Application of Thomas A. Edison for a patent for an improvement in Process of Making Sound Records, filed January 31, 1905. Serial So. 243,492. Hr. Prank 1. r-yer for appellant. This is an appeal from the action of the examiner rejecting claims 1 to 5, inclusive, on the following references: Edison, ilov. 27, 1883, ::o. 393,465; " June 17, 1890, Ho. 430,276; Amet , May 14, 1895, Mo. 539,212. Claims 1, 2 and 5 fairly represent the group of appealed claims and are as follows: in "1. She process of making sound records, which consists in mounting a blank upon a rotating support, engaging a cutting knife thorev/ith so as to trim the same, and then, without any alteration of the position of the blank with respect to its support, recording on the blank by mechanical transference on amplified copy of a master record, substantially ub set forth. "2. She process of making sound records, which consists in mounting a blank upon a rotating support, trimming the blank and then, without any alteration of the position of the blank upon its support, engaging with the blank a recording stylus which is connected with a reproducer stylus tracking a master record, and rotating the master and blank at such slow speed as to practically eliminate defects due to momentum and inertia of the moving parts. "5. She process of making sound records, which consists in first securing a record of low amplitude, in rotating the sane adjacent to a rotating blank, engaging a cutting knife with the blank, regulating the cutting knife by the rotating master, whereby the blank will bo trimmed to the exact shape, of the master, and in mechanically recording on the blank imme¬ diately after the action of the cutting knife an amplified copy of the record on the master by mechanical transference, substantially as set forth." She reason for rejection relied on by the examiner 13 that the alleged process covered by the claims Constitutes merely the mechanical operation of the apparatus and the allowance of structural ard of Examiner s-in-Chief on appeal April 5, 1909, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Cancel Claim 1 and renumber the remaining claims. REMARKS The claims now remaining in the case have been held patentable by the Board of Examiners-in-Chief . It is to be noted that the Board suggests that these process claims might more properly be included in applicant's application Serial No. 222,702 ooverlng the apparatus with which the process constituting the subject matter of this application is used, and in which application the process claims were originally inoluded. In amending the above mentioned application Serial No. 222,702, the Examiner is requested to insert the allowable claims standing in this application. If the Examiner is (1) authorized hy the Commissioner to reinstate the process claims in the original case, and does so, applicant will oanoel the same from this divisional application and drop the same. Applicant is also adding tv/o new proceBB claims in his amendment of the parent application, which claims are thought to he patentable without re-examination upon the decision of the Board of Examiners- in-Chief . If, however, the Examiner decideB that none of the process claims should he made in the parent application containing the apparatus claims, consideration of the two new claims will he requested in this application. Respectfully submitted. THOMAS A. EDISOH Attorney. Orange, N. J. March , 1910. . "'379 J.H.D.-S. rt.p«cA©j|ij,e tier DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, Thomas A. Edison, Oare prank 1, Dyor, Edison Laboratory, Orange, Hew jersey . •c- March 29,1910. MAR 29 1910 MAILED. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in oharge of your application. for Process of Making Sound Reoords,f lied jan. 31,1905, serial number 243,492 . This aotion is responsive to the amendment filed March 23,1910. Authority having been reoeived from the Commissioner according to the provisions of Rule 142, the olaims of this oase have been transferred and admitted to applicants parent application #222,702, and authority should now be given to canoel the olaims from this oase, , IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas A. Edison PROCESS OF MAKING SOUND RECORDS Filed January 31, 1905 Serial No. 243,492 Room No. 379. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS SIR: In response to Offioial letter of March 29, 1910 stating that authority has been received from the Commissioner according to the provisions of Rule 142, and the claims of thiB case transferred and admitted to appli¬ cant's parent application 222,702, I desire to amend this application as follows: L/Cancel all the claims. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON HIb Attorney. Orange, New Jersey. March 31st, 1910. ^FoiioNc ,JIM r .v,,r Serial No.^o^ /.OO/ Applicant^ (7?) or. >xx !■«.* T itle : j ; ■' Filed ^£^o^ca Ojz,q.. t»er (IReois- tratton TRo. 560), of Eblsoit ILaboratorg, ©ranoe, mew 3ersee, bis attornes, wftb full power of substitution anb relocation, to prosecute tbts application, to inahe altera¬ tions anb amenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business In tbe patent office connecteb tberewltb. . ..CL . SPECIFICATION TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known, that I, THOMAS ALVA EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a METHOD— QF -AND APPARATUS- FOR HI OK EL- PLATINS-GRAPHIOT-, of which the following is a description:- In the practical operation of my improved storage battery, the positive mass of vrtiich conBistB of a mixture of a high oxide of nickel and an inert flake-like conduct ing material, I have made use of flake graphite for addi¬ tion to the nickel mass, the active material being appllej to the graphite in the form of relatively thin films cov-| ering the same, and the graphite being subdivided into flakes of the least possible thickness. By thus splitting or subdividing the graphite , so that the usual laminated flakes of commerce may be divided to form many flakes of practically hhe ultimate thinness, I am enabled to make 1 of a relatively small amount of graphite in comparison with the exposed conducting surfaoes thereof, and therefoj minimize the weight and bulk of inert material in the makp- up of the cell. At the same time, I find that when the battery is subjected to long and perhaps careless usage, a change in the contact resistance of these extremely thij graphite flakes commences to slowly take plaoe, which in time might effect the conducting capacity of the nickel maBB. In some instances, therefore, it may be desirablel -1- to apply a plating of nickel to the graphite flakes in order that their conducting oapacity may he always main¬ tained, and my present Invention provides a method and apparatus by which this result may he secured. The object of the invention is to amd-apparatushy which extremely thin graphite flakes or «* r&cA aAc/ scales «a#Hjer evenly and uniformly coated with nickel, wi' sufficient rapidity and at a low enough cost to make the I ^operation entirely commercial. Ttf / 1 electrolytic hathjoontaining a solution in which the graphite is placed, the latter hej.ng In a very I finely divided condition, and being in contact with a negj ative conductor to constitute the cathode, and a nickel anode being employed to permit nickel to be deposited elei- trolytically on the graphite flakes, provision being made to keep the graphite particles in constant agitation, i that the nickel deposit will be uniformly distributed as a thin film over each of the flakes. This general sugges¬ tion may be carried out in apparatus of varying types, bu'i I preferably utilize an apparatus in which a rotating tanh is UBed containing the solution, the agitation of the gra- phite flakes being effeoted by the rotation of the tank and the anode being supported oentrally in a stationary position so aB to always be below the surface of the eleoj trolyte and the construction being such that the level of the t5^1uti6h|isrmainta tried below the centre of the tank, do as to dispense with the necessity of any packing or other joints through which the solution might escape. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which Jigurej 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred apparatus — • ; for carrying my improved method into effect, and Figure 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. In these views, corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals The tank 1, in the form of a horizontal cylinder, is composed of nickel or copper, or is lined with nickel or copper so as to be unaffected by electrolysis in the solu¬ tion. This tank is provided with a suitably packed cover J through which the cylinder and graphite may be introduced and removed. The tank is supported ojji- trunions Z and 4, tie fatter being tubular as shown, and both being carried in suitable bearings 5-5 . A conductor ,6 extends through the hollow trunion A, being insulated therefrom and oarried by a suitable support 7.. The inner end of the conductor 6. ex¬ tends below the surface of the solution and carries the ni¬ ckel anode 8, which may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape. The graphite mass 9 is carried within the tank and by the rotation of the latter will be uniformly distributed and at the same time kept in constant agitation. The tank is rotated in any suitable way, aB by means of a crank 10. The anode 8 and tank are in circuit with a suitable plating dynamo 11, as shown. The solution used may be’fany^des^r^d * t. /In operation/the rotation c the graphite flakes to be maintained in constant agitation, so as to constantly expose fresh surfaoes to the deposited nickel, whereby all the flakes will be coate.d with a compar¬ atively uniform nickel film. Before introducing graphite flakes within the tank, the flakes are subdivided or split up into scales of the minimum thinness in any suitable way, as for example, by the prooeBS described in my application for Letters Patent filed Ootober 1, 1904, Serial No. 22677$, and are afterwards washed and then heated in a hydrogen -3- atmosphere to clean the surfaces, Having now described, my invention, what I claim ■: \ j therein and desjre to secure hy Letters Patent iB a£ & A new product comprising nickel-plated flakes of graphite, substantially as se't . f|or(fh. f- ^ 2.\rhe process of nickel-p.lat'ing graphite, which '^consists in Utilizing a mass of flake graphite1 as the catlode f in a nickel plating bath, interposing a nickel ;anode to Ihe same, depositing nickel by electrolysis on the graphite flake b and maintaining the graphite Vf lakes in agitation Aur- ' ing such deposit, 'substantially ae,;';set forth. 3. Apparatus Vor nickel-plating1 flake graphite, comprising an electro deposition tank/, a nickel anode there- '■ in, a cathode consisting of a maps of flake -graphite and means for agitating the\ graphite mass, substantially as set 4. Apparatus for\nickel-pij.ating flake graphite, comprising a rotating tank\ whose interior lining constitv te^e; a oathode support, a mass of flake;, graphite carried hy the tank, a nickel anode within vfche tank, and means for rotatirg the tank, substantially as set forthw 5. Apparatus for nickel-plating flake graphite, comprising a rotating tank, a hollow tnunion supporting tie same, a conductor passing througl\baid tVunion and formed with a downwardly extending portion^wi'thin. the tank,' a ni¬ ckel anodp curled by the downwardlAextenadng portion of said oonduotor, and a mass of flake graph! te\ sujpijorted wiih- in the tank and opposed to said q,node , Vubstan||;ially\as set Ubfs specification sioneb anb witnessed this ITtcL da& of "He* 2 . _ _ Oath. State Of Haw Jersey, Comtt? Of Essex. THOMAS ALVA EDI S OH , tbe above»nameb petitioner, being bulp sworn, beposes anb saps tbat be is a oitizen of tbe United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of Hew Jersey, tbat be verilp believes himself to be tbe original, first anb sole inventor of tbe METHOD 0E AMD APPARATUS POR NICKEL PLATING GRAPHITE bescribeb anb clafitieb in tbe annejeb specification ; tbat be boes not Imow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever Known or useb bp others in tbe Ulniteb states of Hmerica before bis invention or biscoverp thereof; or patenteb or bescribeb in anp printeb publication in tbe Ulniteb states of Hmcrica or anp foreign countrp before bis invention or biscoverp thereof, or more than two pears prior to this application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe TOniteb states for more than two pears prior to this application, anb that no application for patent upon snlb invention bas been fileb bp him or bis legal representatives or assigns in anp foreign countrp more than seven months prior to tbe filing of this application. _ Sworn to anb subscribeb before me tbfs /? ^ bap of 100 .4,— I Honorable Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. S 1 R Under separate cover 1 hag to hand you applica¬ tion papers in the name of Thomas A. Edison for "Method and Apparatus for Nickel-plating Graphite" , together with one sheet of drawing. Enclosed 1 hand you check for #15. in payment of the first government fee on this case, of which kindly acknowledge reoeipt. Very respectfully, eld/ahk. Enc . 2—260. Dlv.,.,3 — Room - .3.75 , " MS Paper NoX.. f -'} Meuse find below 'acmnmunicatifm. front flic EXAMINER in- charge, of your application. Ser. Ho. 251,001, filed March 20, 1905:- ■Hethod of and Apparatus for Hickel -Plating Room No. 175 - AFFIDAVIT OF THOMAS A. EDISON - State of New Jersey) County of Essex ) THOMAS A. EDISON, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is the above named applicant whose application, serial No. 251,001, was filed March 18th, 1905 s that prior to said date and prior to December 31st, 1904, deponent constructed an eleotro-deposition apparatus comprising a metallic tank connected to one Bide of a plating oirouit.and containing a suitable solution of nickel. A nickel anode connected to the other Bide of the plating circuit, was situated below the surface of the bath and near the top thereof, and a mass of flake graphite of substantially minimum thickness was introduced into the tank so as to oOver the bottom thereof below the anode. An eleotrioal current of suitable intensity was then passed through the apparatus, the tank being connected as a oathod* , whereby metallic nickel was deposited on the graphite flakes. During the plating operation the tank was kept in movement which served to agitate the graphite masB so 1. as to allow the individual flakes of graphite to reoeive a substantially uniform ooating of nickel. All this was done prior to Deoember 31st, 1904. C. Subscribed and sworn to before me this ?-o day of Deoember, 1906. e. X- 49 r . -3 Room 173... ntmfeaf/oiit should be addressed to United States Patent Office, January 19, 1907, Thomas A, Edison, Care Prank 1. Dyer, * " ' Edison laboratory, n JAN19l0f)/ // * Orange, N.J. JZeaso yZ/i-d icZou, a communication, from the EXAMINER in dhargeSfyeSr^^UsaUon, eL for patent for ftlokel Plated Graphite, filed Mar. 20, 1905,#251,001 In response to the afXidavit;iof Deoeiaber 21, 1906:- Claira is rejected on:- British patent #21,4 02, filed October 5, 1904, Jungner, (Bat .Sec.O.T.L. who claims data of Oetober 7, 1903. 2-200. DIv - 3_ Room_JtSf5. Paper No . .g.... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, C.T.IT. WASHINGTON, d, c., February 5, 1907. Thomas A. Edison Oara Frank T„. Dyer, ;j' Edison laboratory, Orange tf.J. for patent for nickel Plated oraphite, filed; March 80, 1905 ,#251, 001* ■ S j, , In response to the affidavit of December 21, 1906:-.. Page 3, line 23 «f ter "nickel saltVdnsert 'any well known electrolyte used fo^ nickel plating. : ;.T , , , The following claims' .ire sugge st ed 'to applicant, with a view Jo interferenca:- "An electrode for reversibi'd “secondafy batteries havinr el®°irolyte, said electrode containing an active mass of oompoimda of a^metaa mixed with flake graphite, the partioloe 00?ta? witl1 nickel, said coating and active mass insolubie ln the_ electrolyte under all conditions of working, substan- tiauy as ©scribed, . >rv „ ,*An electrode for reversible galvanio batteries having an al- electrolyte , said eleotroded containing an active mass consiatin. ti,«lTUndl1 °f a *tni Partlcl0B graphite ooated with nickel, the oxygen compounds and the metal insoluble in the alkaline electrolyte, substantially as set forth". If applicant desires to preaent these . claims, he is required to do so within thirty (30}days from the date of this letter. Failure to present the claims will be construed as a disclaimer of the subject matter thereof, 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison ) WICKET. PLATED GRAPHITE ) Piled March 20, 1905 ) Room Ho. 175 Serial No. 251,001 ) HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, S I R :-- Replying to Office ac¬ tion of February 5th, 1907, please amend the above entitled case aB follows: Page 3, line 22, after "be" insert - a solution of - same page, line 23, after "aalt", insert - used for electro¬ plating Insert the following claims: 2. An electrode for reversible secondary batter. - ies having an allcaline electrolyte, said electrode con¬ taining an active mass of oxygen compounds of a metal mixed with flalce graphite, the particles of graphite coated with nickel, said coating and active mass in¬ soluble in the electrolyte under all conditions of working, substantially as described. Z. An electrode for reversible galvanic batteries, having an alkaline electrolyte,- said electrode contain¬ ing an active mass consisting of oxygen compounds of a metal and particles of graphite ooated with nickel, the oxygen compounds and the metal insoluble in the alkaline eleotrolyte, substantially as set forth. Add the numeral 1 to the present claim. Very respectfully, THOMAS A, Orange, Mew Jersey February, // 1907. His Attorney 9-300. ^Dlv....„$„ Roon-^.73__. ! i 0 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. March (3 Thomas A. Bdison, Oare Prank I. I)yer, Edison laboratory. Please find bclfyv WVSPdhi io n from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for patent for nickel Platen ffraphite, filed March 20, 1905 ,#251,001 &J, In response to the amendment of February 12,- 1907:- Tho following additional claims are suggested to applicant with a view to interference. d'”A new product comprising particles of graphite plated with a metal that is insoluble in alkali and that does not occlude oxygen", , 'T' «a new product comprising particles of graphite, nickel plated". If applicant desires to present these claims, he is required to do so within twenty (20) days from the date of this letter. Failure to present t.ftem will be construed as a disclaimer of the sub¬ ject matter thereof. TOUTED STATES PATENT OPFICE. Thoms A. Edison METHOD OP AND APPARATUS POR NICKEL PLATING GRAPHITE Piled March 20, 1905 Serial No. 251,001 ) j ) ) Room Ho. 176 HONORABLE CiOMMISS IOHER OP PATENTS , S I R : — Replying to Office action of March 12th, 1907, please amend the above entitled case ns follows: Insert the following claims: f 4. A new product comprising particles of graphite plated with a metal that 1b insoluble in alkali and that does not occlude oxygen. 5. A new product comprising particles of graphite, nickel plated. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISON I-Iis Attorney. Orange, New Jersey Mar oh 1907 Washington, D. „A„. \iy DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, £ December 7, 1907. Thomas A. Edison, c/o Frank L. Dyer, Orange, N.J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER 251,001, filed Mar. 20, 1905: ■ nickel Plate Graphite. The interference entitled Edison v. Jungner, having been deoided adversely to applicant, (for record see interference file # 27,513), he is- hereby advised in acoordance with Rule 132, Office Praotioe, that his claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, involved, are finally rejected. Examiner, Division 3, Folio'No. . (p ! / s Zj : Semi NoU^ fA.f. ' . j 1 T Lfcn^.V..^. . A..:.. /kcU&insO . i^.V T t ■: ;■" \ , .. r c If Filed) Iliu^cJu.. .. <3.i).j.JLf„t..i>Z . - Examiner’s Room No . / J j Ass’g!t Exec.^^ ^./^^..Recorded-^^^f/^^-^^Liberi^/X^P^ ,p j , Patent No.. $ Issued . ^ibr£Sts„. . . /jft & &: ; -■_ 1 . Xjy.ikcX(.jrM..u^^^.s.^.../.^MAZ... 16 . if . 17 ’ "... !k 18.. . {:X; 19 . pi>:‘T 5 . 20 . :.. 7 J '&°-<-f' / io . lL; .(fcpt-25 ,.tf... y n v: . •>* . ri27.... . W' 28. . ,.A.t~ ,29.... *yy FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, ,./.;. ORANGE, NEW JERSEYM ! 1= rv- IX jj p' fe<: I f I " ^ ' ^ tffifdU % C. « Co fU,-v,-«t(!c^ofcUpr-1- C^oe~«JT«v 4 ,K* C^""- '“■ = Vt-t-^"'oUm ^r_7u. ifes-- - r?-, '-. ^ TT I J*IT, U 6-1—1,^— . V'^T i r“f” .V . r , < , w*- 1 ) . '4- iV"-* ~ • •’f * i (l | (i .ItaeSfee-e^- ■jj—i jffSP- 1IUe^^< |wi spring arid^oounachxon^ between said spring and diaphragm whereby the diaphragm causes the spring to vibrate in a plahe parallel to the record surface, substantially as set forth. 4. In a sound recording apparatus for forming a sin¬ uous record groove, the combination of a diaphragm, a spring maintained normally under tension, a recording atylus carried by said spring, and a bell crank lever be- A tv/eea said diaphragm and spring, substantially as set forth. ^ 5. In a recorder for forming a sinuous record groove the combination with a diaphragm support and diaphragm, of a vibrating stylus connected to said diaphragm, and a non-vibrating grooving tool arranged in advance of said stylus, th8 area enclosed by the cutting edge or edges of the stylus being greater than that of said grooving tool, substantially as set forth. 1 V State of IRew 3erse? Count? of jBsser THOMAS ALVA EDISON, THE ABOVE-NAMED PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, DEPOSES AND SAYS THAT HE IS A CITIZEN OFTHE UNITED STATES, RESIDING AT LLEWELLYN PARK, IN ORANGE, ESSEX COUNTY, STATE OF NEW JERSEY; THAT HE VERILY BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR OF THE SOUND HECOKDJNG APPARATUS DESCRIBED AND CLAIMED IN THE ANNEXED SPECIFICATION; THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SAME WAS EVER KNOWN OR USED BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF; OR PATENTED OR DESCRIBED IN ANY PRINTED PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY BEFORE HIS INVENTION OR DISCOVERY THEREOF, OR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION ; OR IN PUBLIC USE OR ON SALE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT NO APPLICATION FOR FOREIGN PATENT HAS BEEN FILED BY HIM OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY. The Z>er titular form of stylus applicant claims must be aoknotvl sd;jed to be old by applicant In v.iov; of an advorso. decision in tha Into, tut erfersnce, Edison vs oapps. The question .it, iagtis ie whethe" it tin constitute invention to substitute on a old orS-'"’ of stylus, that invent a J byOapps, for another old fora of stylus, such for Inst. moo as thos9 in Jonas, June 28,1904, •"•763, 903, (131-11); Johnson, Jany. 3,1905, • 1770, 970, (181-11) ; Wilson, Jany. 10,1893, #489,666, (181-11); Jones, Arril 19, 1898, #403, 453, (181-11 Claims 1, 3, 3 and 4 are rejected in view of th? patents cited and floret rued above, it bains held that the claimed subject matter is wantin'# in invention in view of the patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison : SOUND RECORDINO APPARATUS : Room No. 379, m«4 April 12, 1905 : Serial No. 255,079 : HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS S I R : — Replying to Office action of May 13, 1905, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Rewrite claims 1 and 2 as follows - -X. A outting style for sound reoords provided at one end with a laterally projecting oircular head having its periphery sharpened to form a outting edge, in oom- bination with means [for holding said style with itB axis inolined with respect to the reoord surfaoe, and means] for vibrating said outting style laterally, substantially as set forth. 2. A outting style for sound reoords provided at' one end with a laterally projecting oircular head having Its periphery sharpened to form a outting edge and its end oonoaved, in combination with means for holding said style with its axis inolined with respeot to the reoord surfaoe, and meanB for vibrating said outting Btyle later- ally, substantially as set forth. - — Claim 3, line 4, ohange "connections" to - a pivotal oonneotlon -- — Same olaim, line 5, ohange "spring" to - stylus - - Claim 4, line 4, after "lever" insert - - oonneotion -REMARKS- A reconsideration of olalms 1 and 2 is requested. The rejection of these claims 1b based upon the fact that the Examiner dees not consider that any invention is in¬ volved in substituting a form of stylus such as that first invented by Oapps for the styluses of the recorders shown in oertain patents to Jones, Johnson and Wilson. It Bhould be noted, however, that the effeotive date of the present application is November 8, 1901 and that at that date patents Nos. 763,903 to Jones and 778,976 to Jphnson were pending in the Patent Offioe together with the application of CappB and the disclosures thereof were not publio - that is, these disclosures were neither pa¬ tents nor printed publications. Their relation to the Edison invention is that of prior invention or prior knowledge . But this knowledge was seoret knowledge or invention of one structure on the part of CJappB, another structure on the part of Jones and still another structure on the part of Johnson. It is believed that the knowledge possessed separately and seoretly by these different inventors should not be aggregated or oanbined, and that a later; devioe need not involve invention over a state of art which was not before the publio or any member there¬ of at the date of the invention of said later devioe. In other wordB it does not Beem proper to charge a later inventor with knowledge of a prior art made up of combined seoret disclosures. It is therefore believed that the question of invention involved in the present olaims is not whether invention would be required to substitute the 2. Capps stylus for the stylus of Patents Nob. 763,903 or 778,936 tut rather (1) whether or not invention would he involved in substituting the styluB of CappB for those of Patents Nos. 489,666 or 602,363; and (2) whether or not the present struoture involves invention over Capps' dis¬ closure considered by itself, and over Patent No. 763,903 considered by Itself, and over Patent No. 778,976 consider¬ ed by itBelf. 1. In patents Nos. 489,666 and 602,453 the styluses are not provided with cutting edges. They are the ordinary laterally vibrating needles for produoing gramophone re¬ cords of the Berliner type and oannot produce out reoords of the type firBt. disclosed by Jones in Patent No. 763,903. The Examiner evidently considers that Jones displayed in¬ vention in the production of a laterally vibrating recorder having lateral outtlng edges, as indicated by the claims of Patent No. 763,903. Therefore further consideration of the recorders .of the old gramophone type appears unnecess¬ ary. 2. Capps produced a outtlng stylus having a later¬ ally projecting ciroular head with sharpened periphery, but thiB stylus was used in exactly the same manner aB the oiroular stylus of Edison patent No. 430,278 - that is, the stylus was moved up and down with respeot to the re¬ cord surfaoe. When this Btylus is ocsnbined with means for vibrating it laterally, its outtlng edges act as lateral outtlng edges, and a new combination results. This com¬ bination produo ed a new result, long desired but never at¬ tained by Capps who oannot therefore be held to anticipate Edison as to suoh a combination. 3. In patent No. 763,903 to Jones, a recorder having a laterally vibrating stylus with lateral outting edges ie shown, hut the reoorder differs specifically from that of Edison. The Jones stylus is a spoon-shaped piece held per¬ pendicularly to the reoord surfaoe and produces a record groove which is non-oiroular in cross-seotion. The re¬ sistance to the passage of this stylus through the reoord material is believed to be very much greater than that of applicant's stylus, so that more power will have to be applied to the reoord and the restating reoord will not be as truly representative of the sound vibrations. Furth¬ ermore the reoord formed is not adapted to be tracked by a ball shaped reproducer, so that the reproduction of the Jones reoord will be inferior to that produoed by appli¬ cant's invention. These faots are believed to warrant an allowance of oombinatlon claims which are limited to applicant's specific form of stylus. Patent No. 778,976 to Johnson appears to require little consideration as it is decidedly more remote from the claims under consideration than the Capps and Jones devices whioh have already been considered. Claims <>3 and 4 clearly distinguish from the references in that the recording stylus is oarried by a Bpring whioh is connected to the diaphragm by a pivotal connection, the spring being maintained under tension in order that there may be no lost motion in the pivotal con¬ nection. There is no suggestion of any such structure in I the references, and these claims are therefore believed to be allowable. Respectfully submitted THOMAS A. EDISON Orange, Hew Jersey By January ‘t 1906. His attorney. 379 United States Patent Office, Thoan . a . Ed i s cm , Caro yrunlc 1 . Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange,iT.J. _ Jammry 26,1906.-. [U.S.PATEST OFFICE, JAN 26 1906 I MAIL E D. V.casc find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, Tt ' £dtim{s£ion?r^f<§alcnts . k-> Jm.1'1 Y Thi3 action in in response to the amendment filed the The application -of Capps, disclosing the particular for* and construction of applicant's cutting stylus and the patent of ^ . Jones referred to of record as disclosing a laterally vibrating out- ting stylus, both fora a part of. the prior art so far as the present application is concerned because .both of the former citations defeated the present application in interference proceedings. The form , of e t ulus applicant claims being old and a laterally cutting stvlus of another, for. h«„c o1(1, ,t :1, that It _ ■ A\ former for. the latter, or in other worde to use Capps' stylus as * laterally vibrating stylus instead of a vertically vibrating stylus view of Jones . P Claims 1 and 2 Rre rejected for reasons stated and in view- of Cappa. and Jones referred to . UNITED STATES PATENT 0PP1CB. Thomao A. Edison SOUND RECORDING APPARATUS Piled April 12, 1905 Serial No. 256,079 Hoorn No. 379 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS SIR:- Replying to Office action of January 26tij. applicant submits the following argument: Applicant does not appear to have made his position dear in regard to the effeot of the Csgps and Jon^i disclosures upon the patentability of this application. These disclosures being seoret at the date of Edison's original application are not patents or printed publicati under seotion 4886 of the Revised Statutes. There muBt b^ elements of publicity in order that they may form a part the prior art as affecting the novelty of the invention ans and aocampliBhes results' which oannot be accomplished by either. The olaimB are therefore believed to be patentablj and an allowance thereof is respectfully solicited. Orange, New Jersey, Sebruaiy 1906 -3- his attorney Dlv.,.,.23.. Room . 379 Paper No.... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C., fli-TOh 17,1906 Eprj OR^ Thos . A. Rdison, Care prank J, . Dyer, Edison laboratory. Orange, IT. J. U. S. PVTSiT OFFICE, MAR 17 1906 M A ILES. Please fiml below a communication, from the EXAMINER in charge of you $J This uction in in response r,o the amendment filed the B7th ultimo . In view of the fact that applicant has been shown to be not the prior inventor of either the specific form of cutting stylus or of a laterally vibrating cutting stylus, it cannot be seen that he is entitled to a patent upon the use of an old form of vertically vibratory stylus as a laterally vibrating cutting stylus. Claims 1 and 2 are rejected in view of the disclosures in the patents of Capps and Jones, the prevailing parties in the intor- ot ferenoes referred t.o of record becuuae^the adverse decisions, in said interferences. • Serial No Applicant. a- * _ . Flled . jQ j,^UA * %, >Q nS~ _ C V j?~ Assignee i 2,~> ^ < ■-y/^0 /^^^_^....^Liber 2^0 (p Page 4 . 1 9_ 20_ FRANK L. DYER, Petition Co tbe Commissioner of patents : lour (Petitioner , THOMAS ALVA EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing and having his post-office address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, ELECTRODE UNIT(3SB- iPrags that letters patent mag be granteb to bfm for tbe set fortb lit tbe annexes specification ; anb be berebg appoints ffranfi %. ®ger (TReols= tratlon IRo. 560), of Eblsoit Xaboratorg, ©range, mew lerseg, bis attorneg, wltb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbls application, to inafte altera* tlons anb antenSments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb therewith. SPECIFICATION. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United StateB, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invent edAoer tain new and usefuLJELECTRODE sl«\ ! * ' ' ^ of which the follow¬ ing is a description: My- invention relates to an improved^ electrode unit of the type described in my application for Letters • vr/ a.. Patent filed concurrently herewith) wherein the unit com¬ prises a small tubular pocket with closed ends prefer¬ ably corrugated longitudinally and in which the active material is maintained under pressure, a number of Bald units being assembled on and carried by a suitable support or grid to constitute the complete; electrode. The inven¬ tion has; particular reference to the method of filling these small perforated pockets with aotive material in Buch a way that the best results will be secured from the aotive material in praotioal ubo, and the invention relates also to an electrode so obtained. iThe improved electrode unit is characterized in the respect that it is composed of a great number of minute, relatively uniform, Increments of active material, eaoh increment being entirely surrounded by conducting ■ lasers; and wjalls, and all the increments of eaoh unit beinj$ •f.j^otrioall^-'und meohanioally oonneoted together. The Jpbulk of mateirk;^! comprising each inorement 1b so propor- tioned that all of its molecules may he effectively aoted upon hy the current and readily reaohed hy the solution bo as to give the maximum oapaoity In actual use. To this end, the invention oonsistB in applying alternate inoremente of active material and flake-like ooriduoting material to the tubular pookets and applying after each inorement a tamping; pressure hy means of a plunger, preferably having a oonoave end, whereby the ma¬ terial within the tube will be formed into a series of cupped diBks, intimately nested together, in order that the material will be of high electrolytic oapaoity. In order that the invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thiB specification, and in which Figure 1 1b a longitudinal Bectional view through one of the tu¬ bular pocketB, illustrating the first increment of active material applied to the same. Figure 2 a corresponding view showing the application of three increments of active material, and three increments of flake-like conducting, material, and illjiatrating also, the oonoave tamp for oompressing the same. Figure 3, a oross-Bection on the line 3,3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 a section corresponding to Figure 2, after the tubular pocket has been longitud¬ inally corrugated, and Figure 6 a oross-section on the line 5,5 of Figure 4. In all of the above viewe, corres¬ ponding parts are represented by the same numerals of re¬ ference. The tube 1 in eaoh case is preferably formed as described in said application from perforated strips around a suitable mandrel with a longitudinal hook-lapped ' 8eala» tha latter being preferably welded af^er the tube | £inishedij and the tube being also preferably provided j on its interior and exterior with a very thin coating of j ' a. nickel-oobalt alloy deposited on and subsequently welded to the same. A number of these tubes are now closed at their lower ends by compressing the material, as will be under¬ stand, and are arranged in any suitable support, in order that the operations to be described may be oarried on sim¬ ultaneously with a great number fif tubes, and therefore, be made oommeroially practicable. It will, however, be understood that these operations may be oarried on in con¬ nection with a single tube, and for the purpose of clear¬ ance- they will be so described. Assuming the tube 1 to have a bore of substantially a quarter of an inch, 1 intro¬ duce therein five milligrams of powdered nickel hydroxide, aB shown in Eigure 1. 1 now introduce within the tube a tamp 2, having a concave lower end, and apply a definite pressure to the same to ojamarefis the increment of active material into the lower end of the tube (See Sigure2). By reason of the concave temp, the increment of active mater- H ial thUB cubjected to pressure will be formed withiri a con¬ vex surface . 1 now introduce within the tubular pocket about one milligram of flakes of a suitable conducting material, preferably an alloy of nickel and cobalt. These flakes are relatively bulky and when not subjected to pres¬ sure, they almost equal in bulk the muoh larger increment of nickel hydroxide previously introduced. The tamping tool is again applied to press the mass of conducting flakes | upon the oonvex surface of the first increment and to oom- | press the flakes together to form a oup-liks film of the j; same upon the aotive material. In Eigure 2, I represent the compressed increments of aotive material at 3,3 and the oompressed increments of flake-like conducting mater¬ ial at 4,4. The operations described are repeated until the tubular pooket has been completely filled, after which, its upper end 1b closed by oompressing the metal, as will be understood. I now subjeot the pooket to a oor- i 3. is -A rugating operation, by which it will he longitudinally corrugated or fluted, as I dosoribe in oaid application. The application of this oorrugating pressure results in increasing the convexity of the alternate increments of active material and conducting flakes, aB shown in figure 4 , and without , however , changing the c cntact between the conducting flakes and the walls of the pocket as would likely be the oase if the sections or increments of aotive material and conducting flakeB were introduced within the pocket and packed flatwise therein. This corrugating pressure also results in the consolidation of the aotive mass to improve the area and degree of contact between the active particles and the conducting films and pocket walls, and at the some time elasticity of the pooket walls will be secured to accommo¬ date any variations in bulk of the aotive material and to always exert the desired elastic pressure thereon. It will be of oojtrse understood, that instead of forming the corrugations completely around the entire perix^hery of the tube, the corrugations may be formed only for a portion of its ciroumference, the idea being to secure , elasticity and to consolidate the active masB to the desir- I ed extent. I find that if the pocket wa^ls are not oorru- ! gated it 1b practically impossible to secure as good con- j tact and as extehsive an area of contact between the aotive |; particles and the conducting films or flakes and the J pocket wallB. In fact, minute interstices are formed | throughout the aotive mass, which aro not closed by the | application of a tamping pressure. In Figures 1, 2 and | 3, 1 illustrate diagrammatioally, although of course to an | exaggerated extent, the general arrangement of aotive par- | tides which might take plaoe if a tamping pressure were 4. X alone vised. By applying a very great corrugating pressure to the tubular pockets, sb explained, the active mass will he consolidated to foroe the particles in contact with eaoh other and with the pocket walls, as shown generally in Figures 3 and 4. By the arrangement described, 1 secure a construction in which a great number of exceedingly small increments of active material will be completely surrounded by conducting bodies. Or, in other words, each minute increment is maintained under pressure in a conducting cell existing within the pocket walls and be¬ tween adjacent conducting layers 4,_4 as will be understood.1 In this way,' certainty of contact throughout the entire active mass will be secured. On the other hand, if the active material and conducting flakes were intermixed indiscriminately and applied within a conducting recep¬ tacle, more of less of the active material would not be reached by the current, owing to interruptions in the circuits presented by the conducting flakes. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows : i 1. An electrode \uiit comprising a great number ! of associated incremants\of active material, each incre- ' ment being entirely sUrrotaded by conductors and being all ^electrically and mechanically connected together, Bub- |j Btantially as set forth. ' i| 2. An electrode unit comprising a great number || of associated minute, relat'iveBv uniform increments of :j active material, eaoh increment being entirely surrounded !:• 'by conductors and being all electrically and mechanically :: donneoted together, substantially \o set forth. r o'* 'nl/' „\q 3. An elec-&rode unit, comprising a email perforated pocket with alternate layerB of active material and flake¬ like conducting na\e^ial therein, substantially as sot forth. 4. An electrode unit, comprising a Bmall perforated n pocket with alternate cup-like lpyers of active material and flake-like conducting material therein, substantially as set forth. 5. An electrode Unit, comprising a small perforated I! pocket with alternate cup\-like layers of active material and flalce-like conducting material therein, the tubular pocket having longitudinal Vsorrugations , substantially as set forth, ' - — * - - - 4"K<. <-*■ Mlectrode units, which e increments of active ng material within a tubu- ,cle and in app^y a tamping its introduction therein, ilectrode units, which oon- ncrements of active mater- .terial within a tubular and in simultaneously hcrement after its appli¬ es et forth. ledtrode units, which oon- ncremtents of active mater- terialVlthin a tubular and in applying a tamp¬ ing proBKuro t.o eaon increment. after its introduction thoBe-| in, and in subsequently corrugttihg the receptacle, sub¬ stantially as Bet forth, \ 9. The KietftW of making uleotrode units, which con sists in introdxioiuB 'alternate increments of active mater ial and flake-like conducting material withinna tubtilar perforated pocket or Veo^ptaole, in simultaneously com- proBDing and convoxingV eacli\incroiaent after its applica¬ tion therein, and in subsequently corrugating the rocep- ^ taole, substantially as ^ot forth. B SPECIFICATION SIGNED AND WITNESSED THIS *2 6 DAY OF lao^ - . I . zz£si... . ...$).,. t^.C^L/. . . a . . Oath. State of mew 3erse? Count? of jEssey ' THOMAS ALVA EDISON, THE ABOVE-NAMED PETITIONER, BEING DULY SWORN, HIMSELF TO BE THE ORIGINAL, FIRST AND SOLE INVENTOR OF THE ELECTRODE UHIT AMD/' METHOD OP MAKIHG THE SAKE, ti - littO. Thom 3 A. Edison, c/o Frank X.. Byor, Orange, V. J. department of the Interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c., Pl-ease find below a communication pom the EXAMINER in charge of your application, CommirsimUn^afJp'riS^f^/ Sor. 3To. 287,943, filed April 28, 1905:- "Eleotrode Unit and Method of Making the Same1 Page lj line 5, a should be inserted before "certain". Page 1, line 7, the serial number of the application referred to should be given. Page. 3, .line 9, "clearance" should be clearness?”"' . The claims are eaeh 'rojedted 'as^cbvering two independent subjects of invention: (1) The electrode unit, covered by diaims 1 to 5 inclusive; (2) the: method of making the same, covered by claims 6 to 9, 506,423, Sep. 19, 1893, Iliaey, Arms, Projectiles, & Explosive Charges British 25,366, llov. 11, 1896, Woodward, Bat. Sec. 3, ^ 26, and if* cited as showing the state of the art as. .disclosed by a cursory mmrntw. . f. t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison, ELECTRODE UNIT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME, : Room No. Filed April 28, 1905, : 176. Serial No. 257,943. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS: S I R : - In tha above entitled applica¬ tion I submit tha following amendment: Erase from the title of the invention in the | petition, the word* 9 AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME". Page 1, line 5, before "oertain", insert - a. Sams page, lire 6, erase "AND METHOD OF MAKIKf 1 THE SAME". Same page, line 10, after "herewith* insert - S Serial’ No. 257,942. Page 2, line 18, erase "three" and substitute - f two.* * ,, . Same page, line 19, erase "three" and substitute I two'. . Page 3, line 10, erase "anoe" and substitute - ‘ .. v Oanoel claims 6, 7, 8 and 9. An action on the merits is respeotfully requested). THOMAS A. EDISON, Orange, New Jersey. Januaiy 1«, 1906. His Attorney. 175 . United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c.. yobmary 6, 190(3 . Thona3 A. Edison, o/o Frank 1. 3yer, • -Orangey **• J. f?er .. 'To.. 257 , 943, f iled April- 26, 1905 : • "Electrode Unit".. ■ Reply inn to the c onmunication filed January 19, 1906: Olairaa 1 and- 8 are each rejected on each of: 422, 300, '-Feb. 25, 1890, Hartmann, Eat. Sec., 735, 571, 143,v JTov . 10, 1696 j- Woodward,’ " " " 763, 321,-^ June 21, 1904, Porter, " " 744, and . 4G0,599,70ct . 6, 1891, Rosenbaum, " ■ ; . . Claims 3 and 4 are each rejected on: 444,969, Jan. 20, 1891, Bain, Bat. hoc. 735, | in view of: 759,007, Hay 3, 1904, Hiblett, Bat. Sec. 737. The latter diaoloaao the une of fluke-liko conducting mat orial, fcU oonneotion with the active material of a secondary buttery, n$H^ disclose a the arrongoraont of the active material and conduct' layers. These claims are conoidered to 'cover of the flake-like conducting material dlu- mm the conducting matorial disclosed by Bain. the references cited against clainu 3 ’ and /S, cited, who shows a corrugated element UNITED STATES PATENT OEFICE, THOMAS A. EDISON, Eleotrode Unit, ) ) Room No, 175: Piled April 28, 1905, - ) Serial No. 257,943. HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS , sir: ■ The references cited hy the Exami¬ ner in his letter of Peiijruary 6th last, have Been oarofullj considered and it would appear that they are relied upon more in anticipation of the language of the claims, than of the aubstanoe thereof. In order that the claims may, therefore, be expressed in more definite language, I amend by erasing claims 1, 2, 3 and 5, and by substituting the follov/ing:- 1. An eleotrode unit for storage batteries employing alkaline electrolytes, comprising a pocket or reoeptaole made of a highly elastic non-aotive metal, and containing a great number of minute associated increments of poorly ..conducting active material maintained under great pressure I v-t and each increment being entirely surrounded by conductors and being all electrically and meohunloally connected to pother, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. ;"£^. • 2. An eleotrode unit for storage batteries employ¬ ing alkaline electrolytes, comprising a small perforated -.pocket or reoeptaole made of a highly elastio non-aotive metal, and containing a great number of alternating layers of poorly conducting active material and flake-like con¬ ducting material, all maintained under great pressure, whereby each minute increaient of conducting material veil! bo entirely surrounded by conductors, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 3. An eleotrode unit for storage batteries employ¬ ing alkaline electrolytes, comprising a small perforated pocket or reoeptaole made of a highly elastic non-active metal, and containing a great number of alternating layers of poorly conducting aotivo material and flake-like con¬ ducting material, all maintained under great pressure, whereby each minute increment of conducting material will be entirely surrounded by conductors, the tubular pocket having longitudinal corrugations, substantially as set forth. HI Hi R KT S. The claims above introduced appear to be fully distinguished from the references of record, in the fol¬ lowing respects: (1) The claims are limited to alkaline batteries, whereas all the references relate to lead batteries. (3) The olaimB are limited to pockets or reoeptaoles, made of a highly elastio non-active metal, whereas, all the references make use of lead. (3) The claims are limited to maintaining the incre¬ ments under high pressure. ThiB is not true of any of the -2- refer e/ices, (4) The claims are limited to the ubo of a great number of minute increments. This io necessary in an al¬ kaline battery, beoauBe in that art, the active material is a poor oonduotor and none of the particles can be iso¬ lated to too great an extent from the conductors. With lead batteries the same difficulty ia not encountered. (5) The third claim ia specifically limited to the longitudinal corrugating of the pocket, the purpose of which is to increase the elasticity of the walls and also to buckle the conducting films so as to augment their conducting oapaoity. With the patent to Woodward, the tube is corrugated solely for the puipoae of increasing its surface. With woodward the tube is corrugated before the material is introduced, while with applicant's struc¬ ture, the tube is corrugated after the material is intro¬ duced. So far as the fourth claim is concerned, reconsid¬ eration of which is requested, the Examiner's attention ia called to the fact that it is limited to "cup-like layers", which are not found in any of the references, and the advantage of which is 'pointed but in the specifica¬ tion. Very re ape ot fully, Orange, N.J. THOMAS A. EDISON, January 14th, 1907. By His Attorney. IN REMITTING THE FINAL FEE GIVE THE SERIAL NUMBER AT THE HEAD 9-181. C Serial No. Wuhlngton, D. C. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ST, .'•■X- -..b-OlX United States Patent Office^ WASHINGTON, D. C„ j F £pet> . 2 , 1907 TJiomao A. Edison, Caro Frank I,. Dyor, Edison Laboratory, Orange, If. J. SIH: Tour APPLICATION for a patent for an IMPROVEMENT IN Eledtrode Tin it. ,7 , Anril 20,1905 , , filed - > , has been examined and ALLOWED. The final fee, TWENTY DOLLARS, must be paid, and the Letters Patent bear date as of a day not later than SIX MONTHS from the time of this present notiee of allowance. If the final fee is not paid within that period the patent loill be withheld, and your only relief will be by a renewal of the application, with additional fees, under the provisions of Section 4897, Revised Statutes. The office aims to deliver patents upon the day of their date, and on which their term begins to run,- but to do this properly applicants will be expected to pay their final fees at least TWENTY DAYS prior to the conclusion of the six months allowed them by law. The printing, photolithographing, and engrossing of the several patent parts, preparatory to final signing and sealing, will consume the intervening time, and such work will not be done until after payment of the necessary fees. When you send the final fee yon will also send, DISTINCTLY AND PLAINLY WRITTEN, the name of the INVENTOR and TITLE OF INVENTION AS ABOVE GIVEN, DATE OF ALLOWANCE (which is the date of thisiiiroular), DATE OF FILING, and, if assigned, the NAMES OF THE ASSIGNEES. If you desire to have, the patent issue to ASSIGNEES, an assignment containing a REQUEST to that effect, together with the FEE for recording the same, must be filed in this office on or before the date of payment of final fee. After issue of the patent uncertified copies of the drawings and specifications may be purchased at the price of FIVE CENTS EACH. The money should accompany the order. Postage stamps will not be received. Respectfully, UNCERTIFIED CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. - A S I G N M E M T - WHEREAS, I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a oitizen of the United States and a resident of llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have made oertain new and useful inventions for which I have filed applications for letters Patent of the United States, as follows, namely: Serial No. 252, 935, filed March 30, 1905, entitled STORAGE BATTERY EEECTRODE and Serial Ho. 257, 943, filed April 28, 1905, entitled ELECTRODE UNIT, and WHEREAS, the EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COJiPANY a corporation organized and existing under and hy virtue of the laws of the State of New Jersey, and having its princi¬ pal office at WeBt Orange, County of Essex in said State, desires to acquire the entire right, title and interest which I now have or may have, in and to the aforesaid in¬ ventions and applications, and in and to any letters Patent of the United States to he granted therefor; NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that for and in consideration of one dollar, and of other good and valuable considerations, the receipt whereof is hereby I acknowledged, I said Thomas A. Edison, have assigned, trans- f erred and set over unto said Edison Storage Battery Com¬ pany, its successors, assigns, or other legal representative es, the entire right, title and interest in the said in¬ ventions, aB fully set forth and deBoribed in the specifi¬ cations of said applications for letters Patent of the United States for said inventions, and also the entire righ;, title and interest in and to any end all letters Patent 1. of the United States which may "be granted therefor, and in and to any reissue or reissues, or extension or ex¬ tensions, of said tetters Patent, the same to he held and enjoyed hy said Edison Storage Battery Company, its suc¬ cessors, assigns and other legal representatives, to the full end of the term or terms for which said tetters Pat¬ ent of the United States are or may he granted, reissued or extended, as fully and entirely as the same would have been held and enjoyed hy me, said Thomas A. Edison, if thiB assignment arid sale had not been made; | And I hereby authorize and request the Commission¬ er of Patents, to issue the said letters Patent of the United States to said Edison Storage Battery Company, its successors, assigns or other legal representatives, in ao- oordanoe with thiB assighment, and I hereby covenant that I have full right to convey the interest herein assigned, and that I have not executed and will not execute any agreement in confliot herewith; And 1 hereby expressly covenant and agree that I will whenever said Edison Storage Battery Company, its successors, assigns or other legal representatives, advise me that other or further papers are necessary to be exe¬ cuted by me to perfect the title of said Edison Storage Battery Company, its successors, assigns and other legal representatives, in and to Baid inventions, or in and to any Letters Patent of the United States therefor, and in and to any reissue or reissues, or extension or extensions, or that any reissue or reissues, or extension or extensions, | is or are desirable and lawful, sign all papers, take all H I rightful oaths and do all necessary acts for proouring suoh reissue or reissues, or extension or extensions. I *• IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name at West Orange, New Jersey, this Jt/ day of May, 1907. State of Hew Jersey) )ss: County of Essex ) On this £ -^.-day of May, in the year of ovir Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seven, before me personally appeared THOMAS A. EDISON, to me personally known and known to me to ho the person described in and who executed the foregoing assignment, and he acknowledged to mo that he executed the same, as and for the purposes therein. set forth. .x U. Serial No. -zttfASS Applicant. ‘ , - jffi" . ■ . . m ' Address. 1 3 ^ ', . ' Title _ Ld^miuia^6, ,i// ♦<- — So tbe Commissioner of patents: lour (Petitioner raoiiAS A. EDISOH, a citizen of the United States, tesiding and having hie post-offioe address at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex County, Hew Jersey, ©rags tbat letters patent mag be oranteb to btin for tbe improvements in PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDERS set fortb In tbe annexeb specilicatlon ; anb be berebg appoints ffranft %. 5>ger Weals* tratton mo. 560), of EOlsou Xaboratorg, ©ranae, mewSerseg, bis attorneg, wltb full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbis application, to mahe altera* tions anb ameubments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent office connecteb therewith. SPECIFICATION. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: . Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain improvements in PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDERS, of which the following is a des¬ cription: My invention relates to improvements in phono¬ graphic reoorders, and my object is to provide a recorder of a new and improved shape, hy which it becomes possible to out into the recording material with much greater facility than heretofore, so as to thereby permit the for-t nation of record grooves which shall be more accurately representative of the original sounds, and hence super- | ior in loudness and quality to records as heretofore made. ! At the present time all phonograph records are produced ! by means of a recorder generally cylindrical in shape and : arranged almost parallel with the tangent of the blank, j; said reoorders being approximately .035 of an inch in dia- j: meter, and cutting a groove of a corresponding curve. : With such prior recorders the cutting seotion thereof pre- i. sented a wedge of a relatively ohtuseT angle , bo that its : outting capacity is small and considerable force is | required to cause it to produce the reoord groove. Fur- themore, with suoh a reoorder its relatively obiWe^ an¬ il gle tends by the rotation of the blank, to force the re- corder away from itn work. In the recording of Bounds, phonographically , at the 'present time then the situation is presented of a relatively ineffective recorder being actuated by comparatively feeble vibrations through the instrumentality of an extremely delioate diaphragm, while at the same time, the rotation of the blank reduces the cutting capacity. Much of the vibrations are loot or obscured by the m6re act of cutting into the recording material, and in consequence the record grooves do not represent the full amplitude of the original sounds nor the true qualify thereof. In carrying my invention into effect, I make use of a recorder of such a form, and 1 arrange the same with respect to the recording surface in such a way, that the movement of the recording surface has little or no tendency to force the recorder from its work, while, at the same time, a cutting edge of extreme sharpness and acuteness of angle is presented to permit the recorder to cut the material very easily, 30 aa to thereby respond 21 | more nearly to the sound vibrations. At the same time, ij tlle opaoial arrangement of the reoorder is Buoh that by I usinS a reoorder having '.a diameter of .025 of an inch, I ; am enabled to form a record groove of substantially the |! same curvature as that which would be formed by the preB- !| 6nt recorders of .035 of an inoh in diameter. In its pro-, ferred form my improved reoorder comprises a cylinder j; havinS a radioed neck and a flaring head presenting a ji fiilarP * acute cutting edge all around, with a flat bottom |! face arranged substantially parallel with the tangent of j; the recording surface. I preferably make the reoorder || with a continuous cutting edge on account of the ease of ■! manufacture , but since only a relatively small section of 2. thin edge performs the cutting operation the continuous cutting edge is not strictly necessary. Additional objects of my invention are to pro¬ vide improvements in the o. stalls of mounting and arranging such a recorder with respect to the other elements of the sound recording apparatus hy which the operation will be improved, all as I shall hereinafter more fully describe and claim. In order that ny invention may be better under¬ stood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which - Figure 1, is a section of a recording stylus of ordinary form on an enlarged scale, engaging the re¬ cording material; Figure 2 a front elevation shewing the record D-r7 ' 5 -2- iT) r . / / in seotior^i J ' Figure 3 a viev/ corresponding to Figure 1, show¬ ing my improved recording stylus on a larger scale; Figure 4, a front elevation thereof. Figure 5, a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 through the cutting edge; and, Figure 6 a longitudinal section of a reoorder with my improved stylus in position. In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the reoorder 1, is shown of the usual form, being- '.c<»vposed,_of . a sapphire out into the shape of a cylinder arranged at an angle to the recording surface 2, and usually made about 3. .035 of an inch in diameter. Since the available path in which suoh a recorder may out 1b only one ono-hundredth of an inch, the groove formed is necessarily shallow. ■With such a reoorder the rotation of the recording sur¬ face tends to force the recorder away from its work, and since the reoorder presents a wedge of a comparatively great angle (approximately 45 degrees), its cutting oapao-v ity is small and much of the force of the vibrations is expended in performing the cutting operation. Consequents ly, records made with such a recorder are not representa¬ tive of the original sounds either in volume or quality. Jly improved recorder is illustrated in figures 3, 4 qnd 5,| and is composed of a cylindrical' shank 3, having a reduced neck 4, and a flaring head to form the continuous circu¬ lar cutting edge 5, engaging the recording material 2. This recorder is made preferably j>f^a sapphire, and/ kj the cutting edge Ik-a^not more than .025 of | an inch, or even less, in diameter. The arrangement of this recorder, as shown, is such that it forms a shallow |j groove of the same dimensions as that produoed with the | ordinary outter of much greater diameter. This reduction j; in the diameter of my improved reoorder increases itB || outting effect, andtthis outting effect 1b further in- j; creased by reason of the acute angle of the cutting edge j as shown. Eurtheraore , it will be seen that the rotation i of the. recording surface does not tend to force the outter away from its work, and the angle of the cutter may in faqt j; bo adjusted as to remain in a oondition of substan- |; tial stability, outting neither to a greater or less ex- tent in the material as the latter moves with respect to ij 4. the Bame, assuming, of course, that no extraneous foroe iiB applied to the cutter to cause. it to alter itB posi¬ tion with respect to the recording material. The improved recording stylus JFigure 6) is mounted near the end of the arm 6, made preferably of magnesium rolled into tu¬ bular form and of extremely thin stuff (say .002 incheB in thickness) so as to be extremely light. ThiB tube 1b seoured to the arm _7, by shellac or in any other suitable way. The arm 1_ is secured to the ordinarydiaphragm head 8, which carries the diaphragm 9 on a rubber ring 10, or in any other suitable way. The connection 12 is a£de be¬ tween the diaphragm and the free end of the arm 6_ near the recorder, as Bhovm. in order to provide for the proper tracking, of the recorder, 1 extend the bridge piece IS across the . diaphragm head 8, and adjust the same by the Ecrew 14. This bridge piece carries the sapphire ball 15 like the ordinary reproducer ball, and bears on the recording surface at one side of and a few threads in ad¬ vance of the recorder. It will be obvious that by ad¬ justing the ball 15 the depth of out of the reoorder oan be very accurately regulated. I find in practice that a reoorder constructed as herein described, and preferably one mounted bb ex¬ plained:, is very much more sensitive than recorders as heretofore constructed, and permits me to make a record | groove which is much more accure.to, both in amplitude and I quality, than reoord grooves made with the ordinary oylin-t | drical recorders. Furthermore, such record grooves are j just as accurately tracked by means of standard repro- I ducers as those made with the ordinary cylindrical re- | oorders of much greater diameter. It will, of course, be understood, that my improved recorder may be mounted and j . 5. arranged in other ways than that explained, although the arrangement described is simple and convenient. Having now described my invention, what 1 claim i new therein and desire to seoure by letters Patent i as follows: i \improvea. recording stylus having a curved \and presenting at all portions a wedge of small angle, WWantia^ly as and for the purposes set forth. 2. An imp\ov *.<- KV/aG?** a 8#J**#f* petition Co tbe Commissioner of patents : H?our petitioner ,teomas a. edisoit , a dtl3en of tbe TUniteb States, reslblng anb having a post ©Bice abbvess at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, prap that letters patent tnav be granteb to blm for tbe Improvements In METHODS OP RECORDING SOUNDS set fortb In tbe annexeb specification ; anb be bereb? appoints fltanfe X. ®pr (■Registration Ulo. 560), of fiblson Xaboratorv, ©range, Hew 3ersev, bis attorney, with full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute tbls application, to mafte alterations anb amenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent ©nice connecteb therewith. -SPECIEICATION- TO V«OU IT MAY CONCERN: Be it known, that I, THOMAS ALVA EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain improvements in METHOD OE RECORDING SOUNDS (Case A) , of which the fol¬ lowing is a description: My invention relates to various new and useful improvements in Method of Recording Sounds, and my object is to provide a process for the purpose which shall permit the accurate recording of those sound waves which are produoed by and are characteristic of the sounds to be recorded, without recording extraneous sound3rpro^’ /a duoed within the reoording apparatus. As a result of exhaustive experiment I have determined that the defects which heretofore have charac¬ terized sound reoording are due, in a very great measure, to the fact that many sounds are reoorded which are creat¬ ed within the mechanism itself, that other sounds are un¬ duly emphasized, and that still other sounds are distorted or weakened, or beoome repeated, as in echoes, so that a reproduction seoured from such a record would not be a faithful copy of the original sounds sought to be recorded. In seeking for the cause or origin of these foreign sounds, as well as of the distortion, repeating and emphasis of • -1- soma of the original sounds, I have found lhat the fault exists almost entirely in the rsoording apparatus as here¬ tofore constructed. In the first place, with diaphragms as now made and UBed, a thin plate is clamped or seoured at the edge, so that any vibration must take place by the flexing or bending of the diaphragm itself. Such a diaphragm, how> ever, acts praotioally as a multiple reed, and produoes a note of its own, so that it vibrates sympathetically with certain notes within the range of music, producing such an abnormally increased amplitude of the diaphragm as to sometimes throw the recording stylus out of contact with the recording surface, and generally producing inhar¬ monic resultant tones which become reoordedywith the other sounds, due to speoifio sections oif the diaphragm vibrat¬ ing locally so as to form a large number of nodes, as has been demonstrated by the production of the so-called Chal- adni figures, and which vibrat&ble looal areas are also responsive to certain musical toneB or over-tones. More¬ over, such a diaphragm, owing to its clamped edgeB, vibrates with relative difficulty, and hence ie not as sensitive as it should he. The recording meohanism, being as a rule connected to the center and noting as a retarding influence, produoes a nodal effect, Henoe, the diaphragm vibrates from edge to center, detracting from the amplitude which would take place if the diaphragm aras^vibrated as a whole} and, consequently, a proportionate Iosb of energy takes p^aoe to weaken the recorded sounds by reason of this dou¬ ble flexing. Notwithstanding the inherent laok of sensitive- . nessfi which is oharaoteristio of ordinary diaphragms, the faot la that In the attempt to obviate the production of the inharmonic sounds and excessive amplitude referred to, it has been tha practice to purposely diminish the sensitiveness of tha diaphragm to such an extent that the volume or strength of tha inharmonio Bounds is reduced so that they are not so prominent} but this practice has been ineffective for tha purpose, and the diaphragms are so lacking in sensitiveness that the delioate overtones v/hich accompany the fundamental tones, and which give music its pleasing quality, are v/eakened in most cases so as to be practically inaudible. In the second place, vibrations of abnormal amplitude , caused by very high 3hrill tones, like those of a soprano voice, or resulting from the abnormal reinforce- iant of certain tones by the • i due to the resonance of the air column in the funnel, result in the cutting stylus leaving the reoord surface, producing the disagreeable ef¬ fect of blasting. This result is due to the fact that the diaphragm, in vibratinc towards the record surface , en¬ counters the very considerable resistance imposed upon the stylus in effecting the cutting of the material, while in vibrating in the opposite direction the diaphragm encounteri little or no i-esistance, Consequently, under the effeot of condensations of sound waves , the movement of the dia¬ phragm is limited by the cutting resistance, which increase: amplitude; while under the effect of the rarefaca- tion of sound waves, tha movement of the diaphragm beoomes abnormal and permits the stylus to jump free of the reoord In the next plaoe, the walls of funnels hereto¬ fore used have been capable of vibrating themselves, and -3- are responsive to, and vibrate sympathetically with, certali muBioal notes, to result in the production of further in¬ harmonic sounds which also beoome recorded. Furthermore, in the vibrating of the funnel walls there is a considerable loss of energy and a proportionate reduction in the effect on the diaphragm, resulting in further weakening and dis¬ tortion of the reoorded sounds. Another source of error exists in the small rod which oonneots with the recording stylus and takes up the thrust due to the movement of the recording surface. With such rods, as heretofore arranged, the vibration of the diaphragm produoes oramping, and results in the production of inharmonio sounds as well as a diminution in the sensi¬ tiveness of the diaphragm. When the attempt has been made heretofore to dispense with these rods, the recording stylu > has been Beoured directly to the diaphragm; but in that oas > the thrust is imposed on the diaphragm, and the latter, therefore, requires to be made relatively stiff and nonsens" itive, and produoes a buckling which of itself produoeB ab¬ normal waves in the record. Having detected the principal causes for the pro¬ duction of false and distorted and extraneous soundB which beoome reoorded phonographioally , 1 Bought to overcome them so as to reoord only those waves whioh are characteristic of the original sounds, and this without any apparent^ audible distortion, and, in consequence, a reproduction se¬ cured therefrom will be very perfect. The moBt important inqarovement I have made as a result of my researches relates to the diaphragm. 1 have succeeded in producing one whose fundamental tone iB so low or grave as not to vibrate sympathetically with any tone within form practically a yielding extension of the diaphragm, and vfcioh, when the diaphragm vibrateB to and fro, operate > praotioally as a hinge having a negligible resistance. Tb> ring 2, may be made of other materials than rubber, such * aB leather, paper, thin oollodion, etc., but thin rubber tissue iB preferable for obtaining great sensitiveness. -8- This ring <2, is cemented or otherwise secured without ten¬ sion to any suitable arrangement of head or holder, with which a speaking tube or horn may be connected. A magnesium foot _4, carrying a suitable recording stylus J5, is cemented or otherwise secured to the diaphragm Extending between the foot 4 and an am 7., depending from the head 3_, is a compound spring 8, composed of a plurali¬ ty of leaves, like a wagon- spring., and formed preferably of bamboo,. These leaves are of reduced length and of in¬ creased cross-section upwards from the lowermost, which connects, diraotly with the foot 4 by being cemented in a recess therein. The spring leaves are held together at their anchored end by a screw £, but are frae to move inde¬ pendently at their other end.. Consequently, the movement of the stylus towards the recording surface will flex only the lowermost and weakest spring leaf with little or no re¬ tardation from that cause, but movements in the opposite direction., whan the tracking depth is passed, will result in a flexing of one or more of the other leaves, to impose a resistance which increases with the amplitude, since the leaves are of increasing stiffness towards the uppermost. In thus flexing the several leaves, the latter are moved or rubbed 4lat»ral-l-y- over one another, so as to absorb energy by friction. In assembling the parts., the foot £, is firBt seoured to the compound spring, the diaphragm is oemented iiji 100 * spring fastened at itB anchored end to the l ji_. '^When the diaphragm and spring are thus unstrained, the foot is oemented to the center of the diaphragm by melt- -ing- shellao, leaving the whole recorder free from abnormal strains. By extending the spring between the foot 4, and -9- 1 arm 8, it &ots as a rod to taka up the thrust imposed upon j tha stylus. Whan the diaphragm vibrates it follows the very slight arc which the free end of the Bpring 8 transcribes, the yielding ring 2, permitting the diaphragm to move laterally to the desired extent so that there is no cramp¬ ing in operation. Since the diaphragm oan vibrate only to and fro as a rigid body, like a piston, ^in^iisplacament ^s=neee«- eaxdl^conflnajr_tO- and| takes plaoe^antireiy), within the sir, all free portion of the ring 2t extending between the diaphragm and the cement which holds the ring in plane. This yielding section can have no audible local disturbing tone; and, hence, all of its movements, as well as those of the diaphragm, are forced, and the reoorder is, there¬ fore, caused to accurately follow the sound waves. Since the action of the diaphragm is analogous to that of a piston subjected to pressure, first on one side and then on the other, it follows that any movements of the yielding section, or bulging thereof beyond the movement of the diaphragm, will diminish the amplitude of the latter, and for this reason the yielding section should be very thin and the area very small. In practise , I in¬ crease the diameter of the rigid diaphragm to aa great an extent in proportion to the displaceable section as possi¬ ble, the latter being usually about oix per cent of the whole diameter. In thin way I concentrate nearly the whole of the condensations and rarifieations of the sound waves upon the diaphragm proper, so as to cause it to give the maximum response thereto, and prevent, to the greatest ex¬ tent possible, loss of pressure due to yielding of the -10- ^ — . aiBplaceable section. In operating a recorder or reproducer of the im¬ proved type, I prefer-ito make use of a funnel oonneoted to the recorder by a rubber Bection, and composed of Borne practically dead, non-metullic material, like plaster-of- Paria, coated with a hard, smooth varnish, and having very thick walla presenting at all points of their longitudinal section the form of a truss (Figure 1) '.'hereby the funnel walls will be incapable of vibration to produce extraneous sounds, and the weakening of the sound waves in this respect will be overcome. 1 also preferably form the air passage leading tc and from the diaphragm of gradually reduced oross-section, commencing at the mouth of the funnel and ending at the die - phfagm chamber, and having surfaces presenting true funnel angles, whereby the sound waves are continuously subjected to concentration, reflection of the wave s is prevented, anc the usual resonant chamber adjacent to the diaphragm is dispensed with, v/heraby 1 eliminate th8 objectionable re¬ sults heretofore encountered in these respects, as 1 des¬ cribe and claim in my application filed November 13, 1903, Serial No. 180,998. in recording, the stylus is allowed to track intc the recording material to the proper depth by any suitable mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the cut. This produoet a slight upward Hexing of the diaphragm and compound spriig. The spring offers scarcely any retardation to the progres¬ sion of the stylus into the recording material, and prac¬ tically all the resistance is that imposed by the cutting action. In moving in the opposite direction the compound spring oreates ub nearly as possible a corresponding re- -11- tiiKdation, and thus one-fdefcc^ balances the other and true waves are recorded,- -fe-i-noej the friction of the leaves moving on each other results in a loss of energy substantially equivalent to that lost in performing a outting operation. For waves of small amplitude, suoh as harmonics, the re¬ corder loses none of its sensitiveness; hut for prime tones of great amplitude (for instanoe, the notes of a pieoe of musio played on a piano, which are in resonanae with the tone of the recording funnel, and which result in Ampli¬ tudes more than twice as great as the other tones) the in¬ creasing power to flex the compound spring as the diaphragm moves upwards is sufficient to reduoe the amplitude to suoh a degree as will prevent the stylus from leaving the reoord surface, and thereby prevent blasting. TShile I have described my new invention in con¬ nection with the recording of sounds phonographioally, and wherein the recorder forms a record of varying depth, it will be understood that the method can be effectively car¬ ried out with talking machines of the gramophone type, and wherein a zig-zag record groove is formed; it being only necessary in the latter case to connect the diaphragm with a recorder adapted to form such a zig-zag record groove. In the present case 1 shall claim only the method or pro¬ cess followed in recording sounds, the apparatus shown and described being claimed in other applications for Letters Patent filed on even date herewith. Having now described my invention what l claim as new therein and desire to seoure by Letters Patent is as follows: -12- Of. % A* c^°r 1. The method of recording sounds, which consists in impressing soundVvavbs on a. diaphragm of itself free froji any audible fundamental tone or overtone, and causing the diaphragm to operate aVecVder in accordance with its vi¬ brations, substantially as a^et forth. I “The method of recording sounds, which consists in imp rs s sine;, sound waves upon a rigid pistonjlike, diaphragm ^ OaLt-*-l‘ aixty- ( y h -XV ’> iviiichU-hh /hale , an® causing the diaphragm to 2 • in accordance with its vibrations, sub- i set f^rth. Tlio methochof recording sounds, which consists in impressing sound wave^upon a rigid piston-like diaphragm t, w vibrating, as, a rigid body. J ^ *« -s-r- of very small are- id provided with «■ yielding— ewt » sn.>U'« !, Vhareby the diaphragm is free of itself from any audible fSaqdaaiunt&l tone or over¬ tone, arid causing the diaphragm to oWate a recorder in accordance with its vibrations, substantially as set forth 4. The use thod of recording sounds piionogruphicallyl, which consists in impressing sound waves upon a rigid piB- | ton-like diaphragm wildch vibrates as a whole , and causing the diaphragm to operate a phonographic recorder to cut a record of varying dewtlvvin accordance with its vibrations, substantially as set 'fortbh. ■thod of recording sounds phonographioalljy, which consists \n vibrating a diaphragm in accordance with sound waves to cut a\record of varying depth in the record¬ ing surface, and iri imposing a resistance to the movements of the diaphragm awai( f\om the recording surfaoe , substan¬ tially as set forth. 1\$. The method of recording sounds phonographic al3jy, which consists in vibrating a diaphragm in aooordance with | -13- K : *3 sound waves toWt a record of varying depth in the record¬ ing surfaoe , and inv|2|i=sBtess to the movements of the dia- ing surfaoe , and i u~rnd to the movements of the dia¬ phragm away from the recording surface a resistance which incraases^^hTthe amplitude^euhatantially as set forth. A % -77 IVje method of recording sounds phonographioal- ly, which aoneist3'''in<3£ibrating a diaphragm in acoordanoe with sound waves to cut a "re-cord of varying depth in the -r'f; recording surfuce , and in causing the . diaphragm, in itB $ ; movements away from the recording surface, to develop fric- ~ ' tion and thereby retard the same, substantially as set f °r th . \ ^ -t—r~ vt \8; The method of recording sounds phbnographioal- ly, which'consi cts in vibrating a diaphragm in accordance with sound\aves to out a record of varying depth on the J recording surface, whereby a resistance, increasing with the amplitude ,V will be imposed on the diaphragm in its move- | ment3 towards the recording surface, and in causing the diaphragm, in its movements away from the recording sur- ' ^ face, to dage^pp fr,i^tiqn i increasing ^-Md^^jtyp^tude^ /vdi^e^^acrroaiP’&^Ui.y’^^stanoe^v/lll Jdo &paa&ljm the diaphragm in such movements, substantially as set forth. ~Q, ‘TlW-itoS’thod of\recording sounds, which consists (iiin directing the sound wavesVto a diaphragm through a rlgicj, non-vibratable funnel, substantially as set forth. U~- specification elgnea anS witnesses tills-? o-i/tov of I90i' 2. i . . x> 4&JL» ®atb. State of IRew 3ersep Counts of Essex THOMAS A. EDISON , tbe above nameb petitioner, being bulp sworn, beposes anb saps tbat be is a citizen of tbeTHniteb States, anb a resibent of Llew9llyn Pttr*’ Orang0’ County of Eaaex and State of New Jersey; tbat be verilp believes bimself to be tbe original, first anb sole inventor of tbe improvements in METHaDS OT ^cording sounds, bescribeb anb claimeb in tbe anneieb specification; tbat be boes not bnow anb boes not believe tbat tbe same was ever ftnown or useb before bis invention or blscoverp thereof; orpatentebor bescribeb in an? printeb publication in tbe IHniteb States of Htnerica or an? foreign country before bis invention or blscoverp thereof, or more than two vears prior to this application ; or patenteb in anp country foreign to tbe TUniteb States on an application fileb more than twelve months prior to this application ; or in public use or on sale in tbe TUniteb States for more than two pears prior to this application; anb tbat no application for patent upon salb invention bas been fileb bp bint or bis legal representatives or assigns in anp foreign countrp. ’~7-dew>n their 4x terior sur¬ faces. This horn is not believed to be capable of use for oarrying out applicant's invention, since it 1b believed that the walls, or at least the inner wall, would vibrate in aoeordanoe with the sound waveB collected thereby. The claim moreover is limited to a method of reoording sounds whioh is not suggested by the referenoe. ... An allowance of the case 1b respectfully so¬ licited. TH024A8 A. EDISON Orange, Hew Jersey February 1) 1906. 4. His attorney. DIv.J&S.... Room _ »79 department of the interior, United States Patent Office, Washington, d. c„ February 19,1906, ThOiHHR A. Ml 8 Oil, Oare prank L. Dyer, Miami Laboratory, Orange, IT. J. 0. S PJTTCT OFFICE, FEB 19 1906 MAILED. Please - find below a communication;, from, tho EXAMINER in charge of your application. This action ia in re«x oratory, orajriga,i?..T. U. S. PATENT OFFICE) SEP 25 1906 tv/! A I L jgjgil Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of ypnr 'apfilicaitok .. .. -v, for uethbdo of Recording Sounds, filed Say 24,1909y#B51i?xtP. Tills action is responsive to the auendueut filed „apt. 19,1905. dial m 1 and 2 are rejected ir. view of the patent of B*13t imd fainter cited and others cited. To nee Bell and Tain tor *s device in hia figure 10 as a recording device eould not constitute invention. The resistance oauaed by the stretching of tho rubber dlao Si In the patented device lncreaoso with th# •aplituds of vibration of the diaphragm away from the record. Ihia is also true with reference to Rdleon, S97,B80,Wg. •, Si also In Bdlson,5»57ft»228^friot’ional resistance with part 1® iMTMiM 'tilth tho anplitud# of vibration of the diaphrags. ! jhi remaining claims are rejected in view of these las t oltii patents. TOUTED STATES PATENT OFFECE Thomas A. Edison ) METHODS OF RECORDING ) SOUNDS. : Filed May 24, 1905 : Serial No .261,949 : Room No. 379 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, R : — Replying to Office action of September 25th, 1906, please amend the above en¬ titled case as follows: Page 3, line 7 from the bottom, after "increases", insert - rapidly -. Page 6, line 9, after "increases" insert - rapid¬ ly same page, line 12, after "likewise" , insert - rapidly -. Rewrite olaims 1 and 2 as follows: ) method of recording sounds whioh consists in impressing sound^Vnwcgs upon a rigid piston-like dia¬ phragm provided with means fo>-c§ai sting rearward thrust and an extension of readily pliable mStei^al whioh is prao tioally without rigidity, end oausing the diapUro^to op¬ erate a recorder in accordance with its vibrations tially as set forth. ^method of recording sounds whioh oonsista in impressing Bound wa^es^ipon a rigid piston-like dia¬ phragm provided with means for fete-daring rearward thrust, and an extension of very small area of rea<&ijt4>liable ma¬ terial which is praotioally without rigidity, and i. 1. •trh-o-dianhragm to operate a recorder in aooordanoe with its vibrations, substantially as" set-for-th. Claim 3, line 6, after "increases", insert - rapidly -. -BEJIABK8" Claims 1 and 2 specify the use of means for resist¬ ing rearward thrust of the reoord styluB whereby it be¬ comes possible to use a diaphragm provided with an exten¬ sion of readily pliable material. In the references there is no suggestion of any such means and therefore the de- vioes shown are capable of use only as reproducers and not as recorders. Claim 3 speoifieB that the resistance to the move¬ ment of the diaphragm away from the reoord surface increas¬ es rapidly with the amplitude. If there is any increase of resistance in the reference it ia very slight and could not be deteoted in such small movements of the diaphragm as are produced by sound wavoB. Claims 4 and 5 specify that the diaphragm in its movements away from the recording surface is caused to develop friotion. This feature does not appear to be dis¬ closed in any of the references and applicant is unable to see how the movement of the diaphragm is Fig. 8, patent Ho. 397, 230, produces any frictional resistance. Neither is it apparent how any friotional resistance is produoed in the device of patent No. 675, 226; it 1b not understood how in either of these structures there could be any frio¬ tional resistanoe whioh increases with the anplitude of vi¬ bration of the diaphragm as oalled for by claim 5. 2. The claims as now drawn are therefore believed to he patentable, and an allowance of the case is respectfully solicited. THOMAS A. EDISON By / ■ L-.M, _ His Attorney. Orange, New Jersey November $■<) 1906. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D Thomas A. Hdison, Car© prank 7,. I^er, Edison laboratory, Or«r.c©,H.J. De^Sb or 1906. (■ <& Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for Methods of Recording Sounds, filed May 24, 190 5, #3 61, 949. Commissioner of Patents. This action is responsive to "the amendment, filed r,ee. 1,1004* . Claims 1 and 2 presented in the amendment noted are rejeoted in view of Tldi » on ,tf>4S 4 » 941 , o i t e d and Sell and . Taintor cited.. v Claims 3, 4 and 3 do not specify steps in the alleged methods that are distinguishable from the operations necessarily performed hy devices of Hdison cited and eaid olaims ore accordingly again rejected. IN THIS UNITED STATUS PATENT 03TTCE. Thomas A. Edison ) METHODS OP RECORDING SOUNDS > i Room No. 379 Piled May 24, 1905 ) Serial No. 201,949 j HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS: SIR : — Replying to Office action of December 15, 1906. Patent Ho. 454, 941 appears to have no 'beardin' upon the claims of this application. Tfhile this patent discloses a diaphragm which iB built up of laminae, these parts are merely disks which are cemented together and ther s is no friction developed between the disks as the diaphragm vibrates. The built up diaphragm of this patent is one which is thickened toward the centre, but it has no exten¬ sion of readily pliable material as called for by claims 1 and 2, and in this connection the Examiner should dis¬ tinguish between the meaning of the word "pliable" as used in these claims and as applied to the material described in the specification, and the flexibility of a diaphragm, which is stiff as distinguished from pliable . These olaimi specify also that the pliable material is practically with¬ out rigidity, and in the patent referred to the diaphragm is stiff and has no extendion which is practically without rigidity. The reference referred to does not disclose any means for imposing to the movememt of the diaphragm away from the recording surfaoe, a reBiatanoe which increases 1. rapidly with the amplitude, as called for by claim 3, or any moana for causing the diaphragm in ito movements away from the record surface to develop friotion and thereby re¬ tard the same , as called for by claims 4 and 5. The claims as drawn appear to fully and patentably distinguish from the references as has been previously poinl- ed out, and a reconsideration and allowance thereof is respectfully requested. THOMAS A. ’EDI SOli Orange, Hen/ Jersey His Attorney. October 1907 . 2-300. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C., KOV. 1",, .1907. 'I'liGiuus judlx fciOrij [*;*, ■ ■ viii’e J •* X5.y I* , ' I, '/ • j* IfjV I Edition Laker tit ory , i Orange,:.’. J. j MOV 3. a ]%? j Please find below a commu.nica.Uon from Hie EXAMINER in charge of your application, for ?;.etii.cda or p.o cor ding Sounds .filed Way 34,1305,8er.#361,949. Commissioner of Patenls. Thia action is in ronponso to the amendment filed the 23rd ultimo. Ic, view of the fact thot cl.-5.iisB have "been nllovred in applicant's companion application, #261,953, for the apparatus by which tho pro sent alleged methods are pwrfor.T.ftd, it in held that the present claims, which depend for supposed patentability upon the recitation of the details of construction of the apparatus, cover merely the necessary operation or function of the apparatus and accordingly must be rejected. A patent upon the apparatus, it seems clear, would coyer all of the disclosed subject matter that applicant has invented . IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT 07P1CE Thomas A. Edison ) METHODS OF RECORDING SOUNDS j Filed May 24, 1905 ) Serial No. 261,949 ) Room Ho. 579 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS: SIR: Replying to Office action of November 15, 1907, please amend the above entitled case as follows: Cancel ClaimB 1, 2 and 4. Claim 5, line 6, after "amplitude" insert - with acceleration throughout the whole of each such movement of considerable amplitude - . Claim 5, line 5, after "amplitude" insert - with acceleration throughout the whole of each such movement of considerable amplitude - . Renumber Claims 3 and 5 a0 1 and 2. REMARKS Reconsideration and allowance are requested. It is well known as stated in the decision ex parte Weston, 94 0. G. 1786; that processes involving cheraica}. or other elemental action, if new and useful, are patentable, as wel as processes or methods of a mechanical nature not absolute dependent upon a machine, although perhapB best illustrated by mechanism. The claims of this application would seem to involve elemental action, and therefore, not to be the (1) function of a machine, since the molecular properties of the diaphragm and its support, etc., are involved. Respectfully submitted. THOMAS A. KM SOU By His Attorney. Orange, Nov/ Jersey November , 19°8 bw . 2^' Room . 379 AU communications thould be addrated t» Paper No..ll.(.Re j. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C„ JJ0V. 18 1 .1 Thomas A. Edison, Care Ji’rank L, Dyer, Edison Laboratory, Orange, New Jersey . i'OVE/f, j — -w/ Please fiml below a ■ communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application, for Methods of Recording Sounds, filed May 24, 1905, serial number 261,949 . This action is in response to the amendment filed the 11th instant . The examiner oannot sea that the claims remaining in this case express anything more than the function or operation of the devices referred to in suoh claims and the claims must be rejected accordingly . It seems if there be patentable matter, that it must reside in the apparatus by which the alleged method £s performed and not in the mere funotion or operation of the structure IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OPPICE Thomas A. EdiBon ) METHODS OP RECORDING SOUNDS j Piled May 24, 1905 ) Serial No. 261,949 j Room Ho. 579* HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OP PATENTS, SIR: In response to rejection of November 18, 1908, please amend the above entitled case aB follows: a/ Claim 1, line 4, change "imposing" to - opposing - . t/ Claim 2, line 9, cancel "corresponding" before "resistance", and after "resistance" insert - corresponding) to that opposing the movements of the diaphragm in the opposite direction - . REMARKS Reconsideration and allowance of the claims are respeotfully requested, attention being called to the remarks accompanying the last amendment. If a method of a raechanioal nature is not absolutely dependent upon a machine, although perhaps best illustrated by mechanism, it is patentable. Ex parte Weston, 94 0. G. 1786. It would seem that the method claimed 1b not absolutely dependent upon mechanism, although it 1b concerned with the movements of a diaphragm. The invention consists (1) in opposing to the movements of the diaphragm away from the recording surface a resistance whioh increases with such movement in such a manner as to correspond as nearly I as may he to that opposing the movement of the cutting stylus as it cuts into the recording surface, which resist¬ ance, accordingly, opposes the movement of the diaphragm toward the recording surface. ThiB resistance may he provided for within the termB of the claimB in any manner, and is not dependent upon mechanism, hut would seem to he | a true method. Pinal action is requested. Respectfully submitted. THOMAS A. EDISON HiB Attorney Orange, New Jersey, j November /2 , 19°9* Dlv-gg. — Room g.79 J.H.tt.-S. — Paper No.l3TR/jJ, ‘‘’’a'.T.'o!’ lulnj. toT'iIIc cl Invention. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Patent Office, WASHINGTON, D. C., N°V' 28,1909. Thomas A. Mison, Care Erank I>. Ly or, Edison Laboratory, Orange, New jersey . (j.S. !; Girfej |EC£i V£D.' nov 22 iaoa t ! NOV 23 1909 FRANK L. OYER, MAILS D . 1 ~ Please find below a communication, from the EXA0IHER in charge of your application, for Methods of Becording Sounds, filed May 24,1905, serial number 261,949 . Commissioner of Patents. This action is responalTe to the amendment filed NOy. 13,1909. The claims are rejected upon the references and for the reasons of record . " r Is/ ¥' „ IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE . THOMAS A. EDISON, ) METHODS OF RECORDING SOUNDS ) Room No. 379 . Filed May 34, 1905, ) Serial No. 261,949. ) HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, S I R: In response to Office notion of November 22, 1909, reconsideration and allowance of the claims are respectfully requested, attention being again directed to the remarko accompanying the last two amendments. This case appears to come under the doctrine set forth in Esc parte Weston, 94 0. G., p. 1786, "that a process or a method of a mechanical nature not absolutely dependent upon a machine, although perhaps best illustrated by mechan¬ ism, may, if new and useful, be the proper subjeot of a patent, even though it involves no ohemical or other ele¬ mental action." Although the present invention is illus¬ trated by mechanism, it is conceivable that the forces supplied by this mechanism could be produoed independently thereof. The old method of recording sound waves consist¬ ing in vibrating a diaphragm carrying a stylus in proxim¬ ity to a record blank bo as to out a record of - Varying depth in the record surface having been found objectionable for the reason stated in the second paragraph, p. 3 of the nil specification, a now stop "i. o." opposing to the movements of the diaphragm away from the record surface a resistance which increases with the amplitude with acceleration throughout the whole of each movement of considerable amplitude" was added thoreto. As stated above, this resistance might bo produced independently of meohanlsm. If the Examiner desires to adhere to the position that the claims are unpatentablo because they merely express "the function or operation of the devices referred to therein," it is requested that he make his action on the claims final. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. 15DIS0H , By ~£. Orange, Mew Jersey, His Attorney, November ff 1910. -33-9 Div. 33 . Room JiHiU.-Si DEPARTMENT- OF THE INTERIOR . 1 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHINGTON D60» 8,1910a Thomaa A. Edison, Care Prank L. Dyer, Edison Laboratory , Or an pea , Hew .Ternoy . DtC 8 1010 JVI ! !- E tK Please find, below a communication from the EXAMINER in charge of your application • for liothodn of Itecordine Soundn, filed Kay 34.1905. serial number 261,949 . 21,1910. This action is responsive to the argument filed Hov Both of the olaim.fi are finally rejected upon the references und for the reusons of record . finally rejected toy the primary Examiner; and the question is whether or not an appeal should toe taken from the rejections. Eolio 552 covers a reproducer in which the stylus is so positioned as to increase the amplification of the sound waves toy the stylus lever. This increased ajgplif ication is obtained toy so positioning the stylus in the stylus lever that a line drawn through the hearing surface thereof and the fulcrum of the said lever forms a very sharp angle with a plane, including said stylus hearing surface and the axis of the record, this angle in the construction shown in Pigs. 1 and 2 toeing approximately 15°. Pigs 2 and 3 illustrate diagrammatical - ly the increased lever movement of Mr. Edison's structure over that of the commonly employed stylus mounting . A number of references of record disclose the identical stylus mounting set forth in this application, (see, for example, U. S. patents 785,746 and 936,115 herewith); and I, therefore, recommend that the same toe dropped. Referring to Eolio 170, the claims contained therein are as follows: 1. The method of recording sounds phonographically, which consists in vibrating a diaphragm in accordance with sound waves to cut a record of varying depth in the record¬ ing surface, and in opposing to the movements of the dia- -2- Nov. 28, 1911. phragm away from the recording surface a resistance which increases rapidly with the amplitude with acceleration throughout the whole of each such movement of considerable amplitude, substantially as set forth. 2. The method of recording sounds phonographically, which consists in vibrating a diaphragm in accordance with sound waves to cut a record of varying depth on the recording surface, whereby a resistance, increasing with the amplitude, with acceleration throughout the whole of each such movement of considerable amplitude will be imposed on the diaphragm in its movements towards the recording surface, and in causing the diaphragm, in its movements away from the recording surface, to develop friction increasing with the amplitude, whereby a resistance corresponding to that opposing the movements of the diaphragm in the opposite direction will be imposed on the diaphragm in such movements, substantially as set forth. Both of these claims have been finally rej ected. The position of the Examiner is stated in the following quotation from the official action of November 18, 19081 " The Examiner cannot see that the claims remaining in this""case express anything more than the function or operation of the devices referred to in such \ claims, and the claims muBt be rejected accordingly. It seems if there xBOBfc be patentable matter, that it must reside in the apparatus by which the alleged method is performed and not in the mere function or operation of the structure." -3- Nov. 28, 1911. in considering the rejection of the Examiner, p wish •to direct your attention to the following claims taken from t/. S. Patent No. 950,226 .which patent covers the apparatus embodying the process set forth in this application. "1. A phonographic sound recording apparatus, comprising j.n combination a diaphragm, a stylus connected therewith, and jtieans for imposing a resistance to the movements of the dia¬ phragm away from the recording surface, said resistance increasing Kifith the amplitude with acceleration throughout the whole of each of such movement of considerable amplitude, substantially 0.a set forth. 3. A phonographic sound recording apparatus, comprising in combination a diaphragm, a recording stylus connected there¬ with, and means for causing the diaphragm in its movement away from the recording Burface to develop friction and thereby yetard the same, such retardation increasing with the amplitude, with acceleration throughout the whole of each of such movement with considerable amplitude, substantially as set forth. you will note that the statements in these claims describing the function of the resisting or retarding means are almost identical with the alleged new steps in the rejected claims, and that no additional protection would be afforded us by the allowance of the claims in this application. Whether or not the rejected claims cover patentable ^processes xx seems to me very doubtful, especially in view of the claims quoted above from Mr. Edison's patent covering the apparatus embodying the invention in question. An argument might he made that the alleged process involves the action of sound waves upon mechanical bodies ; for instance, diaphragms, and that this action is so complex, and the waves themselves so variable as regards amplitude, frequency of vibration and quality, that the recording thereof can hardly be considered a problem of mechanics, but rather one involving the molecular properties of the diaphragm and its support. Or, it might be argued that the resistance against the movement of the dia¬ phragm away from the record surface might be imposed independently of mechanism. Personally, however, I think that neither of these arguments would appeal to the present Board of Examiners- in-Chief. In view, therefore, of the breadth of the apparatus claims and the doubt as to whether the rejected claims cover patentable processes, i recommend that this application be dropped. I have discussed this case with Mr. Holden, and he, too, thinks it should be dropped. Folio No. x'71 .. ):|tv ' ‘"4 V Applicant. : ... . (Q'L*r-l4sC~*<^o Serial No. •.*..}■ ^0 . Address. " ( ba..j.) Filed . -2 •/ ^ /foi> . Examiner's Room No < ■ Assignee . . Ass’g’t Exec. Recorded Liber Patent No.^ h 3 1 3 L Ibr: Issued .. er Page . - ./f /O ./ fi/Uuo ■ sflttfuz* /\S. ec/uft'/Lt'. ; «l: jo .1.9, A.... 7/ / Applicant. j', jA % cLsilsW' Serial No rd..i.A.,....±:.J. ' . Assignee Ass’g’t Exec.. Examiner’s Room No. . FRANK L. DYER, Counsel, Orange, New Jersey. Mr. W. S. Mallory, Vioe-President. Sear Sir; Herewith find correspondence and data on information requested by Duncan & Duncan, As I am not aware as to how they are to use this specific information, 1 feel that the entire matter should be gone over by Mr, Dyer and the answer drafted by him and approved by Mr. Edison. We can then write a report embodying £ust as much as is deemed necessary. HATURB OF TESTS: There were two hinds of tests made: 1st: This was to determine the output per hour and The ooal consumption. 2nd: Weighings of the total load in the kilns when the fuel was taken off and the kiln allowed to oool with exactly the load it had when it was running, 22,* i Series of Tests: These were made while the kiln was in operation and were conducted as follows: The pulverized coal bin was run as nearly empty as practical to make it, the kiln being kept in normal operating condition all the while. We then plaoed in the coal hopper a weighed amount of pulverized coal, which we estimated would keep the kiln going about an hour. At a given signal we began to ubo this coal and to run all the clinker into the yard. This was con¬ tinued until our fuel was exhausted, when we noted the time and added the regular coal supply at the same time cutting off the chalk feed. We ran the clinker from this on to a separate pile until the kiln was empty and then weighed up the resulting clinker. The following is a tabulated report of results: Tests made while the; kiln was in operation. #1 #2 . #3 Date:- - May 25, 19(38 May 27. May 29. .. -P.M. Time of Test 1;05 to 2:00 P.M, 12:56 to 1;49 Length of Time 55 MinuteB 54 Minutes 60 Minutes Amount of Coal Burned 3062 lbs. 3530 lbs. " * Clinker « 16321 » 13081 « Hate per hour 44 bbls. 38 bbla. 50 bbls. Coal per bbl, of Clinker 76 lbs. 93 lbs. Amount of Clinker burned after shutting off the feed 22i bbls. 21.6 bbls. Fineness of Chalk; Passing #100 83# 86# - : * 200 7$ 7$ Amount of Lime in the Clinker 57,11# 63.62# 59.6# -3- These tests are valuable only as they show the amount of coal consumed par barrel. Test #1 must be discarded, however, as 57.11^ Lime In the clinker is altogether too low. This happened through shortage of limestone and a misunder¬ standing in the Weigh House. We did not discover that the mixture was so low until it was put in the chalk bln and as we were prepared for the test, concluded to run it and get an idea of the amount of fuel required for a very low lime mixture. As shown, it was 76 lbs. Test #2 shows the capacity of the kiln on a high lime mixture, as, the clinker contained 63,63^ Lime. Test #3 shows the consumption for a low lime cement, but the clinker shows it was too low for our standard grade. Ho. 2 Series of Tests; These are; in accordance with Duncan & Duncan* s suggestions. When the Plant shut down June 1st we stopped the kilns short and did not run them empty, as is the custom. When they were thoroughly cold we weighed the contents of five of them and kept the different grades sepa¬ rate as far as possible. The first 35 feet from the front where the clinker was fairly hard, we termed the "Clinker Zone". The next 15 feet where the material was spongy and in small porous balls, we. termed the "Granulated Zone", and in the last 100 feet where the material was all soft, we termed the "Calcin¬ ation Zone". ResultB were aB follows: #2 Lbs. 24958 7907 9482 42347 #4 Lbs, 7962 7515 #5 ' Lbs. 17664 40450 #6 #9 Lbs. Lbs. 7534 4955 5640 10094 19124 4036 32298 19085 Weight in Calcination Zone " * Granulated “ " " Clinker " TOTAL :- Condition of the Kiln as shown by the minimum diameter of the lining ring: 48“ 54» 50“ 54“ It will be noted that the weights vary from 19,000 to 42,000 lbs., but these are due to the different cor ditions under which they were operating, For instance, #9 was evidently running on high speed with a light load, and #2 was running on slow speed with a heavy load. We concluded, there¬ fore, that our average load iB somewhere between 19,000 and 42,000 lbs. In regard to data as to the load of material carried in a 60 foot kiln, will say I have never determined this and at present am not in position to do it. From previous observations, however, I should say the clinker zone in a 60- foot kiln is about 15 feet and the granulated zone 15 feet more, leaving 30 feet for the calcination zone. Our average load is, therefore, about 2$ times1 greater, owing to itB length, but I should say it is much greater even than the proportion indicated by, the length, since the maximum depth of materials in our cal¬ cination zone of 100 feet was 10 to 12 inches, whereaB in a 60 foot kiln my observations have never shown over 10 inohes and more -5- frequently 'between 6 and 9 inches. As this load has as its crosp sectional area the segment of a circle, an inch more in depth makes the load increase very rapidly. If possible, it might be advisable to try to get this information from another company, as to the 60 foot kilns. If this is done, I feel satisfied that our load will be found from 5 to 7 times the load of the 60 foot kiln as claimed in Mr. Edison's Patent, Very truly, (S) H. E. Kiefer. HBK-S mCtCdwin» g^SS-'or ioirer.- ■ -2- \ outputs are desired, the proper way is to install more-tette^ hut as we do not have these at present,' we force what we have at eapenee of fuel. It is not what we are doing with our Icilna that demonotratea the principle, hut what we Can do, i. e.. get a tcnperature of 740 degrees or lower at the hose of our staohs, which is something which can not he approaohed in a «o-ft. hi In. Very truly, Chemist. . <^}iunrta&(X TKe Edison Portland Cement Co. Telegraph, Freight and Passenger Station. NEW VILLAGE. N. J. . o. address. STEWARTSVILLE, N. J. September 10, 1909. Mr. Del 08 Holden, Edison laboratory, Orange, N. J. Dear Sir:- In reply to yours 8th, beg to advise that the following comments made on the patent situation are made from a technical point of view, as the writer is not sufficiently versed in patent law to know how broad statements may be made without destroying the usefulness of the same:- On page 4, paragraph 6, the statement that the kiln is to produce four times aB much clinker per hour as in standard practice, is a statement which may be justified by the interpretation you wish to put on it, and I would state that in ordinary praotiee 8 barrels per hour is con¬ sidered a fair output for a 60 ft. kiln. In order to make good this statement, it would be neoessary for our kilns to produce more than 32 barrels per hour, when as a matter of fact, they do not produoe this much, but only average between 25 and 30 barrels. Moreover, I am satisfied that we are getting greater outputs than is obtained elsewhere in long kilns. Of course, it must be considered that the other long kilns in operation are not 150 ft. long, but run from 100 to -2- 147 ft . and believe it is our intention to claim everything over 100 ft . and if we claim a ratio of 1 to 27 between the length and the diameter, as given on page 1, it would not include a shorter length and would not possibly cover a pro¬ duction of four times as much clinker as a 60 ft. kiln, as even our kilns of 160 ft. do not do this, as has been stated above . On page 7, paragraph 1, the minimum output is placed at 20 barrels. I may have suggested 20 barrels, or at least may have conceded to a statement of 20 barrels at some previous time, but on thinking the matter over, does not seem that this would oover all long kilns, as some of them are only producing between 400 and 500 barrels per day. While we are averaging between 26 and 30 barrels an hour on our kilnB of 150 ft., we are not satisfied that we get the greatest fuel economy by forcing them to this extent. This is still an open question which remains to be determined and it is possible, although I do not say probable, that a maximum of 20 barrels for our kiln might result in greater fuel eoonomy. In such a case, kilns of 125 to 140 ft. long will probably have an eoono- mical maximum output of 15 barrels. I have no recommendation to make on this point, as it would involve a very muoh dis¬ puted question as to whether the output of kilns is not pro¬ portional to their length, which point , as I understand it, we do not- wish to admit, bfit on the contrary, claim an output greater than the proportional inorease in length. -3- ; On page 8, paragraph 18, it seems to me that the statement of the Telocity of combustion and decomposition gases passing from contact with the incoming cement material is not the best way it could be stated, as a matter of fact, it is not scientifically correct, for only a small fraction of a per cent of any of the gases ever come in actual contact with the cement materials, the heat which they receive from the gases being obtained by radiation. This is only teohnioal quibble, yet at the same time it figured as a disputed point in the patent infringement suit of the Atlaa Cement Co. vs Martins Creek Cement Co. and the Atlas Cement Co. vb 8andusky Portland Cement Co., in both of which oases the writer testi¬ fied. In the event of suit, this olaim would be attaoked again, as it can be thoroughly proven that radiation is the principal source of heat and that oontaot is of very minor consideration. Would it not be better to state as follows Insisting in controlling the rate of combustion and the velocity of gases passing from the kiln. HKK-RBS DUNCAN & DUNCAN, ^ September- 22, 1909. Delos Holden, Esq., Edison Legal Department, Orange, N. J. Dear Sir:- 1»e carefully went over the proposed amendment enclosed in yourB of September- 8th and then discussed a number of these questions at our conference yesterday, at which Mr. Hicks and Dr. Kiefer- were also present. We feel that it is highly inadvisable at this time to make any of the changes in the specification which you propose, with a view to smoothing out the statements of the specification of the original application and making the state¬ ments as to the ratio of length to diameter and the like less pos¬ itive. While we should think it a great advantage if these statements, had, to say the least, been in less positive shape in the original application, we think in view of the development of the commercial art since the filing of this original case, that it is only calling attention to these partB of the speci¬ fication to attempt to change them now, especially in view of the fact that the apparatus casehas already issued as a patent. If these statements are left in their present form it can be argued incase of suit that these were at most only suggestions relat¬ ing to the preferred foim of apparatus. We have not been able to give thiB matter- sufficient attention to completely redraft. the claims along the lines we think advisable, although we submitted six additional claims which were discussed at our conference yesterday and we submit herewith a number of other claims which we think it highly de- sir ablla bo have preBenb in bhe application. In some of these zone" which^may be well to use, since the art is familiar with the hot zone in these kilns and this term is not open to exactly the same objection as the term "clinkering zone" ''which Btrictly construed necessarily implies that the clinkering occurs therein. You will note that in a number of these new claims the length and practically the other dimensions of the long kiln are specified. He feel that it is practically necessary to have some claims at least drawn along these lines,. since bhe real advance in bhe art, as we look at it, is the use of the Edison long kiln in a particular manner, namely, burning a large quantity of fuel therein viiiich maintains in the kiln a combustion hob zone of unusual length as compared with bhe standard 60-foot kiln practice, in maintaining within the kiln an unusually large load / of material, which as Dr. Kiefer stated is probably in the (present Edison practice more than twenty times as much as in the \old 60-foot kiln practice and in rotating the kiln two or three times as fast as in the prior practice so as to expose all parts of bhe material much kore thoroughly bo the heat of bhe flame and to contact with bhe heated kiln walls. This rapid revolution also has the effect of maintaining the lining in proper condi¬ tion because the adherent clinker lining is brought under the clink¬ er bank and renewed by the adhesion of additional material because of the weight of the clinker load before it has been melted off in bhe exposed portion of its travel to undesirable or dangerous ex¬ tent . He think it rather desirable to insert at the end of d.h, -a claim 1 you proposed some other limitation of rotary kiln prac¬ tice, such for example, as tte transverse agitation of the material in the combustion zone as stated in the claim 1 we submitted yes¬ terday at our conference. We also feel that claims 15, 16 and 18i are invalid and that it, would probably be better to omit them from the case in order’ to facilitate its allowance and to make the patent less open to criticism. Claim 17 iB also in our opinion of doubtful validity since we understand that stack dampers were proposed and actually used in connection with rotary kilns before Edison's work. You understand, of course, . that the claims wa submit are not intended to fully cover' the field, but are submitted to you more as typical claims than anything else,, since you stated that you wished actual claims submitted in order to more fully get our ideas along these lines. As to the argument you submitted, we think that the statement in the fourth paragraph on page 9 should be amended so that the second line will read "The dry process of burning cement* instead of as you give it "The practice of burning cement". We shall be glad to receive a copy of the amai dment which you forward in this Edison) application 280,577. Dictated by Harry L. Duncan JBK. Enc. ) Dec. 9, 1909. Mr. V. S. Mallory, Vice-President. Dear Sir: It has occurred to me that in our long kiln litigation it might we bell to put our attorneys in possession of graphical and mathematical data as to the burden of 60 ft. and 150 ft. kilns. At the time the patent was taken out, the 60 ft. kilns were either 6 ft. diameter of shell throughout or 7 ft. at the fuel end and tapering to 6 ft. or 5 ft. at the chalk feed end. The Lining of the kilns was 6" or 9" in front and 6" in the rear. This left an inner diameter in the dlear of just 5 ft. for the straight kilns. The taper kilns would of course be less in the rear end but this would favor our argument. In all rotary kiln burning, there is what may be termed a clinker zone and a calcination zone. In the calcination zone there is always a goodly portion of it in which the material remains fine and flowB readily. Passing this it begins to roll into soft balls which aB they proceed became hardened clinker. My observations on 60 ft, kilns have been that the zone of loose powder is usually about 35 ft. or less, then 10 ft. or so of soft balls and spongy clinker, then about 15 ft. for clinkering. In the Edison kiln the loose material is from 85 to 100 ft. in length, usually 100 ft. As the volumnes can be estimated, the relative weights can be estimated. . To put the proposition differ¬ ently, we know that in the clinker zone there is no way to determine the burden accurately as it is difficult to -distinguish when a kiln is cold what was the travelling load and what wets the portion of the lining. In the calcination done this is readily determined. It is self- evident however that in the continuous process the average load per lineal foot in the calcining zone bears a direct proportion to the average load in the clinker zone. The loads can therefore he determined by their relative volumes. In, an Edison kiln having a diameter of 6 ft. in the clear, we get 85-100 ft. soft chalk whose Burface is the chord of a circle and whose depth will average 11" and length 52"; see sketch: The cross section of this stream of material is therefore 390 sq. in. or 2.71 sq. ft. As there is 100 lineal feet of this material, there is a volume of 271 cu. ft. My observation on 60 ftz kilns is that the depth is usually 6" to 9" and in normal running more frequently 6" than 9", In a 60 ft. kiln the length of the uncoated part of the kiln is much less in proportion than, the Edison kiln as hard and soft spongy materials adhere to the lining for a distance of 40 ft. or more or two-thirds the length of the kiln instead of one-third as in the Edison. This of course cuts down the cross section but allowing the 60 ft. kiln the advantage of this we get In the case of tha average load, the cross section is 147 sq. in. or 1.02 sq. ft. and in the maximum load it is 266 sq. in. or 1.84 Bq. ft. The relative loads are Edison Average 2.21 60 ft. Average 1,02 = 2,65 X 2-1/2 times the length, 5 6,62 times the load. For the 60 ft. kiln maximum load we get Edison Average 2.71 60 ft. maximum 1,84 = 1.47 X 25 3.67 times the (load. These figures are 'of course not absolutely accurate owing to the changing nature of the interior of the kilns hut are fair averages showing the relations between the two. Very truly, (S) H. E. Kiefer. k/m P.S.- We have not heard from Mr. Dyer yet relative to our request to get Duncan & Duncan to arrange tests on a 60 ft. kiln. I am satisfied if we were to get this data by actual test we would find the 60 ft. kiln loads less than we credit them with above owing to the fact that the 60 ft. kiln has a relatively smaller cross section of material in the calcining zone than we credit them. 3 4 7. FISH, RICHARDSON, HERRICK & NEAVE NEWYORK October 13, 1914. Delos Holden, iisq., Orange, Kew Jersey. Dear Mr. Holden: 1 am sorry to have given you the trouble of writing to me again about the matter you spoke of in your letter of Oct¬ ober 5, namely, the argument of the appeal in the Edison pro* js cess case. I have intentionally delayed replying to your letter, but, of course, I ought to have let you know what the situation was with reference to it. I would like; even now to wait a few days longer before giving you a definite reply. The way the matter lies in my, mind is that in working on the Edison kiln patent, I have gotten rather enthusiastic about that patent, and have felt that the way to .protect the invention was by means of that patent rather than;,by- the .process patent. X have been and am working on .the brief on appeal, but I have not. yet finished it, and I thought I would rather delay replying to your question until after I had finished that brief, so as to have the whole case definitely in my mind. If my mind becomes full of the idea that the proper way to protect £his invention was by laeainB of the apparatus pat¬ ent rather than the process patent, it hardly seems to me that I would be a good person to argue .the process appeal, but jyhat it. might be' better for you to get some one who wqs more enthus- FISH, RICHARDSON, HERRICK &. NEAVE iastic about the process end of the matter. I have an appointment with Doctor Kiefer to-morrow, to talk over some of the points about which he lias been writing to me, with reference to the appeal in the apparatus case. This appeal was on the calendar of the Court of Ap¬ peals for October 10r but as my return from Europe had been necessarily delayed, I asked for a postponement to the session beginning November 2, which was granted. I hope to have q draft of my brief in pjkge proof form ready to send to you at the end of this week, or early in the coming week. I shall have to file it aB Boon as possible. It would be easy enough to write a long brief, but such a brief would not be read, and whatever forceful points we had would be lost in it. I am, therefore, trying to make it short, and I am afraid that our engineers will feel that 1 am slighting a good many of the technical points for which there was a great deal of contention, and, of course, we will have to look at the whole matter from our judgment as to the standpoint of the judges of the Circuit Court of Appeals. Yours very truly, Q3.. ISO/7- It is the oase on the assignment for that day. The hearings will commence at | j- ° 1 clock, and as soon as ceeding case will the argument in one c be taken up. The time allowed for arguments concluded the £ Ex parte cases, thirty minutes; Motions, thirty minutes, each side; Interference appeals, final hearing, one hour each side. By speoial leave obtained before the argument is commenced, the time may be extended. The appellant shall have the right to open and conclude in interference cases, and i'n such case a full and fair opening must be made. If any party, or his attorney, shall not appear when the case is called, his right to an oral hearing will be regarded as waived. Briefs in interference appeals must be filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 147 . Respeotfully, . °jo (PmMAL, Commissioner of Patents. To.. Oct. 1907 Honorable Oonmissioner of Patents, Washington, T). C. SIR : — X enclose herewith Brief on Appeal to the Examiners -in-Cihief, in the application of Thomas A. Edison, lia’ROWniaii’S IK CEIA'HTT KEEPS, mod October 14, 190o, Bcrial Ho. 202,694. An oral hoar inf; upon this appeal is hereby v/aived, and it is raquested that the case be taken up and decided upon the brief. Very respectfully, HHD/fOT, General Counsel, enclosure IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Thomas A. Edison ) IMPROVEMENTS IN CEMENT KILNS i Filed Botober 14, 1905 j Serial No. 282,694 ) On appeal before the Examiners-in-Chief . - APPELLANT 1 S BRIEF - This invention is an improvement in kilns for burning oement. In such kilnB the material from which the oement is made is fed into the upper end of the inclin¬ ed kiln and as the kiln is rotated, this material passes slowly down to its lower end where a combustion zone of intense heat iB maintained, usually by injecting a mixture of air and powdered ooal, under considerable pressure. Prior to the advent of Mr. Edison into this art, the kilns used were from forty to sixty feet in length, and the heat¬ ed gases passed through these short kilns so quiokly that the exit gases we re still very highly heated, and much heat was lost in this manner. Ab the cement forming material is j heated it throws off carbonic acid gas, and in the former short kilns the material fed in at the upper end reached 5 |i the combustion zone when only a part of thiB oarbonio acid fees had been driven out of the material, and consequently, jj even within the combustion zone, Jjreat quantities of oar- | bonic aoid gas were evolved which interfered with combus¬ tion, and caused the fuel to burn to form oarbon monoxide instead of the oarbon dioxide whioh would be formed on com¬ plete combustion. I jj I I In order to prodvtoe a kiln whioh would "be free from these defects and should produce a maximum quantity of properly burned olinker on a minimum supply of fuel, Mr. •Edison invented the long kiln, upwards of 150 feet in length, hut of substantially the same diameter as the earlier kilns, and he lengthened the combustion zone by introducing a number of jets of fuel under different pres¬ sures, so that the combust ion zones of these jets v/ould overlap and form in effect a continuous combustion zone of great length. This resulted in preventing to a very great extent, the losses due to the previous practice, for the gases gave up the greater portion of their heat to the cement forming material during their progress through the long kiln, and before the material reached the combus¬ tion zone, all the carbon dioxide gas had been given off, so that no carbon dioxide was evolved v/ithin the highly heated combustion zone to interfere with the free combus¬ tion of the fuel. ( See Edison paten Is Mo. 759, 356 and No. 759,357, dated May 10, 1904). But with kilns of this novel construction, new problems of the draft and its con¬ trol were presented. Very much more air v/as needed to support the combustion in the long combuotion chamber with its overlapping jets of burning fuel, and the draft which in prior ocment burning kilns was relatively slight, be¬ came in the new form of kiln very strong and difficult to control. Formerly it had sufficed to control the draft by varying the amount of air as it was admitted to the kiln, but this means of oontrol was found Inadequate to control the strong draft in the new kiln. TOien confronted with this situation Mr. Edison solved the problem of draft oon¬ trol by introducing a pivoted dampor into the kiln Btaok whioh could be opened and closed by suitable controlling mechanism. By JJpening this damper very slightly beyond 2. the point at whioh visible smoke is produced, just enough air is admitted to secure substantially perfect combustion. As a man is always stationed at the lower end of the kiln to oontrol the supply of fuel and generally look after the operation of the kiln, Mr. Edison placed hiB damper control¬ ling mechanism at this point and provided it with suitable connections to the damper, so that the same man whose business it is to look after the feeding of the fuel into the kiln, can control the damper and thus have entire oon¬ trol of the draft. As the material whidh is introduced into the kiln at its upper end to be burned into cement clinker, is in the form of a very fine powder, the intense draft which is created under the conditions under which the new kiln is operated, draws great quantities of this dust, which should be retained in the kiln and burned to clinker, away with it, and in the old kilns in whioh the Btack is connected direct¬ ly to the end of the kiln, this dust passed off through the stack and was lOBt. In order to save this material, Mr. Edison instoad of passing the exit gases of the kiln direot- ly into the stack, as was the former practice, provided a very large settling chamber into which the exit gaseB were passed directly from the kiln. In this chamber their velooity is greatly decreased bo that the dust can settle and be returned to the kiln for burning. This chamber he provided with a short stack in whioh he plaoed a damper for controlling the draft. The first two of the olaims appealed are direoted to the damper and its controlling mechanism in combination with the long kiln which has been described, and the third and last olalm covers the settling apparatus „ combination with the same kiln. The appealed claims are as follows : ; "1. In oement burning apparatuo, the combination of a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a stack with which the kiln communicates at its upper end, and a damper arranged in Baid stack, of means for controlling the position of said damper from the lower end of the kiln, sud- stantially as and for the purposes set forth. 2. In oement burning apparatus, the combination with a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a stack with which the kiln communicates at its upper end, and a damper in said stack, of a controlling lever located near the lower end of the kiln and connections between Baid lever and said damper for controlling the positi on of the latter, substantially aB and for the purposes set forth. 3. In cement burning apparatus, the combination with a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a vertioal settling chamber with which the kiln communicates at its upper end, and a Btack extending above said settling chamber and of less length than the latter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth." The reference upon which the Examiner has rejected claims 1 and 2 is the patent to Abernethy & Graham, No. 521,690, June 19; 1894, and he has rejected the third claim upon the patents to Carman, Ho. 644, 057, February 29,1900, and to Vents, Ho. 714, 843, Ded'ember 2, 1902. In his answer^ to this appeal the "Examiner has treated the patent to I No. 802,631, as a reference for the olaims in this applioa-j tion. But as the application on which thiB patent was granted, and the application now on appeal were pending at the same time, it is dear that this patent is not a re¬ ference for the olaims now presented. In a sense, howeven applicant's former patent -.and the present oaBe, are closely related, since the claims of the patent cover generally a kiln*of3one hundred feet in length, while the appealed olaiins cover such a kiln equipped with the suggested improvements, In other words, the present claims are specific, they are dominated by the olaims of the patent, and the grant of a patent on the present claims would in no way enlarge the scope of the monopoly. Any devioe infringing the present olaims would certainly infringe the claims of the patent already granted. Under the bo circumstances the Patent Office v.o uld have less hesitancy in allowing the olaims , than if an entirely new monopoly were created thereby. The Examiner in rejecting the olaims assumes that the prior art shows the use of dampers in the stacks of long kilns, and that Mr. Edison's sole contribution is in the operation of such a damper from the lower end of the kiln, and in the provision of. a settling chamber in the stack. If Edison's prior patent was a part of the prior art, the Examiner's position would be probably correct, but since the patent was pending contemporaneously with the present application, it is clear that it is not avail¬ able as a reference to these olaims. Henoe the claimB cover more than the Examiner assumes - they cover a complete kiln, equipped with improvements which add greatly to its practical and commercial success. Clearly the patent to Abernethy and Graham, which is for a mechanism connecting a switch setting device, and an indicating target therefor, does not anticipate olaims 1 and 2, as this reference is lacking in all the essential features of these claims. The patents to Carman and to Went?. , disclose no settling chambers whioh would be effective to save the dust whioh would otherwise pass out of the stack, but simply show small chambers which are necessary to provide connection between the rotating kiln and the staok. These patents contain no disclosure of applicant's invention in oonneotion with any kiln, and when it is considered that this claim iB limited to a kiln of the 3ort described in applicant's earlier patent, whioh has been referred to and whioh is so constructed that a atrong. draft is created therein in use, thus, cafising the :loss . of uh large amount 'of 5. Appeal Ho. 638. U. B. Patent Offico, November ^ , 1907. Before the 3xaminerp-in-0hief , on Appeal. Application of Thomas A. Hdison for a patent for an improve¬ ment in Cement Kilns, filed October 14, 1905. Serial No. 283,694. Hr. "rank L. Dyer for appellant. This is an appeal from the action of the primary examiner finally rejecting the following claims: "1. In cement burning apparatus, the combination of a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a stack with which the kiln communicates at its upper end, and a damper arranged in said stack, of means for controlling the position of said damper from t lie lower end of the kiln, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. "2. In cement burning apparatus, the combination with a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a 3tack with' which, the kiln communicates at its upper end, and a dampor in said stack, of a controlling lever located near the lower end of the kiln, and connections between said lover and said damper for controlling the position of the latter, substantially as and for, • the purposes set forth. "3. In cement burning apparatus, the combination with a long rotary kiln, upwards of 100 feet in length, a vortical Bot¬ tling chamber with which the kiln communicates at its upper ond, and a stack extending above said settling chamber and of less length than the latter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. " The references are: Abernethy et al., Juno 19, 1094, No. 521,690; Carman, S’eb. 27, 1900, No. 644,057; V.’entz, Noe. 2, 1902, No. 714,343. It would appear from the record in thia case, that tho appellant, JSdison, had an application co-pendlng with this, which has become patent No. 802,631 for a cement kiln, which differs from the prior art, among other things substantially, in the kiln having a length of 100 feet more or less in order to lengthen the combustion zone and to improve upon the proper burning of tho clinker. It was found, however, that because of the exceeding great length of the kiln n ovY problems of draft control were presented. 1’ormerly It had sufficed to control the draft by varying the amount of air admitted to the kiln but this means of control v/as found inadequate to check the strong draft in the new kiln. Edison solved this difficulty by introducing a pivoted damper into the kiln stack which could be open¬ ed and closed by suitable controlling mechanism at the base of the stack. In the operation of his patented kiln a man was stationed at the lower end of the kiln to control the supply of fuel and general¬ ly to look after its operation, and a man was also stationed at the other, or stack, end of the kiln, so that it required two persons to look after the fuel and regulate the damper. As the material 'Which is introduced into the kiln at its upper end to be burned into cement clinker is in the form of u very fine powder, the intense draft which is created under the conditions under which the new kiln is operatod draws great quantities of this dust, which should be rotained in the kiln and burned to clinker, away with it and in the old kilns in v/hiejh the stack is connected directly to the end of the kiln through the cement settling chamber this dust passed off through tho stack and wa)c lost. In order to save this material Kdison instead of passing tho exhaust gaaes of the kiln directly into the stack, as was the former practice, provides a very large settling chamber into v/hioh the ex¬ haust gases are passed directly from the kiln. Iri this chambex1 the, velocity is greatly diminished so that the dust con settle and be returned to the kiln for burning. This chamber he provides with the. usual stack In which i3 placed the damper for controlling the draft. The first two of the claims appealed are directed to the damper and its controlling mechanism in combination with a long kiln upwards of 100 foot in length, and the third and last claim covers tho settling apparatus in combination with a kiln of like length. the appeal has referred to The examiner in hie an ever to this earlier application, which as has. been stated became patent l'o . 808,631, and refers to tho fact that the kiln i3 provided with a damper 48 iri t}'.e stack 49, controlled from below by wires 43 anti lover1 44 (page' o, lines 10 to 18, and figure 6), and directs attention to the fact that in the application the appellant has extended tho means for controlling the damper to the lower end of the kiln so as to place the control for- the damper at that point where it can be v/ithln the reach of tho operator whoso duty it is to look after' the fuel supply of the kiln. The examiner has further directed atten¬ tion to the fact that it is a common expedient to run the control connections to valves and other devices which have to be moved from a distance to any point where it is desired that the operator who shall control tire damper Bhall be stationed, and cites as one in¬ stance of this tho patent to Abernethy et al; therefore, in vie1'/ of this common practice, generally, there was no invention on the part of the appellant to improve upon the kiln disclosed in the patent by extending the oontrcuLing meuns for the damper to the lower1 end of the kiln. In answer to this counsel for the appellant points out that by the extension of the regulating moans he is enabled to permit the kiln operator to get more efficient work out of the kiln by reason of tho fact that both, the fuel supply and the draft regulation uro brought under one mind, and moreover the operator for the damper 1b eliminated; for if the patented kiln of Edison be run by one operator he is required, by reason of the distance apart of tho means to control tho dumpor from the lower or fuel supply end of the kiln, to run to and fro between the two points. These are disadvantages of course but the means to obviate them are within the ' observation of the merest tyro in the art of saving steps to bring the control of two features under one mind.. 680, 4. Tho appellant has objected to the citation of the patent to Edi son on the Ground that it was co-pendinc with this application and is therefore not a reference, that is to say, it is not a part of the prior art so far as this application is concerned. vie cannot consent to this contention, however, in view of the circumstances that the appealed claims are not for a pivoted damper in a stack nor such damper controlled by means located at the stack end of the kiln but are, as already Btatecl and as the claims will confirm, for a combination in which the pivoted damper is only one element and the means for controlling it are carried forward at the lower end of the stack. The patent to Edison for this reason stands in the art rela¬ tively to the claims of this application as if it were, as it really is, a part of the art prior to the filing of this application. In the patented kiln to Edison the settling chamber is shown to be sub¬ stantially as that of tho usual old supply chamber between the kiln and the stack. It can be readily understood that upon an increase of tho length of the kiln the dimensions of the old settling chamber relatively to the great length of the now kiln were insufficient to afford space within the chamber to reduce the velocity of tho draft enough to permit a perfect suppression of any of the lighter particlojs to bo effected. Therefore the natural thing to do, if tho function were to be retained as a sottling chamber was to lengthen it. It was also disclosed to the designer of the kiln that it was unne¬ cessary to lengthen the stack correspondingly to agree with the length of the settling chamber or kiln, as the great length of the kiln had already produced a sufficient draft for the purpose of burn¬ ing cement, forming material to clinker. Generally speaking it is a .fact 'that there - is .no- invention in merely increasing the size of an element in an other¬ wise old combination and we are unable to sec that in this particular. case it was invention to lengthen the settling chamber in order retain its efficiency as ouch. i'ha decision of the examiner rejecting the claims is affirmed. }dm & Womu I; XA'Y / SxajninarB-in— IhieJ Folio No. _ %,«fv Serial No kZL&Jlj&Ji Applicant. . jjLxaa* (LLo, Title. 7L faC(.4srj£f.1flA _ *7 */*£*** . . Filed iMj^^Lph Examiner’s Room No._ ^.Recorded _ Liber _ Page.. _ 2.^L^^.....^:. . '.^'p>L. 17 ■ _ a . (&=/. ^ /«yg fe i8 _ , _ . /.^ O.1^^ 1 9 _ 20 _ yj 6 2 1 _.._, _ _ _ . \j ^ >7 24 . . . 1 1 _ 26 _ ___:. _ r^K 7' _ 1? Ciwju*u*Jt-<4 'htnr.X.q.iq/l. _ 27 _ -J V 1 3 _ „ _ 28 _ _ _ 5,/ _ 1 3 . FRANK L. DYER, , Counsel, Orange. New Jersey. petition. Co tbc Commissioner of patents : U?our petitioner thomas alva edjson , a citfeen of tbe TUniteb States, restbing anb having a post ©ffice abbress at Llewellyn Park, Orange, In the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, prays tbat letters patent may be granted to bint for tbe improvements in PRODUCTION Off THIN SHEET PETAL set forth in tbe anneieb specification ; anb be hereby appoints jfranh X. ©yer (■Registration ©o. 560), of Ebison laboratory, ©range, Hew 3ersey, bis attorney, with full power of substitution anb revocation, to prosecute this application, to niahe alterations anb amenbments therein, to receive tbe patent, anb to transact all business in tbe patent ©ffice connecteb therewith. -SPEC IEI CATION¬ IC) AIiL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Bo it known that I, THOMAS ALVA EDISON, a citizen of the Unite* States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the County of Ebsox and State of New Jersey, have invented oertain new and useful improvements in the PRODUCTION OP THIN SHEET METAL, of which the following is a specification: In the manufacture of my Improved storage battery, it 1b neoessary to ubs strips of Very thin sheet metal, preferably steel, from whioh the pookets for holding the active material are formed, the thickness of metal used being frequently no.; more than .003 of an inch. Suoh metal is very expensive when produoed by ordinary pro¬ cesses, for the reason that the rolling of a strip of metal to reduce its thickness hardens or tempers the same so that it is neoessary to frequently anneal the metal before proceeding with further reducing?, operations. The process of annealing as ordinarily practiced consumes a considerable time, and unless carefully done, may produce oxidation of the strip so that a oleaning or reducing operation will then be necessary. These various steps have hitherto necessitated separate handling of the strip, whioh has increased the ooBt of manufacture to a considerable extent . My invention has for its objeot the production of a thin metal strip by a continuous prooess} that is, » 1. a process whioh is adapted to operate upon a continuously travelling strip, as distinguished from prooesseB hereto¬ fore used, in whioh only the rolling operation is contin¬ uous and the annealing and reducing operations operate upon the whole strip at once, and my invention oonBists in the features hereinafter set forth and claimed. The invention provides effective means by which a strip can be economically and perfectly reduced in thickness, as as to obtain the desired degree of thinness at a cost below that at which metal of the same thickness can be secured under existing methods of operation. Reference 1b hereby made to the accompanying drawing in whioh Figure 1 is a sectional view of an appar* atuB suitable for carrying out my invention and Figure 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. The strip 1 is drawn continuously in the di¬ rection indicated by the arrow by any suitable mechanism (not shown)^ being delivered from a supply ooil 2 and aooumulated in the form of a coil 3. The strip passes from the ooil 2 into an elongated ohamber 4 which comprises two sections j> and _6. This ohamber is composed of any suitable metal, and may be an ordinary iron pipe of a diameter slightly greater than the width of the strip un¬ der treatment. The ohamber is closed at each end by a plate 2 secured by screws 8 to a nut 9 threaded on the pipe/ A gate 9* moves in vertical guides 10 forming a narrow slot 11 through whioh the Btrip 1 passes. The sec¬ tion J5 of the tube 4 is surrounded by a muffle 12 of fire¬ brick or other refraotory heat-retaining material, the in¬ terior of which is maintained at a high temperature by gas jets from the burners 13, the same being supplied with a 2. mixture of gas and air from the pipe* 14 and 16 respective¬ ly. The seotion 6 of the pipe 4 is surrounded by a water-jaoket 16 provided with an inlet 17 and outlet 18. A gas supply pipe 1£ oommuni oates with the interior of the pipe 4 and an outlet 20 permits the gas to escape therefrom. Seducing or thinning foils 21 and '22 are sit¬ uated so as to operate upon the strip immediately after it leaves the section 6. ^ ^ l'he operation of the devioe is follows: The strip 1 is moved hy any suitable driving means in the direction indicated by the arrow and enters the ohamber 6 from the supply roll 2. Here it is subjected to a high temperature produoed by the gas burners 13 in the presence of hydrogen supplied by the pipe 19. This gas flows continuously from its supply pipe through the cham¬ bers 5, and 6, escaping through a pipe 20 into the atmos¬ phere by a flame Bl^hioh serves as an indication to the operator in oharge of the apparatus that a proper flow of gas is being maintained. The hydrogen aots ae a reducing agent upon the heated portion of the strip, and any oxide on its surf ao e will be reduoed, whereby the strip will present perfeotly bright and clean surfaoes. At the same time an annealing operation $akes plaoe in the hydrogen at¬ mosphere without any danger pf oxidation ooourringi As the strip moves into the ohamber 6 it iB oooled by reason of the low temperature of the water Jacket. The strip being surrounded by hydrogen is kept from oxidation during this cooling prooess bo that as it issues from the open¬ ing 11, it is perfeotly olean and oool, and will not be subjected to atmospherio oxidation. It then passes be¬ tween rolls 21 and 22 by which its thiokness is diminished 3. to the dOBired extent, and may then he formed into a coil 3. It ie, of course, obvious that instead df being formed into a coil 3 the strip may pass continuously through a seoond apparatus similar to that Bhown, whereby it will be again annealed, oooled and then rolled to greater thinnesss, so that any deBired thinning of the strip may be obtained in a continuous process. It will he also obvious that the chambers 5_ and 6 may be separated by a partition If desired, and supplied separately with gaB. finally, it willmbe under¬ stood that the Bppply roll 2 may be looated within the section 6, in which oase the Joint oat, the left of the ap¬ paratus may be dispensed with, thereby reducing the oppor¬ tunity of leakage of gas, Binoe^only-one-paokedr j-oinV'wlH then-be-necessary. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows - '%/, 1, The process of rolling sheet metal which con¬ sists in passing the same continuously first through an annealing chamber, and then between reducing rolls, sub¬ stantially aB set forth. 8. The process of rolling sheet metal which con¬ sists in passing theWme continuously first through a heated chamber containing a non-oxidizing gas, then through a codling ohamber containing a similar gas , and then be¬ tween reducing rolls, substantially as set forth. The prooesB of rol\ing sheet metal whioh con- m\ L claim as follows: - 2 %uCtZurCiJS'^,i' ' The prooess of .pg'eparlner metal for— reduotion-bn- tween- rolls , which consists in progressing the same contin¬ uously in a traveling strip, eaoh portion of the strip as it progresses being passed continuously through first a reducing atmosphere heated to an annealing temperature , and then without interruption through a non-oxidizing at¬ mosphere of a temperature below the oxidizing point of the metal, substantially as set forth. REMARKS In the amendment of September 16, 1906 the Examiner was requested to ohange the reference numeral 21 as applied i to the gas flame in Figure 1 of the drawing to 21a. Inas- (1) muoh as the Offioe letter of Deoember 6, 1910 inaioateB | that this has not been done,- the Examiner is again request - |j ed to make this change. The Examiner has required that the subjeot matter suggested in line 10- and also that suggested in lines- 18 — ■ • and 13, page 4, shall be shown -on the drawing or the-de- • soription thereof oanoeled. The withdrawal of this re¬ quirement is requested for the reason that the olaim in the oase relates to a prooess and not to apparatus. The modifications suggested refer merely to modified forms of apparatus whioh may be employed for carrying out appli¬ cant's prooess, and the description of thise modifications is of such a oharaotor as to enable any one skilled in the art to construct the same. Applioant has already illus¬ trated one operative form of apparatus by whioh his prooess |! “ay be oarried out, and it is thought that he should not be required to illiistrate other possible forms. The olaim has been rewritten in aooordanoe with the Examiner's suggestion with the step of passing the metal between reduoing rolls omitted. As thus amended the rejection of the olaim as an aggregation is no longer applicable. The rejection of the olaim on the ground that the limitation to the efi’eot that the non-oxidizing atmosphere in the portion 6 of Eigure 1 is "below the oxidizing point of the metal" is not disolosed in the specif ioation and is considered to be new matter, 1b not believed to be a proper one. The specification states !that when the strip issues from the opening 11 it is perfeotly clean and cool and will not be subjected to 1 • • f2) atmospherio oxidation, that is to say, its temperature 1b , below the oxidizing point of the metal. In order that the , temperature shall be so reduoea the non-oxidizing atmosphere through whioh it has just passed must neoessarily have a temperature below the oxidizing point of the metal. Furth¬ ermore, the non-oxidizing gas in the portion 6 of the. pipe- 4 is surrounded by a water jaoket whioh is l:ep t at a low temperature, as is stated in the specification. Under these oiroumstsnoes it will be impossible for the gas in the chamber 6. to riBe above the oxidizing temperature of the metal. The application in its present form is believed to be ready for allowance, and such action is requested. Kespeot fully submitted, THOMAS A. EDI SOU , By . His Attorney Orange, Hew Jersey November <2/9 , 1911. u„. „4T DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HCA/'RAJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHINGTON Thornae A. Ruioon, o/o rrank i.. Dyer, Orange, lin .J. Pleats find below a communication from the EX AH I HER in charge ofjjour application. 283,520, filed Oct. 19, 1905! - Production of Thin Sheet Metal. Replying to amendment filed Dec. 1, 1911. The clairp^'is rejected upon the following newly discovered referejxSe - O [/ Swedish, // 5112, Jiov. 13, 1893, Landetrom, 148 - Anneal. App. W. and a. 2xaminer, Division 3. in THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas A. Eaison PRODUCTION OF THIN SHEET METAL Filed October 19, 1905 Serial No. 283,529 HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, SIR: In response to the Offioe aotion of Deoember 16, 1911, please amona the above ontitloa oase as follows : - In line 1 of the olaim, ohange "preparing" to - treating - , ana in lines 1 ana 2 oanoel "for reauotion between rolls". REMARKS The olaim has been amenaea to improve its form. In the invention defined by the olaim, the metal strip' is first passea through a reauoing atmosphere heatea to an annealing temperature. As a result of this step, any oxiae found upon the surface of t£e strip before treatment will be reauoea, whereby the strip will present perfeotly bright ana olean Burfaoes. There iB no aisolosure in. the Sweaish patent No. 5112 of the step of passing the strip through a "reauoing atmosphere" . The Sweaish patentee proposes to pass metal wires through petroleum ana the., proauots thereof due to heat,. ana does not suggest the use of a substanoe having reauoing- properties. Petroleum, Room No. 329 (1) when used In the manner described, is very likely to be dissociated and to deposit, carbon on tho Burfaoe of the . strip or wire, with tho result that a clean Burfaoe is not obtained, as is the oase in the proauot of applicant’s prooess. It is believed that- the olaim clearly aistAnguislj es from, the Swedish patent. Reconsideration and allowance are requested. Respectfully submitted, THOMAS A. EDISOH By - - His Attorney Orange, Hew Jersey December 10th, 1912 Dlv . 3—. Room. 175 WIW/RAJ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHINGTON Deo. 19, 1912. Thomas A. Edison, Care Frank L. Dyer, Orange, N.J. Please find below a communication from the EXAMINER in clu 283, 529, filed Oat. 19, 1905 - Production of Thin 8heet Metal, Replying to amendment filed Deo. 11, 1912. The claim ia again rejected on the Swedish patent to Lanstrom, of record. The gasooue produo.ts of petroleum are reducing in character, and whether the results of the use thpre- as of are Efficacious as the employment of applicant's substitute, f is immaterial in view of the terms of the claim. The olaim is also rejeoted/dn Edison, 53,462, of record, and - Waddell, 475,260, May 17, 1892, 148 -Anneal, .and Tem. V/. and S., in view of Coffin, 399,382, of record, the preliminary step of heating in a reducing atmospehere being old as indicated. Final action is suggested. Examiner, Division 3, (TjJZo-l^. zt a. (\yjJ£Z£- - - &<=£ y(n*t~£-+-£^ j£-*-~ \r*e£. -G&* — (fc 4 (xjudb&r**^*^- " PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research. A Note on the Sources The pages which have been filmed are the best copies available. Every technical effort possible has been made to ensure legibility. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS The Allred P. Sloan Foundation Charles Edison Fund The Hyde and Watson Foundation National Trust for the Humanities Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS National Science Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities National Historical Publications and Records Commission PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS Alabama Power Company Anonymous AT&T Atlantic Electric Association of Edison Illuminating Companies Battelle Memorial Institute The Boston Edison Foundation Cabot Corporation Foundation, Inc. Carolina Power & Light Company Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. 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Westinghouse Foundation Wisconsiii-gpJjIip Service Corporation BOARD OF SPONSORS Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Francis L. Lawrence Joseph J. Seneca Richard F. Foley David M. Osliinsky New Jersey Historical Commission Howard L. Green National Park Service John Maounis Maryanne Gerbauckas Roger Durham George Tselos Smithsonian Institution Bernard Finn Arthur P. Moiella EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Technology R. Frank Colson, University of Southampton Louis Gulambos, Johns Hopkins University Susan Hockey, University of Alberta Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Peter Robinson, Oxford University Philip Scranton, Georgia Institute of Technology/Hagley Museum and Library Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Tedmology THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS Robert A. Rosenberg Director and Editor Thomas E. Jeffrey Associate Director and Coeditor Paul B. 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No part of this publication including any portion of the guide and index or of the microfilm may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted hi any form by any means— graphic, electronic, mechanical, or chemical, includingphotocopying, recordingor taping, or information storage and retrieval systems— without written permission of Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The original documents hi this edition are from the archives at the Edison National Historic Site at West Orange, New Jersey. ISBN 0-89093-703-6 Ct 6dUoru f\bpeM> A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION PART IV (1899-1910) Thomas E. Jeffrey Lisa Giteiman Gregory Jankunis David W. Hutchings Leslie Fields Theresa M. Collins Gregory Field Aido E. Salerno Karen A. Detig Lorie Stock Editors Robert Rosenberg Director and Editor Sponsors Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site New Jersey Historical Commission Smithsonian Institution University Publications of America Bethesda, MD 1999 Edison signature used with permission of McGra Ittlllllllllllllllllllllllllll 10 20 30 MILLIMETERS tJIIM|W1|llll|lll||lllt|HI|jHJ||l|{||||M||||l|llllpm|IT