IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR OPERATING FOG BELLS OR GONGS
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of the Firm of Wm. P.
Thompson and Co., Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention' of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR OPERATING FOG BELLS OR GONGS."
A communication from abroad by the International Fog Bell Company,
incorporated under the laws of Maine, United States of America, and having
a place of business at Bangor, Maine.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1881.
"
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of Wm. P. Thompson and Co.,
Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil.
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR OPERATING
FOG BELLS OR GONGS." A communication from abroad by the International
Fog Bell Company, incorporated under the laws of Maine, United States of America,
and having a place of business at Bangor, Maine.
This Invention consists of certain improved devices for operating fog bells, and
is intended to ensure the ringing of the bell in all weathers with an approximately
uniform interval between the peals, which interval may be regulated as hereinafter
described. This purpose is effected by mechanism operated by the action of the
waves and tide, requiring no attendants.
A shaft attached to one or more uprights revolves in journal boxes secured
thereto. This shaft carries a gear wheel not keyed in place as usual, but attached
thereto by a friction clutch mechanism, which when said gear revolves in one
direction bites upon the shaft, causing it to revolve, but when turned in the
opposite direction revolves freely around it. One of the journal boxes of the shaft
has secured to it a similar device, but operating to clutch and hold the shaft

page_text: As
stationary when the same has any tendency to revolve in the undesired direction.
A good device is as follows:-A ring of teeth is formed upon the face of a band or
cylinder surrounding but not secured to a block keyed to the shaft. This block
is provided with quasi-triangular cavities, one side being formed by the inner
surface of the gear band. In these cavities are loose balls, rollers, or trucks fitting
the wide part of the cavities, and revolving freely upon their axes therein.
the gear revolves from left to right the friction against the inner surface of the
gear band forces the balls or trucks into the narrow part of the cavities binding
upon the interior surface of the gear band, and causing it to carry the block and
attached shaft with it in its revolution. Per contra as the motion is reversed the
balls drop into the wide part of the cavities, and revolve freely therein upon their
axes, producing no effect upon the shaft, and allowing the gear to revolve freely
around the block.
The shaft, which has been described, is capable of revolution in one direction
only. It carries upon it a disc keyed firmly in place and provided with projecting
pins, which as the shaft turns are brought in contact with and press down the
end of a lever pivoted near the centre of its length, and carrying upon its opposite
end a striker, which is of course raised by the action of the pins, and as the disc
continues to revolve is released, dropping upon and ringing a suspended bell. The
gear is actuated by means of a rack attached to a rod, which rack receives its
motion from the waves or tide as before stated. The means of transmitting this
motion is adaptable, with but little change, to either a bell boat or stationary bell.
tower by or in the sea, the principle being the same in both cases.
In the bell boat, intended to be anchored off dangerous rocks, shoals, et cetera,
the standards (or if preferred a single upright) before referred to, are secured to a
boat or float of boiler iron or similar durable material near the bow or point of
greatest motion. This boat is preferably anchored by a chain or cable secured
beneath the keel at or about one third of the boat's length from the bow, as this
arrangement secures the maximum degree of motion. This chain is most conve-
niently attached to a swinging yoke passing around and under the boat, and having
its upper ends pivoted to the sides thereof near the deck. At the stern of this boat
is hinged a second boat or float in such a manner that as the waves act upon the
joined boats they will rise and fall alternately upon this horizontal joint. The
second boat has pivoted to it or to a standard the rack rod, which passes over the
gear before described, and may be kept in place thereon by means of a spring or
weight. The alternate motions of the boats communicate motion to the rack rod
and through it to the gear and shaft (in the desired direction only) operating the
striker and ringing the bell, as heretofore fully set forth. As the natural position
of the boat will be head to the wind the bell is preferably placed with its mouth
toward the stern of the boat, as in this position it is more effectually protected
from the weather.
For a stationary bell or bell tower the same shaft, gear clutch mechanism, and
rack rod can be employed, but it is preferable to support the same upon a single
standard properly braced. This standard is securely inserted in the bottom at
some point always covered with enough water to support the actuating float which
is secured to the bottom of the standard, preferably surrounding it, though this is
not essential so long as it is securely held in place and so arranged as to rise and
fall by the action of the waves and tide. To this float is attached the lower end of
the rack rod, which in this case may be perpendicular. This operates the gear and
other mechanism in the same manner as before, but must be of sufficient length to
allow for any rise or fall of the tide.
The rapidity of stroke of the bell may be regulated by varying the number of
ning in the disc

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1881.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Firm of Wm. P. Thompsou and Co.,
Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO APPARATUS FOR OPERATING
FOG BELLS OR GONGS." A communication from abroad by the International
Fog Bell Company, incorporated under the laws of Maine, United States of America,
and having a place of business at Bangor, Maine.
This Invention consists of certain improved devices for operating fog bells, and
is intended to ensure the ringing of the bell in all weathers with an approximately
uniform interval between the peals, which interval may be regulated as herein-
after described. This purpose is effected by mechanism operated by the action of
the waves and tide, requiring no attendants. It will be understood by reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of boat or float.
Figure 2, a plan with operating mechanism.
Figures 3, 4, details of clutch mechanism.
Figure 5, apparatus as applied to stationary bell tower.
Like letters refer to like parts.
a is a shaft attached to one or more uprights b, b, b, and revolving in journal boxes c
secured thereto. This shaft carries a gear wheel d not keyed in place as usual, but
attached thereto by a friction clutch mechanism, which when said gear revolves in
one direction bites upon the shaft, causing it to revolve, but when turned in the
opposite direction revolves freely around it. One of the journal boxes of the shaft
has secured to it a similar device at e, but operating to clutch and hold the
shaft stationary when the same has any tendency to revolve in the undesired.
direction.
A detail of an appropriate clutch mechanism to effect this result is shown in
Fig. 3, though I do not limit myself to this method of controlling the direction in
which the shaft shall revolve. At d is shown a gear formed upon the face of a
band or cylinder surrounding but not secured to a block f keyed to the shaft a.
This block is provided with quasi triangular cavities g. 9, 9, one side being formed
by the inner surface of the gear band d. In these cavities are loose balls or trucks,
and fitting the wide part of the cavities and revolving freely upon their axis
therein. As the gear revolves from left to right (as herein indicated) the friction
against the inner surface of the gear band d forces the balls or trucks into the
narrow part of the cavities binding upon the interior surface of the gear band, and
causing it to carry the block and attached shaft with it in its revolution. Per
contra as the motion is reversed the balls drop into the wide part of the cavities,
and revolve freely therein upon their axes, producing no effect upon the shaft, and
allowing the gear to revolve freely around the block.
The shaft a which has been described is capable of revolution in one direction
only. It carries upon it a disc h keyed firmly in place, and provided with pro-
jecting pins i, which as the shaft turns are brought in contact with and press down
the end of a lever j pivoted at k, and carrying upon its opposite end a striker
which is of course raised by the action of the pins, and as the disc continues to
revolve is released, dropping upon and ringing a suspended bell m. The gear dis
actuated by means of a rack attached to a rod (see n), which rack secures its
motion from the waves or tide, as before stated. The means of transmitting this
motion is adaptable with but little change to either a bell boat or stationary bell
tower, the principle being the same in both cases.
In the bell boat intended to be anchored off dangerous rocks, shoals, et cetera,

page_text: the standards b, b, b, or if preferred a single upright b, Fig. 5, before referred to,
are secured to a boat or float of boiler iron or similar durable material o near the
bow or point of greatest motion. This boat is preferably anchored by a chain or
cable w secured beneath the keel at or about one third of the boat's length from
the bow, as this arrangement secures the maximum degree of motion. This chain
is most conveniently attached to a swinging yoke q passing around and under the
boat, and having its upper ends pivoted to the sides thereof near the deck. At the
stern of this boat o is hinged a second boat or float p in such a manner that as
the waves act upon the joined boats they will rise and fall alternately upon this
horizontal joint. The second boat p has pivoted to it or to a standard r the rack
rod n, which passes over the gear d, and may be kept in place thereon by means
of a spring or weight. The alternate motions of the boats o, p, communicate
motion to the rack rod n, and through it to the gear and shaft (in the desired
direction only) operating the striker and ringing the bell, as heretofore fully set
forth. As the natural position of the boat will be head to the wind the bell is
preferably placed with its mouth toward the stern of the boat, as in this position it
is more effectually protected from the weather.
γ
For a stationary bell or bell tower I employ the same shaft gear, clutch
mechanism, and rack rod, but prefer to support the same upon a single standard s.
properly braced. This standard is securely inserted in the bottom at some point
always covered with enough water to support the actuating float t, which is secured
to the bottom of the standard, preferably surrounding it, as shown, though this is
not essential so long as it is securely held in place, and so arranged as to rise and
fall by the action of the waves and tide. To this float, as to the float p, is attached
the lower end of the rack rod n, which in this case may be perpendicular. This
operates the gear and other mechanism in the same manner as before, but must be
of sufficient length to allow for any rise or fall of the tide.
The rapidity of stroke of the bell may be regulated by varying the number of
pins in the disc.
Having now described this Invention and the mode communicated to me for
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and
desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. In an apparatus for operating fog bells the combination of a suspended
bell m, shaft d, rotating in one direction only, and operating a striker 7, with
a float p or t, and connecting mechanism subjected to the action of the waves or
tide, and transmitting motion to the shaft and striker, substantially as specified.
Second. The double bell boat herein described, consisting of the two boats
o, p, connected by a joint, one of said boats having the bell and striking
apparatus thereon and the other connecting mechanism n, whereby the motion of
the waves is transmitted to the striking apparatus, substantially as specified.
Third. In combination with the boat or float o the anchor chain or cable w
attached to said boat at or about one third of the boat's length from its bows,
either with or without the swinging yoke q, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the boats or floats o, p, the rack rod n pivoted
upon the boat p, gear j, shaft h, capable of revolution in one direction only, disc to
pins i, lever j, striker 7, and bell m secured to the boat o, and operating as and for
the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of August, in the year of our Lord