An Improved Steam Whistle.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Steam Whistle.
I EDMUND LUNKENHEIMER of Cincinnati in the County of Hamilton and State
of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates principally to the method of supporting and adjusting the
whistle bell, and its novelty will be herein set forth and specifically pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents an elevation, partly in central section, of a whistle embodying
my invention in one form...
Fig. 2 a corresponding view illustrating my invention in another form.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the supporting arms for the bell.
Fig. 4an elevation partly in section of a chime whistle embodying my
invention.
Fig. 5 a vertical section of a piston whistle embodying my invention.
Fig. 6 a perspective view of the upper ends of the chime partitions.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the
figures.
Heretofore in steam whistles in which a single cylindrical bell has been supported
upon a base having an annular slit concentric to the bell, for the escape of the
steam against the lower edge of the latter, the point of connection of the bell to its
support has generally been its top. In most instances a central stem supported in
the base, has extended up through the bell and the latter has been screwed upon its
upper end.
In others, rods or standards likewise supported in the base, have
extended up on the outside of the bell and been connected by cross pieces or a disc,
to which latter the bell was connected at the centre of its top.
All methods of supporting the bell from its top are more or less objectionable
because of the difficulty of adjusting and maintaining the lower edge of the bell
concentric to the annular steam slit in the base, which is necessary to the perfect
operation of the whistle.
It is generally desirable to make the bell adjustable toward and from the base to
suit varying steam pressures, and to this end, as well as to afford a firm connection
to its support, it has been usual to provide the bell with a heavy cast metal top,
whether this top were screwed directly upon the threaded upper end of a central
stem or supported in some other manner. Extreme accuracy was required in
securing the bell to its support and when once properly and securely adjusted, the
lower end of the bell was easily thrown out of proper position by any accidental
shock or pressure.
Besides the cast metal top made the bell objectionably heavy,,
and together with the extreme accuracy of construction and adjustment required;
increased its cost.
In my improved whistle the bell is supported upon a central stem projecting
upward from the base and carrying radial arms whose outer ends fit against the
inner surface of the bell and to which the bell is secured by screws or rivets passed
through its sides..
F
This method of supporting the bell by its sides, instead of its top renders
unnecessary the heavy cast metal top; heretofore employed and permits one of light
sheet metal to be used, or if desired the whole bell can be formed of single piece
of metal of uniform thickness, pressed or spun into shape.
: :
Furthermore this method of supporting the bell by its sides upon the outer ends
of a number of radial arms carried by a central stem gives the bell a much firm..

page_text: support than where it is supported at a single point in its top and securely holds the
lower edge of the bell in proper position concentric to the steam slit in the base.
This is especially true where the bell is secured to the outer ends of the radial arms
near its lower end or at any point below its middle'as hereafter'described. In such
case too the central stem. may be short and needinotiproject up into the bell any
considerable distance, if at all; so that- the entire, interior of the bell may be left
free from obstructions. This is very desirable in some classes of whistles herein-
after mentioned and is another reason why the old niethod of supporting the bell at
its top upon a central stem extending up through the bell, is objectionable. In
whistles of this class it is generally desirable to have the bell adjustable toward
and from the base, to suit varying steam pressures, and in my improved whistle
provision for such adjustment is made either by raising and lowering the central
supporting stem (in which case the radial arms may be integral with or rigidly
secured to the stem) or by raising and lowering the arms upon the stem, as will be
hereinafter described.
In Fig. 1 the base of the whistle is composed of the bowl A, the steam pipe
connection B, and the central support C all cast integral. The part C is provided
with ports D for the passage of the steam from the steam pipe to the bowl A and
upon its upper end is fitted the circular disc E, the annular space F between
whose outer edge and the upper inner edge of the bowl A forms a slit for the
escape of the steam to the bell. A part C has a central threaded bore into which
is secured the lower end of the bell supporting stem G. This stem is provided at
or near its upper end with two or more (in. this instance three) radial arms H
extending from the stem to the inner surface of the bell I. Their upturned outer
ends fit against the inner surface of the bell and the latter is secured to them by
screws or rivets.
1
In constructing the whistle, after the stem G, and integral arms H are cast, I
place them in a lathe and turn off the outer sides of the upturned ends of the arms
to the exact internal diameter of the bell, preferably leaving shoulders at J, against
which the lower edge of the bell may rest, as shown. These upturned ends
of the arm H, closely fitting the inner surface of the bell and made of con-
siderable length afford guides and supports for maintaining the bell in true 'vertical
position.
A jamb nut Kis placed upon the stem G and bears against the disc E. To adjust
the bell toward and from the base it is only necessary to loosen the nut K and turn'
the hell by hand, which will raise or lower it according to the direction in which it
is turned, and it can be firmly secured in its new position by tightening up the nut K
again.
'A's before stated this method of supporting the bell enables me to dispense with
the heavy top for, the bell which has heretofore been necessary, and I can either
use a very light top, or form the whole bell of a single piece of metal, pressed or
spun into shape as shown in the drawings. In the latter case the entire outer
surface of the bell may be perfectly smooth and highly finished, and in either case
the external appearance of the bell is improved by the absence of the jamb nut
and the 'hollow ornament which have heretofore been necessary on the top of
the bell, to hold. it in adjusted positions and to hide the upper end of the
central supporting stem which projected through the top of the bell.
In the construction shown in the drawing the bell is secured to the outer. ends of
the radial arms H near its lower end, and its lower edge rests upon the shoulders J
of said arms. While this is a desirable construction; and serves both to hold the
lower edge of the bell firmly in position and to leave the interior of the bell free
from obstructions, yet some of the advantages of my invention may be obtained
even though the stem G and arms H extend further up into the interior of the bell
and the latter be secured to the outer ends of the arms at some point above the middle
of the bell. In such case the vertically extended outer ends of the arms H which
closely fit the inner surface of the bell, will maintain it in proper vertical position
nuch more securely than could be done under. the old construction, where the top
L

page_text: of the bell was screwed directly upon the upper end of a central supporting
stem.
In Fig. 2 is shown a modification in construction in which the supporting
stem G the disc E and the, part C are cast integral the latter having an
exteriorly threaded lower end by which it is screwed into the bottom of the
bowl or upper end of the pipe connection as shown. The base of the stem G
has a polygonal perimeter at L for the application of a wrench in screwing the
part C in position. In this case the arms H which supports the bell are not
cast integral with the stem but with a hub or collar M which is interiorly
threaded and screwed upon the upper threaded end of the stem.
The bell is adjusted up and down by turning it and the arms H upon the stem G
and is secured in adjusted position by the jamb nut K which in this instance bears
against the under side of the hub M.
Another advantage of my novel method of supporting the bell is that bells of
different lengths may be used with the same supporting stem and arms. Heretofore,
with the bell supported at its top upon the upper end of a central stem, or by the
upper ends of several exterior rods or stems the length of the stem had to
correspond to the length of the bell, so that a manufacturer in order to supply the
demand for whistles of different lengths, was obliged to make stems of different
lengths to correspond to the bells of different lengths. Thus a stem of one length
was required for an eight inch whistle, another for a ten inch whistle and so on.
Under my improved construction the same stem and arms may be combined with a
bell of any desired length so that it is only necessary for the manufacturer to make
one set of stems and arms for each diameter of whistle. When a whistle of a given
length is ordered, he can apply a bell of the desired length to the proper stem and
arms.
In Fig. 4 I have shown the application of my invention to a chime whistle. In
this instance the interior of the bell is divided into three longitudinal compartments
by partitions O carried by the stem G and preferably formed integral with the
arms H. The compartments formed by these partitions are preferably of equal
area in cross section but of different lengths, their tops being formed by segmental
webs P as shown in Fig. 6. The outer walls of the compartments are formed by
the bell itself, which is slipped over the partitions and secured to the latter by
screws, or rivets entering their outer edges as shown. The outer edges of the
partitions may be turned off in a lathe to the exact internal diameter of the bell.
The difference in the lengths of the three compartments causes them to produce
difference tones in the blowing of the whistle the combination of which tones
produce the chime. The bell may be adjusted toward and from the base and
secured in adjusted position in the same manner as in Fig. 1.
In the construction shown in Fig. 4 there are no distinct arms H the partitions
and arms being cast integral, but it is not essential that they should be so cast.
Indeed the partitions may be formed of sheet metal and properly supported upon
the stem G (by the arms H or otherwise) and the bell be secured to thir outer
edges as in Fig. 4, or be supported upon independent arms H.
I am aware that it is not broadly new to divide the interior of a cylindrical
whistle bell into longitudinal compartments by means of partitions similar to
the partitions O, but my improvement in this respect consists in supporting the
partitions upon the same central stem G by which the bell is supported in the
manner described, for this method of supporting the bell leaves its entire interior
free from obstructions so that the partitions may be cheaply made and readily
inserted therein, which is not the case where the bell is supported at its top upon a
central stem extending up through it.
In Fig. 5 I have shown the application of my invention to a piston whistle. In
this case the bell is supported upon the arms H of a central stem G adjustable in
the base, as in Fig. 1. At the bottom of the bowl A is an angle valve G of the
usual construction, having a steam pipe connection at R, and a lever S for operating

page_text: its stem. T, as is common in steam whistles of this character. Within and closely
fitting the bell I is a diaphragm U'supported upon a rod V extending down through
a central bore in the stem G and through the valve chamber, as shown. A stuffing
box W surrounds the rod at the bottom of the valve chamber, to prevent escape of
the steam.
Any suitable operating device, may be attached. to the lower end of, the rod,.to
slide it up and down in its bearings and move the diaphragm U up and down in the
bell I. When the diaphragm is, in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, the.
bell will give forth its deepest tones, and will sound a higher, and higher.key as it
is drawn down toward the lower, end, of the bell.
There is nothing novel in a piston whistle operating in this manner, and they are
in common use, but where the bell is supported. at its top upon, a central stem
extending up through it, the piston rod has to pass, longitudinally through the
central stem, nearly to its upper end; the piston, or diaphragm has toifit around and
slide upon the stem, and the latter has to be provided with one or more. longitudinal
slots through which the pin or screw by which the diaphragm.is secured to its rod
may pass.
:
To obviate this complicated construction some manufacturers have got rid of the
central stem, and left. the interior of the bell free and unobstructed for. the
diaphragm and its rod, by supporting the bell upon, rods. extending...on
the outside of the bell, as heretofore referred to, but this construction is not only
unsightly and expensive, but it is objectionable because the bell is. still supported
by its top.
It will therefore be seen that my improved method of supporting the bell.is
particularly applicable both to chime and piston whistles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central supporting
stem G, the, radial arms H carried by the stem G, and the independent bell. I
fastened to and carried by the arnis H, substantially as described.
2. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central supporting.
stem G, the arms H carried. by the stem G and having vertically extended,outer
ends, and the bell I fitting over and secured to said outer ends of the arms. H.
substantially as described.
↓
3. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central stem G, the
radial arms H carried by the stem G, and the independent bell: I.secured to and
supported by the arms H near its lower end, substantially as described.
4. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the. central stemn G, the
arms H. carried, by the stem G and having upturned outer ends provided with
shoulders J, and. the bell. I fitting over the. upturned ends of the arms Hand
resting upon the shoulders J, substantially as described..
5. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central supporting stem G.
the arms H, carried by the stem G and, adjustable toward and from the base, and
the bell I supported by the arms H, substantially, as described.
6. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central, supporting
stem Gthreaded at its lower, end and screwed into the,base, the arms H carried by
the stem.G, and the bell I carried by the outer ends, of, the arms. H, substantially
as described.
7. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central supporting stem G
and radial arms H, cast integral, the lower end of the stem being threaded, and
...screwed into the base and the arms H having upturned outer ends and shoulders J
and the bell I fitting over and secured to the upturned, ends of the arms Hand
resting upon the shoulders J, substantially as described.
111 }
8. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the, central stem Gathe

page_text: chime-partitions O carried by the stem G and having tops P, and the single
bell I fitting over the partitions O and supported by the stem G, substantially as
described.
9. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central stem G, the radial
supporting arms H, the chime-partitions O carried by the stem G and having
tops P, and the bell I fitting over the partitions and supported by the arms H,
substantially as described.
10. In a steam whistle, the combination of the base, the central stem G, the
radial arms H carried by the stem G, and the bell I formed of a single piece of
metal and supported by the arms H substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of June 1892
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.