An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Periodically Ringing Bells or Sounding Alarms or Signals and Registering the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug.. 1890°
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Periodically Ringing Bells or
Sounding Alarms or Signals and Registering the same.
FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 18 Percival Street Clerkenwell in the County of
Middlesex Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and very effective electrical
apparatus for periodically ringing bells or sounding alarms or signals and registering
the same or such ringing or sounding which will be suitable for use where-ever such
apparatus and effect are required and more especially on board ships and vessels or at
lighthouses or elsewhere for fog signals or otherwise.
To carry out this object I take any usual and suitable clock work mechanism on one
of the wheels whereof I mount a cam or a disc with a projecting lug by which two
insulated spring or other contact bars mounted on the framing or elsewhere can be
pressed together and this cam or disc is so formed and is so mounted on such a wheel
of the clockwork mechanism that those contact bars are pressed together and caused
to touch each other for such times and at such intervals as it may be desired that the
bells should be rung or the alarms or signals should be sounded. Two terminals are
erected on the base plate of this apparatus or elsewhere one of which terminals
is electrically connected with one of the contact bars while the other terminal is
electrically connected with the other contact bar and when a battery or other source is
electrically connected with these two terminals and while the cam or disc presses the
contact bars against each other it is evident the circuit is complete and the current
can pass therethrough.
In this circuit is enclosed an electro-magnet consisting of a bobbin of magnetic
material mounted in a non-magnetic frame on the base plate or elsewhere round
which bobbin is wound a coil of insulated wire which wire as aforesaid is in the
circuit. Near to and parallel or thereabouts with this bobbin is secured by one of
its ends to a suitable standard a spring bar of conducting material near the free end
of which is erected on the base plate or elsewhere a suitable contact post in such
position that when the current passes through the coil of wire as aforesaid and the
bobbin is thereby magnetized it draws the spring bar towards itself causing its free
end to touch the contact post. Two other terininals are also erected on the base plate
of this apparatus or elsewhere one of which terminals is electrically connected with
the spring bar while the other terminal is electrically connected with the contact post
and when a battery or other source is electrically connected with these two terminals
and while the electro-magnet causes the spring bar to touch the contact post it is
evident this circuit is complete and the current can pass therethrough and in this
circuit are enclosed the desired bells or alarms or signals which can be rung or
sounded in any convenient manner and by any usual and suitable appliances while
and so long as and when this circuit is complete as is desired.
To register this ringing or sounding I mount preferably on an horizontal axis a
drum whereon may be placed paper or other material or otherwise this drum is so
fitted that marks can be made thereon or therein and preferably such scales are
arranged that the times when these marks are made can be discerned and the aforesaid
clockwork mechanism causes this drum to revolve at the desired speed and a pencil or
other marking appliance is fitted on an arm mounted on a screwed rod extending
along parallel with the drum outside the perimeter thereof and revolved at the proper
times and at the proper speed by the clockwork mechanism so that the arm is slowly
caused to travel from end to end of the rod. In a convenient position near this drum
is erected another similar electro-magnet the insulated wire whereon is enclosed in the

page_text: first mentioned circuit and when the current as aforesaid passes therethrough the
insulated armature of this magnet which is mounted on a pivoted lever is drawn
towards this bobbin and through a suitable bracket or other device causes the pencil
or appliance to make the mark on the drum and continue such marking so long as
the circuit is closed that is to say so long as the ringing or sounding is effected.
Any suitable switches can be provided with this apparatus fitted with pushes or
other appliances especially on board ships and vessels whereby the hell or alarm or
signal can be rung or sounded at will without waiting for the periodicity aforesaid by
closing one of the aforesaid circuits in any usual and convenient manner.
Dated this 13th day of March 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Periodically Ringing Bells or
Sounding Alarms or Signals and Registering the same.
I FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 18 Percival Street Clerkenwell in the County of
Middlesex Electrician 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 :-
The object of this my invention is to provide a simple and yet very effective
electrical apparatus for periodically ringing bells or sounding alarms or signals and
for registering the same or such ringing or sounding which will be suitable for use
where-ever such apparatus and effect are required and more especially on board ships
and vessels or at lighthouses or elsewhere for fog signals or otherwise.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the same
_is_to_bo_performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have shewn a very
convenient form and style and arrangement of this apparatus.
Figure 1 is a plan of the base of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is an olevation of the one end and
Figure 3 is an elevation of the other end of the complete apparatus.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus.
On a suitable base A is placed or erected any usual and convenient clockwork
mechanism which I have not shewn in the drawing as it may be of any ordinary and
suitable character and for the purposes of this specification I will presume the same
to be enclosed in the casing a. On and to one of the wheels or spindles of this clock-
work mechanism is mounted and secured a cam or a disc B with a projecting lug b by
which cam or by which lug b two insulated spring or other contact bars Cand C¹ of
steel or other suitable conducting material mounted on the casing a or elsewhere can
be pressed together and be caused to touch each other as and when in the rotation of
the cam or of the disc B the projecting part thereof or the lug b comes round into
contact therewith. This cam or this disc B with its lug b is so formed and proportioned
and is so mounted on and secured to such a wheel or spindle of the clockwork
mechanism that these contact bars C and C are pressed together and are caused to
touch each other at such intervals of time and for such periods of time as it may in
each particular case be desired that the bell should be rung or the alarm or signal
should be sounded. Two terminals are erected on the base A or elsewhere one of
which terminals D is electrically connected by the conductors d with one of the
contact bars C while the other terminal D¹ is electrically connected by the con-
ductors with the other contact bar C. When therefore a battery or other
convenient and suitable source of electricity has been and is connected with these two
terminals D and D' and while and so long as the cam or the disc B presses the contact
bars and C¹ together and causes them to touch each other it is evident that this
circuit is closed and the current of electricity can pass therethrough but when in its
rotation the cam or the disc B releases the contact bars C and C₁ and allows them to
separate the circuit is opened or broken and the current of electricity no longer passes
therethrough.

page_text: In this circuit herein before described that is to say in one of these conductors
preferably as is shewn in the drawing in the conductors d' is enclosed and inserted an
electro-magnet consisting of a bobbin E of soft iron or other suitable magnetic
material mounted in a frame E' of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material
erected on the base A or elsewhere round which bobbin E is wound a coil e of
insulated wire the ends of this coil e being connected to the conductors d'.
Near one end of this bobbin E is erected on the base A or elsewhere a standard F
whereto one end of a spring bar G of steel or other suitable conducting material is
secured which spring bar & extends along the side of the bobbin E and parallel
therewith or thereabouts and near the other end of this bobbin E is erected on the
base A or elsewhere a contact post H in such position that when the current
of electricity as herein before described passes through the coil e and the bobbin E is
thereby magnetized and consequently draws towards itself the spring bar or
armature G the free end of this spring bar G touches the contact post H. Other
two terminals are also erected on the base A or elsewhere one of which terminals K
is electrically connected by the conductor with the spring bar G while the other
terminal K is electrically connected by the conductor with the contact post H.
When therefore a battery or other convenient and suitable source of electricity has
heen and is connected with these two terminals K and K' and while and so long as
the electro-magnet causes the armature G to touch the contact post E it is evident.
that the circuit is closed and the current of electricity can pass therethrough but when
the electro-magnet releases the armature G and allows its free end to separate from
the contact post H or that is to say when the current of electricity no longer passes
through the coil e by reason of the separation of the contact bars C and C¹ as
herein before described this circuit also is opened or broken and this current of
electricity also no longer passes therethrough.
In this latter circuit hereinbefore described that is to say in one of the conductors
between the battery or other source of electricity and the terminals K and K' is
enclosed and inserted the desired bell or alarm or signal which can be rung or
sounded in any convenient manner and by any usual and suitable appliances and
devices when and while and so long as this circuit is closed and the current of
electricity passes therethrough.
To register this ringing or sounding the apparatus now to be described is
constructed and fitted. On suitable standards Lerected on the base A or elsewhere
is mounted a drum M of the desired size and proportions by a preferably horizontal
axis m and on and round this drum M may be placed paper or other material
or otherwise in any usual or convenient manner this drum M. may be so made
and fitted that marks can be made thereon or therein and on the surface thereof
preferably are arranged such scales or indices or such longitudinal and circumferential
lines are drawn or other usual and suitable devices are employed and applied thereto
that the times when and while these marks are or are being made can be plainly
discerned and the clockwork mechanism causes this drum M to revolve at the
desired speed through the axis m or otherwise. A pencil or other marking appliance
is fitted on an arm N mounted on and round a screwed rod P extending along parallel
with the drum MI and the desired distance outside the perimeter thereof and the
clockwork mechanism also causes this rod P to revolve at the proper times and at the
desired speed so that the arm N is gradually caused to travel from end to end of
the rod P whereby the whole length of the drum M can be treated as aforesaid and
duly marked.
In a convenient position near this drum M another similar electro-magnet con-
sisting of a bobbin R of soft iron or other suitable magnetic material is mounted on a
bracket or standard S of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material erected on the
base A or elsewhere round which bobbin R is wound a coil r of insulated wire the
ends of this coil being connected to one of the conductors d herein before described
preferably as is shewn in the drawing to the conductors d' by the conductors d² so
that this electro-magnet also is enclosed and inserted in the first before mentioned
circuit.
"

page_text: Near this bobbiu R and parallel therewith or thereabouts is an armature T con-
si-ting of a bar or plate of steel or other suitable magnetic material suspended from
and by or attached to a lever V of brass or other suitable non-magnetic material which
lever is mounted on and secured to a shaft W extending along parallel with
the rum M and the desired distance outside the perimeter thereof on and to which
shaft W is also mounted and secured an elbowed bar X weighted if necessary to
counterbalance the armature T so that the shaft W carrying on the one side
the armature T by the lever V and on the other side the elbowed bar X may
be as nearly as is practicable or necessary in equilibrio and this elbowed bar X
is so formed and arranged that a prolongation n of the marking arm N when
in each and every position as hereinbefore described can rest thereon which
prolongation n is so constructed and if necessary is so weighted as to counter-
balance the marking arm N and keep or raise the same normally off the
drum M.
When therefore the first before mentioned circuit is closed according to this
arrangement the current of electricity not only passes therethrough as hereinbefore
described but also passes through the coil r and the bobbin R is thereby magnetized
and consequently draws towards itself the armature T whereupon the elbowed bar X
through the prolongation » causes the marking arm N to engage the perimeter of the
deum M and duly mark the same as is desired and this marking is continued while and
so long as this circuit is closed and the current of electricity passes therethrough but
when this circuit is opened or broken by reason of the separation of the contact bars C
and as herein before described and therefore the current of electricity no longer
passes therethrough the electro-magnet releases the armature T and allows the
inarking arm N to raise itself off the perimeter of the drum M and thus and in this
manner when and while and so long as the bell or alarm or signal is rung or sounded
asis herein before described-such-ringing or sounding will be marked_on_or in the
drum and be thereby registered.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing a very
convenient and useful style and form of this my invention and of the several parts
thereof and also very suitable methods and details of constructing and fitting and
operating and arranging the same but I would have it clearly understood that I do in
no wise limit myself exactly thereto for this my apparatus and all the several parts
thereof may be made of such shapes and styles and forms and such methods and
details of constructing and fitting and operating and arranging the same may be used
and employed as may be desirable or convenient or expedient in each particular case
having regard to the position and place in which the apparatus is to be used the hell
or alarm or signal which is to be rung or sounded thereby and the source of electricity
which is to be employed therein as well as the other surrounding circumstances.
It may sometimes and especially on board ships and vessels be advisable so to
arrange and fit this apparatus as to create and retain a possibility and a capability of
ringing or sounding the bell or alarm or signal at will without waiting for the
periodicity aforesaid that is to say for the rotation of the cam or of the disc B in which
case I can adapt and fit to and with this apparatus any usual and suitable switch that
will subserve this object and cause the same to be attained and I shew in Figure 5 the
plan of a switch board that would be convenient for use on board a steamship. In
this case it is obviously necessary for the full and complete working at all times and
under all conditions of my apparatus that thereto should be connected both a bell and
a whistle which must separately be enclosed and inserted in the second before
mentioned circuit or that is to say between the battery or other source of electricity
and the terminal K or K' and both these circuits that is to say both that wherein is
the bell and that wherein is the whistle pass in the usual manner through this
switch board the current of electricity being governed therein and directed there-
through by the switch and such usual and convenient pushes are also fitted in this
switch board and such ordinary connections are made between the same and these
aforesaid circuits in the regular and proper manner that when the second before
mentioned circuit is opened or broken by reason of the separation of the contact

page_text: bars C and C and consequent release of the armature G by the electro-magnet Ee
as is herein before described this circuit can be restored and closed by the proper
and desired push whereby the bell can be rung or the whistle can be sounded
at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A rotating cam or disc B with lug two insulated contact bars C and Ɑ" to be
operated thereby conductors d and d' between these bars and the source of electricity
and an electro-magnet E e enclosed in this circuit in combination with an armature G
for the electro-magnet a contact post H for the free end of the armature con-
ductors and k¹ between the armature and the contact post and the source of
electricity and an electric bell or alarm or signal enclosed in this latter circuit
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. A rotating cam or disc B with lug & two insulated contact bars C and C¹ to be
operated thereby a revolving drum M provided with a travelling marking arm N
conductors d d and d between the contact bars and the source of electricity and
electro-magnets Ee and Rr enclosed in this circuit in combination with an armature T
for the electro-magnet R with connections to operate the marking arm an armature G
for the electro-magnet Ee a contact post H for the free end of this armature con-
ductors and between this armature and the contact pcst and the source of
electricity and an electric bell or alarm or signal enclosed in this latter circuit
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
3. The electrical apparatus for periodically ringing bells or sounding alarms or
signals and registering the same substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in
the accompanying drawing.
Datad shi- 2012 1
. A
$11000