Improvements in Bells for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1896--Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bells for Bicycles.
I, AUGUSTIN LOUIS TAVEAU, 33 South Gay Street, in the City of Baltimore,
and State of Maryland, United States of America, Broker, do hereby declare
he 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:-
This invention relates to an improved bell for bicycles. The object of the
invention is to provide a bell with an exterior circular revoluble hammer-carrier
which shall be adapted to be brought in contact with the tire of the wheel whenever
it is desired to sound the bell.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which―
Figure 1 shows a portion of a bicycle with my improved bell over the wheel-tire
in position to be sounded.
Figure 2 is a top plan view on a larger scale of the bell device.
Figure 3 is a diametrical section of the bell device.
Figure 4 shows two views of one bell.
Figure 5 shows two views of one of the cup-shaped hammer-carriers.
Figure 6 shows a bell with a modified form of inward-bent lug.
Two small bells, A, A', of the gong pattern are employed, and these have position
with the cup sides confronting each other, but the two bells are separated by the
central part of the revoluble hammer-carrier.
The bells are stamped up from sheet metal instead of cast, and each has a central
exterior swell, b, with a hole, c, through it, and on the interior has an annular
face, b', around the hole; the rim of each bell has an inward-bent lug or projec-
tion, d, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This lug is formed on the bell by pressing
the metal inward with a suitable tool, and leaving a depression, d', on the exterior.
By thus making the bell of sheet-metal stamped up by means of dies and forming
an inward-projecting lug, d, on the rim by producing a depression on the exterior,
a product or article may be turned out that is both good and cheap.
cup-
The circular hammer-carrier comprises a wheel-part or rim, C, and two cup-shaped
disks, F, forming the center of said rim. One of these cup-shaped disks is shown
separately in Figure 5; each disk has a lateral rim, g, a central hub-flange, h,
projecting in the same direction as the rim, and a circular raised surface, i, centrally
around said hub-flange; an annular face, j, constitutes the base of the cup. The
side of the disk where the lateral rim and hub-flange are, constitutes the "
shape" referred to. On the opposite side is a cavity, k, corresponding to the said
circular raised surface, i. Two of these disks, F, are placed together, with their
annular faces, j, in contact and the two are secured by rivets, l, through holes, ',
in said faces. The two cavities k, thus form a central chainber, see Figure 3. The
two lateral rims, g, project in opposite direction and form the rim of a wheel, but
to cover and unite these two rims, a band or tire, m, is fitted around both-said
band having its two edges folded inwardly and each forming a hook, n, n', each of
which take over the edge of one of the said lateral rims, g.
A central tube, o, extends through the two bub-flanges, h, and fits within them
tightly, and is suitable secured by solder or other means such as a pin, p.
A spindle, g, does not revolve but passes loosely through the central tube, o, so as
to allow said tube, the two cup-shaped disks, and the band or tire to revolve this
spindle has reduced ends, 9', and a shoulder, g, where the reduction of the end

page_text: commences. The reduced ends. 9', project through the holes, c, in the two
bells, A, A, and the internal annular face, b, of each bell hears against one of the
shoulders, g, on the spindle, and a nut, r, on each reduced end confines the bell
tightly against the said shoulder. The ends of the central tube, o, are not
designed to bear tightly against the interior of the bells at the annular faces, b',
but, on the contrary, this central tube iɛ to be free or unconfined on the
spindle, so that said tube may revolve while the spindle and bells remain
stationary.
The circular rim or wheel-part, designated, C, is broad and surrounds and covers
the circular part of the bells. Of course the breadth of this rim may be varied;
in Figure 3 it is shown somewhat broadler than in Figure 2, but it may be narrower
relative to the size of the bells than shown in either figure. When broad it
guards the bells from splashing mud.
Lease hammers, s, are provided and are mounted on the circular raised surface, i,
of the revoluble cup-shaped disks, F, so as to strike the inward-bent lugs, d, on
the bells at each revolution of the hammer-carrier. These loose hammers may
vary in their construction from those here shown. In the present instance each
hammer consists of a small disk or ring, s, luose on a pin. 1, fixed on the cup-shaped
disk; when the circular rim or band, m, is caused to revolve rapidly and
continu usly the centrifugal action will throw the loose hammers, &, outward and
said hammers thereby strike the inward-projecting lugs, d, on the bells and sound
them.
The bells and the revoluble hammer-carrier are mounted in a suitable holder, u,
such as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This holder has two prongs or arms, ", which
take on either side of the bell device-one of the prongs take over each screw-
end, y', and bearing against the raised face, b, on each bell, aud the nut, r, already
mentioned confining the prongs to their position. A cross-bar, e', unites the two
prongs and the latter are pivoted at, 2, to a collar, w, which is clamped around the
post, a, or front prong of the bicycle. It will now be understood that the holder,
which at one end carries the bell-device, is pivoted at the other end so as to raise
and lower the bell device and thereby normally sustain said hell device elevated
above the pneumatic tire, y, or, when the bell is to be sounded, allow it to lower
and bring the circular hammer-carrier, C, in contact with the revoluble tire. Any
suitable means may he employed to enable the rider of the bicycle to raise and
lower the bell device and its holder. In this instance a cord, e, connects with a
bail,, attached to the spindle end, g; this cord extends up the front part of the
bicycle frame and is attached to a vertically-sliding bolt, :, movable in bearings
on a clip,, secured to the post, ; a spring,, keeps the bolt normally elevated
and the bell ormally raised so that the circular rim will not contact with the
pneumatic tire. By pressing the spring bolt down the circular revoluble rim will
contact with the pneumatic tire and the bells will sund so long as the bicycle is
running. It is to be underst od that the hammers to strike the bell, of different.
form and construction may be used. Als a different constructed holder, to raise
and lower the bell and its circular hammer-carrier, may be employe.l. Furthermore
one bell instead of two may be employed with the several features of my
invention.
Figure 6 shows a modification in the construction of the inward bent lug on the
stamped-up bell. In this figure the lug or projection comprises a tang or point, d²,
on the rim-edge and said tang bent inward as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a bicycle bell, the combination of two bells having position with their cup
sides confronting each other; two struck-up disks secured together and mounted
between said two bells; a circular rim larger than said bells and secured to the
said two disks; and loose or movable hammers operated by the revolution of said

page_text: two disks, whereby the circular rim and two disks may revolve continuously and
the bells be sounded.
2. In a bicycle bell, the combination of a fixed spindle having each end reduced
and a shoulder where the reduction commences; two bells each secured on one of
the reduced ends of the spindle and bearing against the said shoulders; two disks
secured together and revoluble on said spindle between the bells; a circular cim
larger than said bells and secured to the disks; and hammers to strike the
bells said bammers being operated by the revolution of the circular rim and
disks.
3. In a bicycle bell, the combination of a fixed spindle; two bells each secured
on an opposite end of the spindle; two cup-shaped disks each having a hub-part
and a rim larger than said bells and mounted on the spindle; and hammers which
are caused to strike the bells by the revolution of the said disks.
4. In a bicycle bell, the combination of a fixed spindle; two bells each secured
on an opposite end of the spindle; two cup-shaped disks each having a hub-part
and a rim larger than said bells and mounted on the spindle; a band or tire having
on each circular edge a hook which takes over the rim-edge of said disks and
thereby covers and unites them; and hammers wbich are caused to strike the bells
by the revolution of the said disks.
5. In a bicycle bell, the combination of a fixed spindle; two bells each secured
with their cup sides confronting each other on an opposite end of the spindle ;
two cup-shaped disks each having a hub and a raised surface, i, centrally around
said hub; hammers mounted on said raised surface; and a circular rim secured to
said disks-said rim being larger than the bells.
6. In a bicycle bell, the combination of a spindle; a bell secured on the spindle;
a revoluble hammer-carrier having a circular rim which is larger than said bell
and mounted on the spindle; a collar to take around the post of the bicycle; a
holder which is attached to the spindle and pivoted to the said collar; and means
to raise and lower the holder on its pivot.
7. In a bicycle bell the combination of a bell; a revoluble hammer-carrier
having a circular rim and mounted loosely on a spindle attached to the hell; and
a holder which supports the said bell and hammer-carrier-said holder being
vertically movable in order to raise and lower both bell and hammer-carrier.
8. A sheet-metal bell formed into shape and having on its rim a lug bent inward
by forming on the exterior of the rim a depression, as set forth.
9. A sheet-metal bell formed into shape and having on its rim a lug bent inward
by forming on the exterior of the rim a depression in combination with a revoluble
circular rim larger than said bell, and a hammer carried by the said rim to strike
against the said lug.
Dated this Ninth day of November 1896.
AUGUSTIN LOUIS TAVEAU.