Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
venicies.
I, WILLIAM E. DYRE, residing at No. 505 East Capitol Street, in Washington City,
District of Columbia, United States of America Attorney-at-Law, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
;
My invention relates to signals; particularly to that class known as pneumatic
signals and is designed for use on vehicles in general, though principally on bicycles
to which it is especially adapted. It has among its objects, the production of cheap,
durable, and attractive device; capable of automatically sounding an alarm, when
desired with a marked degree of promptness and efficiency.
The invention will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification―
Figure 1, represents a side view of a bicycle with my invention applied in operative
position.
Figure 2, a front view of the signal.
Figure 3, a side view thereof.
Figure 4, a central vertical section of same, and
Figure 5, a front view of an operating lever applied to the handle-bar of a bicycle.
Reference being had to the drawing and the letters thereon, A, represents a cylinder,
preferably of cast metal, open at one end as shown in figure +, and having an annular
enlargement or bead a encircling the periphery of its open end. Cast integral there-
with is a projection B, located on the back of the cylinder; and extending from the
extreme top to near the bottom thereof; having a flat face as b, and provided with
parallel apertures C, C, piercing it from end to end, and serving to secure the device
in position.
To the head of cylinder A, immediately above an opening e therein, is secured a
whistle D, or signal of any description. While over the opposite end of said cylinder
is fitted an elastic or flexible diaphragm E held in position by a metallic ring F, having
a concave inner surface d adapted to engage bead a on the cylinder, with the elastic
diaphragm between.
To one side of the cylinder is riveted or otherwise secured a bracket of cast steel G,
having an outward bend e at a point slightly above the open end of the cylinder to
afford space for the adjustment of ring F. Extending downward a suitable distance
said bracket doubles itself about one third of its entire length, at which point it makes
another angle toward the centre, terminating in an enlargement H drilled as at f to
afford a bearing for a reciprocating rod as will hereafter appear.
Near the lower extremity of bracket G, in the two parallel members thereof, is
loosely journalled an axle g forming part of wheel I which is encircled by a rubber
tire has shown.
On the face of wheel I is a crank pin i which engages a link J formed on the lower
end of rod J¹ for the purpose of converting the circular motion of wheel I into a
reciprocating movement of rod J. This rod J¹ passes through aperture of which
affords it a substantial bearing and terminates in a screw capj serving as a plunger
when the signal is in use.
The construction of my invention being substantially as described, a convenient
application of it to a bicycle is that illustrated by figures 1 and 5 of the drawing,
whereby the lamp bracket K is utilized as a support for the signal. The bracket being
formed of unusual length with the additional material in the two ends below the
customary bonding screw, bent up as atk k, and passing through apertures C, C, of
the signal thus permitting a vertical movement of the latter on the former. This

page_text: movement is controlled by a lever L fulcrumed on the handle-bar of the machine,
similar to the brake lever except that the depending rod I consists of a tube which
surrounds the brake rod;, is bifurcated at its lower end; and encircles the head
of cylinder A, where it is rigidly secured; instead of communicating with the brake
shoe.
The attachment having been thus effected, the signal remains normally in the
position shown by figure 5 under the influence of the spring on the handle-bar. In
this location the device is subjected to the least possible vibration, an advantage readily
appreciated by wheel-men who have realized the annoyance of a bell secured to the
hindle-bar of a machine where the maximum vibration occurs, loosening the parts of
the bell, which as a natural result then rattle.
At the will of the rider my improved signal is set in operation as follows:-
The lever I is grasped by the fingers on the left hand of the rider and drawn toward
the handle-bar against the action of the spring thus communicating a downward
notion to the tubular rod and the signal secured thereto, until the tire on wheel I
comes in frictional contact with the rubber tire of the front wheel of the machine.
The machine being in motion, wheel I will now revolve, more or less rapidly according
to its size, thrusting the plunger jinto elastic diaphragm E which is thus stretched as
shown by doited lines in figure 4, forcing the air from the cylinder A, through a
whistle or other signal D in a rapid succession of blasts.
As herein stated preference is given, as far as is expedient, to casting in the con-
struction of the device, but I by no means limit myself to this form, as the cylinder A
could advantageously be made from a section of tubing provided with a screw-cap
bearing the signal. Or spun up from sheet metal, in which latter case, one half of a
whistle of the Hat form, could be made integral therewith, the other half being soldered
below.
Nor, do I limit myself to a bracket as G, of a particular material or shape as any
means of supporting the friction wheel I for operating the plunger j, may be employed
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is :-
First. In a pneumatic signal, the combination of an air chamber; a flexible
diaphragm and a wind instrument, substantially as described.
Second. In a pneumatic signal, the combination of an air chamber; a wind
instrument; a flexible diaphragmn; and means for automatically vibrating the latter,
substantially as described.
Third. In a pneumatic signal, the combination of an air chamber; a wind
instrument; a flexible diaphragm; and a reciprocating plunger for vibrating the
diaphragm substantially as described.
Fourth. In a pneumatic signal, the combination of a wind instrument; an air
chamber provided with a bead; a band adapted to engage the bead; and a flexible
diaphragm held between said band and bead, substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with a bicycle wheel, a pneumatic signal secured to the frame
of a bicycle mechanism for operating the signal by the momentum of the bicycle ;
and means, operated from the handle bar, for throwing said mechanism into and out
of engagement with the wheel, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of a bicycle wheel; a pneumatic signal; intermediate
operating mechanism; and a lever fulcrumed on the handle-bar provided with a
tubular connecting rod encircling the brake rod for throwing said mechanism in and
out of contact with the periphery of the wheel; substantially as described.
Seventh. In a pneumatic signal, an air chamber; a wind instrument; a flexible
diaphragm and a plunger for vibrating the diaphragm ; in combination with a wheel
and eccentric pin for reciprocating the plunger; substantially as described.
Eighth. In a pneumatic signal; an air chamber; a wind instrument; a flexible
diaphragm; and a plunger for vibrating the diaphragm; in combination with
mechanism for reciprocating the plunger; and a bracket for supporting said
mechanism and directing the plunger; substantially as described.

page_text: Ninth. In a pneumatic signal, an air chamber; a wind instrument; a flexible
diaphragm; and a plunger for vibrating the diaphragm provided with a right angular
link;
in combination with a wheel provided with an eccentric pin for engaging said
link, and reciprocating the plunger; substantially as described.
Tenth. In a pneumatic signal, an air chamber; a wind instrument; a flexible
diaphragm, and a plunger for vibrating the diaphragm; in combination with a wheel
and eccentric pin for reciprocating the plunger; and a bracket affording a double
bearing for the axle of said wheel, and a sleeve for directing the plunger; substan-
tially as described.
Eleventh. In combination with a pneumatic signal; a bicycle; a lamp-bracket
having its lower end bent up; a signal operating mechanism; and means for
throwing the latter in and out of contact with one wheel; substantially as described.
Twelfth. In combination with a pneumatic signal, a bicycle provided with a lamp-`
bracket having its lower ends bent up; a vertically movable signal secured thereon ;
an operating mechanism; and means for throwing the signal in and out of frictional
contact with the periphery of one wheel; substantially as described.
Thirteenth. In combination with a pneumatic signal, a bicycle provided with a lamp
bracket having its lower end bent up; an air chamber provided with a projection
thereon pierced by an aperture for engaging the lamp-bracket; a flexible diaphragm ;
a wind instrument; operating mechanisin; and means for throwing said mechanism
in and out of contact with one of the bicycle wheels; substantially as described.
Fourteenth. In combination, with a pneumatic signal, a bicycle; a lamp-bracket K;
air chamber A projection B. provided with apertures ()() for engaging the lamp-
bracket a flexible diaphragm E; a wind instrument D above an aperture c;
mechanism for converting circular motion of a friction wheel I to a reciprocating
movement of the diaphragm-vibrating plunger j; and means for throwing said wheel
in and out of frictional contact with the front wheel of the bicycle, consisting of
lever Land its connecting rod / surrounding and secured to the head of the signal,
substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of I
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.