Year: 1887

page_text: I, ALFRED NICHOLAS of Rose Hill Handsworth in the County of Stafford, Bell
Action Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists of improvements hereinafter described in the construction of
call and other ringing bells, whereby the said bells, or the cup shaped object, which
constitutes the ringing portion of a bell, is made to revolve or rotate against a loosely
suspended clapper, instead of the bell remaining stationary, and the clapper movable,
as is usually the case with bells of the ordinary construction.
I will describe my invention in connection with an ordinary call bell.
The bell consists of an ordinary cup shaped bell; or shell like object, with a fixed
central axis or stem, depending from the middle of its inside part, and which said axis
or stem extends preferably to some distance below the lip or terminal edge of the bell,
so as to give an extended perpendicular bearing thereto.
The lower end of the axis or stem, seats itself, and turns within a recess or socket
bearing, made in the lower part of the bell supporting framing, while the upper part,
that next to the inside crown of the bell, works through a bearing hole in the top
portion of the framing as aforesaid.
The top of the framing which comes within a short distance from the inside top of
the bell, is provided with a projecting bracket arm, and from the extreme end of
which, a loosely hung clapper is suspended. This clapper loosely hangs from its point
of support, by a head at the upper end of the stem; and which said stem passes
through a hole of larger size than itself in the end of the bracket arm.
By hanging the clapper as described, it is capable of moving out of the way or
swinging aside, on being struck by lugs or projections on the inside lip part of the
bell.
Thus the bell is supported upon a stem or pivot as a centre, while the rotation or
revolving of the bell, causes the inside lugs to strike the clapper, and so give forth a
wavy like musical ringing sound.
Instead of the bell being provided
have a bearing socket which takes
framing
with a bearing stem or axis as described, it may
upon a peg at the summit of the supporting

page_text: The bell may either be rotated by a button at the outside crown part, or it may be
rotated by ear or horn like projections, disposed either at the lip of the bell, or at points
midway between the lip and crown.
The arm of the clapper may be made of thin strip steel, and carried from the summit
of the supporting framing; so that on rotation being given to the bell, the strikers or
snugs on the inside lip part thereof, strike the clapper, and move it downwardly,
which on its reaction, again strikes the bell.
One, or a series of projections or lugs, may be placed on the said inside lip part of
the bell; so that a single rotation will either give one, or a series of blows; and the
oscillation given to the clapper, on the snugs getting passed it, gives an undulatory or
swinging musical sound as aforesaid.
In applying my invention to chiming bells, I support two bells or ringing cup shells,
with their lips coming nearly together, thus making a spherical like bell, divided
about its middle.
The single clapper is loosely hung from a bracket arm, so as to come midway
between the lips of the two bells; so that on the upper bell or the upper part being
revolved, its snug or snugs, strike the suspended clapper, and throw it against the
snug of the lower bell or part, which is fixed. By constructing chiming bells as
described, with one part fixed, and the other movable, with a stationary clapper, a
wavy like musical ringing sound is given forth therefrom, on the top part being
rotated, which is unattainable in bells of the ordinary kind.
Dated this First day of June 1887.

page_text: 1, ALFRED NICHOLAS of Rose Hill, Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Bell
Action Maker, 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 consists of improvements hereinafter described, in the construction of
call and other ringing bells, whereby the said bells, or the cup shaped object, which
constitutes the ringing portion of a beil, is made to revolve, or rotate against a loosely
suspended clapper, instead of the bell remaining stationary, and the clapper movable,
as is usually the case, with bells of the ordinary construction.
I will describe my invention in connection with an ordinary call bell.
The bell consists of an ordinary cup shaped bell, or shell like object, with a fixed
central axis or stem, depending from the middle of its insido part; and which said
axis or stem, extends preferably to some distance below the lip or terminal edge of the
bell, so as to give an extended perpendicular bearing thereto.
The lower end of the axis or stem, seats itself, and turns within a recess or socket
bearing, made in the lower part of the bell supporting framing, while the upper part,
works within a hollow pillar, or through a bearing hole, in the top portion of the bell
framing.
The top of the hollow pillar or framing, carries a projecting bracket arm, and from
the extreme outer end of which, a loosely hung clapper is suspended.
By hanging the clapper as described, it is capable of being turned out of the way,
or swinging aside, on it being struck by lugs or projections, on the inside lip part of
the bell, which revolves.
Thus the bell is supported, and turns upon a stem or pivot, as a centre, and on being
turned round, or rotated, its inside lugs, or standing out lips, strike the loosely hung
clapper.
Instead of the bell being provided with a bearing stem, or axis as described, it may
have a bearing socket, which takes upon a peg at the summit of the pillar, constituting
a portion of the supporting framing.
The bell may either be rotated by a button, at the outside crown part, or it may be
rotated by capstan or horn like arms or projections, disposed either at the lip of the
bell, or around the circumference.
The arm of the clapper may be-made of thin strip steel, and carried from the summit.
of the supporting framing; so that on rotation being given to the bell, its inside snugs,
strike and move aside the clapper, which returns, by the reaction of the spring, and
again strikes the bell.
One, or a series of projections or lugs, may be placed on the said inside lip part, thus
giving, either one, or a series of blows; and a corresponding oscillation or oscillations,
and a swinging musical sound or sounds..

page_text: In applying my invention to chime bells, I support two bells, or ringing cup shells,
together, with their lips presented near to each other, thus making a nearly spherical
bell, but divided about its middle.
•
In this modification, a clapper or clappers, is or are loosely hung from a bracket
arm, or bracket arms, so as to come midway between the lips of the two bells; and
on the upper bell being revolved, its snug or snugs, strike the clapper, and throw it
against the snug of the lower bell, which is preferably fixed.
Chime bells constructed as described, give forth an undulatory or wavy like musical
sound.
I will now proceed to describe with reference, to the accompanying drawing, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in vertical section, and partly in elevation, a call bell,
constructed according to this invention. Figure 2 represents a top side plan of the
said bell figure 1, but with some of the parts broken away, in order to better exhibit
the inwardly standing out snugs of the bell lip, and the position of the suspended
and flexible stemed clapper. Figure 3, is a transverse section upon the dotted
line figure 1, showing the pin and groove for preventing the upper part of the bell,
being disconnected or withdrawn from the lower part, or stand. Figure 4 represents
partly in section, and partly in elevation, the upper portion of the said bell, while
figure 5 shows the lower portion.
Figure 6 represents the chiming bell, of which figure 7 is a transverse section, upon
the dotted lines A B figure 6.
The inside lip snugs of the upper part, are shown in elevation, while the lower lip
snugs, are shown only in dotted lines.
Figure represents the upper part of the bell stem, working within a collar, thus
limiting the bearing to two points.
Figure 9 shows a portion of a bell, in which the upper part swivels upon the top of
the pillar of the lower part.
Figure 10 represents a clapper, whose arm is made from thin sheet steel, which
allows the striking snugs, to wipe past the clapper head.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding.parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
a is the bell, a the milled turn at the crown thereof, and a³ is a spindle, depending
from the middle of the inside of the said crown, and taking its bearing within or upon
a seat 62, of a stand b, whose hollow pillar c, extends upwards, and carries at its upper
part, an outwardly directed standing out bracket d, at the outer extreme end of which,
a clapper head e, is suspended, by a chain, or other flexible stem e².
The bracket d, is a fixture with the stationary stand b, c, and the normal position
of the clapper e is to hang vertically as in figure 1, and with its offside coming
within the range of a circle described by inwardly directed standing out snugs a,
on the inside part of the lip of the bell; so that on the said bell a, being rotated,
revolved, by its turn a², the snugs a*, momentarily strike the clapper head e, and then
wipe past it.
The striking of the clapper, and the wiping past it, of the snugs, impart two sounds.
Thus, on the clapper head being struck, it is swung inwardly, by the snugs getting
past it; and then subsequently swung outwardly, by the tendency to regain its normal
position, thereby giving the second ring to the bell, which is unattainable in bells of
the ordinary kind.
The stem of the bell, has a neck or reduced part a', wherein the inner end of a
screw a takes, and prevents the upper part of the bell from being disconnected
from the lower part.
In the chiming bell figure 6, a is the top and movable bell, a² its turn, a³ its central
spindle, a are the inside lip snugs. is the stand, c is a hollow pillar, wherein the
stem a works, and is surmounted by a fixed bracket d, carrying at its end, a clapper e,
and flexible stem e². is a lower and fixed bell, with inside lip snugs ".
It will be seen that the clapper head comes within the radius of both the snugs at of
the upper and movable bell, and ³ the lower and fixed bell; and which said snugs

page_text: are preferably placed at varying distances from each other; so that on the upper bell
being rotated, the respective top snugs, strike the clapper, which is thereby swung
inwardly, and then outwardly, by its own weight, striking both bells, and giving forth
musical ringing sounds.
In figure 9, the bell a, has a depending bearing sleeve' a', which works upon the
upper end ², of a stem c.
In figure 10, c is a pillar or stem, d is a bracket arm, e is a clapper head, and e³ is a
thin strip steel stem.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
First. A rotating or revolving bell, with a snugs or snugs a', upon its inside lip
part, which strike a clapper, with a yielding or flexible stem, substantially as described
and set forth.
Secondly. The ringing of a bell, by a hanging clapper, which is struck by an
inwardly directed lip-snug, or snugs, which are rotated with, and carried by, a
revolving bell.
Thirdly. A bell, consisting of a revolving top part a, with inside lip snug or
snugs a, a, and stem a³, which rotates within a pillar or frame c, carried by a base b,
and which pillar or frame c, carries a bracket d, with a loosely hung clapper e, at its
outer end; the bell is constructed, and the parts arranged, substantially as described
and set forth in figures 1 to 8.
Fourthly. In a chiming bell, consisting of two bells a, f, respectively provided
with inside lip snug a', f. The upper bell a, revolves, while the lower bell fis
stationary, (or the lower bell revolves, and the upper, is stationary) and is carried by
the base b, with a stem c, passing upwardly through its middle, and carries the clapper
supporting bracket. The bell is constructed, and the parts arranged, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fifthly. Mounting a revolving bell as described, upon a fixed pivot, as set forth in
figure 9.
Lastly. The combination with a revolving bell, having inside lip-snugs, of a yielding
and flexible stem, as set forth in figure 10.