An Improved Electrical Striking Mechanism for Bells.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Striking Mechanism for Bells.
AUGUST ECKSTEIN, Electrical Engineer, Peel Works, Adelphi, Salford,
Lancashire, and HERBERT JOHN COATES, Electrical Engineer, Peel Works,
Adelphi, Salford, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved arrangement of electrical striking
mechanism and is chiefly applicable to large bells & gongs and is designed to
give a powerful blow thereto so as to elicit therefrom a full volume of sound,
and also to form a compact attachment which can readily be made weather proof.
In carrying our invention into practical effect we employ a suitably wound
solonoid attached to or supported by a plate or frame preferably of iron, from
which it may be suspended (if the mechanism is to be placed under & inside
of the bell). Inside the solonoid is placed a freely moving soft irou plunger,
prolonged at one end by a brass rod the end of which projects through a hole in
the supporting plate or frame; a two armed lever at the end of one of its arms
is pivotted to this rod, the other arm is suitably shaped, & at its end carries a
suitable striking hammer.
In order to allow the plunger a straight line motion, the lever fulcrums on a
link being pivotted thereto, the other end of the link being pivotally connected
to the supporting plate or frame. The lengths of the arms of the lever are
proportioned to suit the travel of the plunger & the distance through which it is
desired to move the striking hammer. The mechanism may preferably be attached
to the bell by means of screwed studs projecting from the supporting plate or
frame and passing through the top of the bell, being clamped thereto by nuts;
or equivalent means of attachment may be adopted. Two of the studs are
preferably hollow, through which connecting wires from the solonoid winding
are brought, and connected to suitable terminals attached to the ends thereof,
but insulated therefrom. In order to utilize more fully the magnetism induced
when the solonoid is energised, the outer pole of the plunger is extended radially.
by a suitable disc formed thereon, or attached thereto. The solonoid is pref-
ably enclosed in a brass or other suitable metal case so as to be efficiently pro-
tected from atmospheric influences. A. buffer spring is interposed to slightly
lift the hammer from the bell, after the blow is delivered, to prevent chattering.
The action is as follows:-
When the solonoid is energised by the passage of an electric current through
its winding, the plunger is drawn further into it, communicating motion to
the double armed lever, thereby lifting the hammer to the necessary distance,
the said plunger being allowed to move in a straight line with a minimum of
friction, by the link upon which the double armed lever fulcrums oscillating
on its centre of motion. When the circuit is broken, the plunger falls into its
normal position and the hammer at the end of the lever delivers a powerful
blow to the bell. The weight of the plunger, & of the lever it is attached to,

page_text: can be adjusted to give any desired strength of blow. The mechanism as described
is for single stroke ringing, but when continuous ringing is required, an auto-
matic contact breaker can of course be arranged to control the opening and closing
of the circuit. In some cases, as for instance when it is desirable to place the
striking mechanism outside the bell or gong, the said mechanism may be in-
verted, in which case the weight of the hammer and its arm of the lever would
be made greater than that of the plunger & its arm.
Dated this 31st day of January 1898.
An Improved Electrical Striking Mechanism for Bells.
AUGUST ECKSTEIN, Electrical Engineer, Peel Works, Adelphi, Salford,
Manchester, HERBERT JOHN COATES, Electrical Engineer, Peel Works, Adelphi,
Salford, Manchester, 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:―
Our invention relates to an improved arrangement of electrical striking
mechanism and is chiefly applicable to large bells and gongs and is designed to
give a powerful blow thereto so as to elicite therefrom a full volume of sound
and also to form a compact arrangement which can be readily made weather
proof.
Referring to the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a
bell fitted with the apparatus and Fig. 2 is a plan of the mechanism with its
support removed.
A suitably wound solenoid whose bobbin is shewn at (a) (a) in the figures
is attached to or supported by a plate or frame, b, preferably of iron from which
it may be suspended (if the mechanism is placed under and inside of the bell
as shewn in Fig. 1).
Inside the solenoid a is placed a freely moving soft iron plunger, c, prolonged
at one end by a brass rod (d) which passes through a hole in the plate or frame b.
A two armed lever e, e, at the end of one of its arms is pivotted to the rod, d;
the other arm is suitably shaped and at its end carries a striking hammer f.
In order to allow the plunger c a straight line motion, the lever c, e, fulcrums
on a link g, being pivotted thereto, & the other end of the link g pivotally con-
nected to the plate or frame at h. The lengths of the arms of the lever e, e, are
proportioned to suit the travel of the plunger, c, and the distance through which
it is desired to move the striking hammer, f. The mechanism may be attached
to the bell, 1, by means of screwed studs projecting from the supporting plate
or frame, b, and passing through the top of the bell, being clamped thereto by
nuts, or equivalent means of attachment may be adopted; two of the studs may
be hollow, through which connecting wires from the solenoid winding may be
brought to suitable insulated terminals supported on the ends thereof. Or the
attachment can be effected as shewn in Fig. 1, by clamping the studs to a plate
attached to the bolt m, which goes through the centre of the top of the bell, /,
and secured thereto by a nut, the bolt m being long enough to afford means
whereby the bell can be fixed in, position to its support.
The ends of the solenoid winding may in this case be attached to terminals.
as shewn at i, i, (Figs. 1 & 2).