Patent GB-561140-A (GB)
Title: Improved methods for chiming bells or tuned metallic tubes
IPC: G10K1/064
Filed: 1942-03-21
Abstract: 561,140. Automatic musical instruments ; actuating electric switches. REX, W. G., and REX; C. A. March 21, 1942, No. 3785. Convention date, Feb. 21, 1941. [Class 88 (i)] [Also in Group XXXVII] Mechanism for chiming bells or tuned metallic tubes comprises electrically operable chime means 18, 19, 20, control means therefor, a microphone 21 positioned to receive sounds emitted by the chime means, an amplifier 25 connected to the microphone and including a valve having heating means, a sound reproducer 26 connected to the amplifier and means operatively connected to the control means and to the heating means to energize the heating means before and during the operation of the chime means. A switch initiates flow from a source of electric power, and the circuit has means whereby the power is formed into impulse currents actuating a striker operating upon a bell or tube. The switch may be a time switch or a push-button. As shown in Fig. 7, the apparatus comprises control motors 70, 72 and an impulse motor 71, the control motor 70 being operated initially from a pushbutton 123 to give a continuous succession of chimes, and the control motor 72 from a time switch 11 for the ringing of the Angelus. Pressing the button causes current from lead 87 to pass through motor 70 to lead 94 setting the motor in motion. At the same time, current passes by a shunt wire 125 to a relay 126 so that contact 92 is opened and contact 127 closed. The result is that current passes to a relay 111 closing contact 112 which then passes current to the valves of the amplifier 25 for heating them up. A cam 74 on the shaft 73 of the motor 70 closes contact 132 to pass current through the impulse motor 71, and a second cam 75 on the shaft 73 closes contact 130 to effect a locking-up of the relay 126 and to keep the motor 70 in motion, after release of the button 123, by current flowing through the shunt wire 125. A cam 77 on the shaft 76 of motor 71 closes contact 117 to keep that motor in operation, and the lugs 79 of a second cam 78 on the shaft 76 close contact 119 to pass impulse currents to a rectifier 16 and electromagnet 18 for operating the striker 19 of a tuned tube 20. The ringing of the Angelus at, say, 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m., is effected from the time switch 11 which, through contact 45 and wires 89, 91, 93, sets in motion the second control motor 72. On the shaft 80 of this motor there are three cams 81, 82, 83. The projection 86 of cam 83 closes contact 108 to effect the initial heating-up of the valves of the amplifier. Cam 81 closes contact 95 to put current through a relay 98 which closes contacts 99, 100. Relay 103 is thus energized to close contact 104 and open contact 90 and this relay then becomes locked up ; at the same time current passes by wires 97, 107, 93 to motor 72 to keep it in motion. Each lug 84 on cam 82 keeps contact 115 closed while motor 71 makes one complete revolution during which the striker 19 makes three strokes. Lug 85 retains the contact closed while the motor makes three complete revolutions effecting nine successive chimes. On the opening of contact 95 the current to the motor 72 is cut off, relay 111 becomes de-energized and the apparatus is rendered inoperative. The time switch is shown in Fig. 2. It comprises three radial arms 31 upon the spindle 30 of an electric clock 28 with a twenty-four hour dial. A trigger 39, fulcrumed at 40 and controlled by a spring 37, is adapted to ride up the ramp faces 35, 36 at the outer end of each arm to operate a spring tripping lever 41 which throws to and fro with a snap action a horned plate 42 on a cam 43 arranged to press a spring 44 against a contact 45. A circuit similar to that shown in Fig. 7 may be arranged to operate a carillon and may be coupled with the Angelus circuit of Fig. 7. The impulsator for the carillon circuit is shown in Fig. 5 and consists of spaced discs 60 of dielectric material upon a shaft 61 driven by worm gearing 67 from a motor 68, the discs' being filled with pegs 65 adapted to operate contacts 66. Each set of contacts 66 is connected to a striking-mechanism.