Improvements relating to Electric Bells.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 23rd Dec.. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Bells.
I, GEORGE HORATIO JONES, of 57 Great Russell Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon Dentist and Dr. of Dental Surgery, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electric bells.
An important feature of my said invention consists in the combination with an
ordinary door knocker of any suitable description of a push piece or other device
for completing the electric circuit to an electric call or other bell, so that when
the said knocker is used the said electric call or other bell will be also rung or
operated.
My said invention comprises morcover means for ensuring the ringing or sounding
of an electric call or other bell for a given or predetermined length of time at each
operation thereof, whether the said operation be produced by means of the said
knocker or otherwise.
Great inconvenience is experienced in houses where the person whose duty it is
to open the hall door is unavoidably situated at a considerable distance therefrom,
and is frequently unable to hear the noise made by the said knocker, and con-
sequently fails to answer the door. Attempts have been made to obviate this
inconvenience by affixing upon the said door or in some other conspicuous place.
plates bearing directions to ring as well as to knock and the like, but these instruc-
tions are frequently neglected.
By my invention obviate the above inconvenience and ensure the call bell
being rung, and attention thus attracted each time the knocker is used.
In carrying my said invention into practice I arrange in the bracket carrying
the hammer or striker of the knocker and at the place where the said hammer or
striker is intended to come in contact therewith when used, a pin or push piece.
This pin or push piece is so arranged that under normal conditions one extremity
thereof projects a certain distance beyond the outer surface of the said bracket, and
is fitted with a spring or the like for maintaining it in that position. The other
extremity of the said pin or push piece is arranged in combination with suitable
contacts for completing or making the electric circuit to an electric call or
other bell.
Each time the hammer or striker of the knocker is used to give the requisite
blow upon the bracket the said pin or push piece will be forced inwards thereby,
the circuit completed, and the bell rung or sounded.
some-
In order to ensure the said electric call or other bell being rung or sounded for a
given or predetermined length of time at each operation of the said knocker I
times provide upon the inner extremity of the said pin or push piece a toothed rack
adapted to engage with a pinion the axis whereof is fitted with a ribbon clock or
other spring, and with a disc or wheel arranged in connection with a suitable spring
or other contact piece, and having a portion of its periphery cut away.
This contact piece is so arranged that under normal conditions it is opposite the
cut away part of the said disc or wheel, and the circuit is consequently interrupted
or broken, but when the latter is moved or rotated as hereinafter described it will
engage with the full portion thereof, and complete the said circuit. When the said
pin or push piece is forced inwards by a blow from the hammer or striker of the
knocker the said axis and contact disc will be rotated through a certain angle by
the above mentioned rack and pinion thereby forming or making contact and
completing the electric circuit to the bell which will be consequently rung or

page_text: sounded. At the same time energy is stored in the ribbon, clock, or other spring
which returns the said pin or push piece to its normal position, during which move-
ment the said contact disc or wheel is also returned to its normal position. It will
be seen that contact is thus formed or made and the electric circuit completed by
the said disc during a portion of its rotary movement in both directions.
In some instances I employ an india-rubber or other ball or a small bellows which
is compressed by the action of the hammer or striker of the knocker through the
above mentioned pin or push piece and which is so arranged in connection with
suitable contacts that the electric circuits will be made or completed thereby, and
the bell rung or sounded, until the said ball or bellows has slowly returned
to its normal or distended condition, when the said circuit will be again broken or
interrupted.
I sometimes employ a suitable accumulator or accumulators by means of which
I am enabled to provide for the ringing or sounding of the bell for a predetermined
length of time at each completion of the circuit.
In some cases I provide a catch or detent which when the said pin or push piece
is forced or pushed inwards so as to form or complete the electric circuit to the bell,
holds or retains it in that position and consequently rings or sounds the bell, until
the said catch or detent is released, and the pin or push piece permitted to resume
its normal position.
That portion of the circuit between the door and the wall may consist of a chain
or the like suitably covered with non conducting material thereby preventing
damage thereto from frequent bending through opening and closing of the said
door.
It is obvious moreover that I can further modify my improved apparatus without
departing in any way from the nature of my said invention.
It will be readily understood moreover that I can apply my improved device for
ensuring the ringing or sounding of-the-bell-for-a-given or predetermined
interval to any ordinary, or other push piece intended to be actuated by hand or
otherwise.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Coa
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
I, GEORGE HORATIO JONES, of 57 Great Russell Street in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon Dentist and Dr. of Dental Surgery, 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 relates to electric bells and consists in the improvements herein-
after described.
An important feature of my said invention consists in the construction and use of
pushes for call or other bells which do not allow the contact to be broken until
some time after the knob of the push or its equivalent has been released. I some-
times employ an ordinary contact maker and interpose between it and a bell or hells
a relay or governor to make a local circuit for a predetermined length of time. Or
I may use for this purpose a combination of racks, pinions and springs or train of
wheels with electro-magnets arranged to either set the train of wheels in motion or
wind up or stop the same; the said train of wheels actuating by electric or
mechanical devices bells or calls for certain lengths of time.
Another important feature of my invention consists in the combination of any of
the aforesaid apparatus with door knockers in such a manner that the operation of
the knocker will ring the bell.

page_text: the accompanying aray
Have SHOW HOW шу MY CHUO
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of one of my improved pushes complete.
Figure 2 is a plan of the said push with the cover removed.
Figures 3 to 6 are similar views showing modified forms of my improved pushes.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal central section of my improved relay or governor.
Figure 8 is an elevation partly in section of another variety of my improved
relay or governor.
Figure 9 is a plan of a third variety of my improved relay or governor with the
top plate removed.
Figure 9 is an elevation partly in section of another variety of my improved
relay or governor.
Figure 9 illustrates a modification of the same.
Figure 10 is a vertical central section showing a door knocker and electric
connections constructed according to my invention.
Figure 1 is a rear view of the same, and
Figure 12 shews a modified arrangement of my improved door knocker.
Like letters of reference denote, similar parts in all the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2,
a is the cover of the push button, a is the knob and a² is a spiral spring for
returning the said knob when it is released after having been depressed. The
lower end a³ of the said knob is rounded off and is in contact with an india-rubber
ball. The lower or inner half of the said ball is contained in a thin brass cup c
to which one terminal of the push is secured at c. The cup e is also provided with
a tongue-like projection for making and breaking the contact, this projection as
usual being provided with a platinum tip. The other terminal of the push is
connected with a thin arched brass plate ed against the under part of which contact
is made by the tongue . The lower part of the ball is furnished with a metal or
other suitable nozzle which projects through the brass cupe and the base d of
the push. In this nozzle is a small hole for placing the interior of the ball in
communication with the outside air. The said nozzle is covered by a cap 63 having
a small hole in the side or some other suitable place, and between the nozzle and
cap there is provided an india-rubber disc which acts as a valve.
The operation of the push is as follows:-
When not in use, the knob al presses on the ball and thus keeps the contact
piece away from the bridge piece. On pressing the knob, air is forced out of
the ball through the nozzle bi and a depression is caused in the said ball so that
the knob a after being released by the operator no longer presses on the ball
and the tongue e² then touches and makes contact with the bridge piece ³. Since
the air can only enter the ball gradually through the nozzle the depression in
the ball remains for some time after the knob has been released and allowed to
spring back by the operator. When the ball recovers or nearly recovers its
original distended shape it presses on the knob again and thereby breaks the
contact.
In
Figures 3 and 4 refer to a slightly different form of push which answers the same
purpose as the preceding. In this construction the knob or push button is secured
to an india-rubber inverted pneumatic cup or cone 6 in which is formed a fine
aperture 6 by three wires twisted together and passed through the said cone.
the base d of the push is a hole d' covered by a plate d² in which is a small hole d³,
the plate is covered by a flexible diaphragm and on the top of the said
diaphragm dare two contact springs which overlap. The plate d²
diaphragm d and contact springs are kept in place by a ring e which is secured
to the base d. When the knob a' and india-rubber cone are pressed in, air is
expelled round the periphery of the inverted cup or cone. The cup or cone & tries
to regain its original shape and a partial vacuum is formed inside it so that
air trying to enter the interior of the cone presses against the diaphragm dª and

page_text: contact is thereby made between the two springs c², c³, until the cone is filled with
air again through the aperture 2. Owing to the said aperture being small contact
is kept up for some time after the operator has released the knob.
In Figures 5 and 6 the contacts c² c³ are placed at the ends of two helical springs
which connect them to the terminals of the push. The operation in this case is as
follows, when the knob is pressed and the cone or cup flattened out the spiral
springs are pressed together and contact is made, which contact continues until the
cone has regained its original form when contact is broken. Thus contact is made
as soon as the knob is pressed and continues for some time after pressure is
removed.
In Figure 6 a variety of push is shewn which is of the pear shaped form.
², care two sets of contact springs arranged inside an india-rubber or other elastic
bag or bellows. This bag or bellows has a valve 1 opening outwards and only
admitting air into the interior of the bag with difficulty. The construction of this
valve may be similar to that of the nozzle in Figure 1. When the bag is squeezed
the air inside is forced out through the valve and contact is made between the two
sets of springs c² 3, and the bell is rung. On releasing the pressure air cannot get
in very quickly so the bag is some little time before it regains its former distended
shape. The springs therefore continue in contact for some time.
Instead of using an india-rubber ball, cone, or cup in the pushes above described,
I may use any suitable form of box made of any elastic material such as for
instance a corrugated metal box similar to those used in aneroid barometers, the
said boxes being constructed with a suitable valve.
Instead of the afore described pushes, I sometimes use a relay or what I some-
times term a governor such as is shown in Figure 7 in which is the coil of an
electro magnet of which is the tubular iron core and an iron jacketing tube.
Inside the core is a rod g made of brass or some other non-magnetic material. On
the rod.g a sleeve is provided which projects just above the iron tube The
armature of the electromagnet is formed of an iron disc which, when attracted
presses down the sleeve and thereby makes contact between the spring c² to which
the said sleeve is secured, and the spring The operator pressing for a short
time an ordinary push allows current to flow from a battery round the magnet in
the relay which is thereby energized and attracts its armature f³. The armature
pressing on the sleeve g' makes the contacts c³ to touch thereby closing a local
battery which operates to ring the bell. When the operator has released the push
button, the current no longer flows round the magnet but the armature-still.adheres
to the iron core and jacket for some time owing to residual magnetism and hence
during this time the bell continues to ring. I can alter the time during which the
residual magnetism is effective in retaining the armature in position by means of
various devices. For instance 1 can arrange to restore the armature to its former
position and break the local circuit, by means of a suitable spring the tension of
which can be regulated, or I can do the same with a weight, or arrange non-
magnetic material such as paper, gold-leaf or the like of various thicknesses
between the armature and core and jacket of the electro magnet or I can use a
polarized armature. I can regulate the magnetism of the electro magnet either
by altering the current by means of a rheostat or by varying the number of turns
wound on the said magnet or in any other convenient manner.
Figure 8 shows one of my improved relays or governors which is constructed to
close the local circuit for a predetermined length of time upon a momentary
pressure being applied to an ordinary contact maker. is a solenoid and 3 is an
iron plunger which is connected by a flexible cord to the periphery of a pulley h
The pulley is mounted on a shaft which is also adapted to carry by means of a
clip a sand glass & similar to those used in ordinary egg boilers. When not in use
the sand glass k has the position shown by the full lines but when a current is sent
round the electro magnet the plunger is drawn into it and rotates the shaft h
by means of the flexible cord and pulley until the sand glass takes the position

page_text: shown by the dotted lines. During the operation, the hammer strikes the rod c³
and contact is made at c² c³. The sand having run through, tilts the glass over
and breaks the circuit by reason of the hammer striking the rod c which rod
acts on the end of a lever c and pulls the rod away from the contacts c³ ³.
This reversal of the glass also pulls the plunger out of the coil thus leaving the
apparatus in a state ready to act again. The switch is closed at during the
time the sand is running through the glass and this time can be arranged to suit
the requirements by proportioning the size of glass and amount of sand in said glass,
or by a counter-weight attached to the sand glass or hammer. In Figure 9 which
shows another variety of my improved relay or governor, is the field magnet
coil of a small electric motor and are small iron bars which form the armature
of the same, is a toothed wheel which is fixed to the armature shaft and is a
fly mounted on a shaft m having a pinion m² which engages with the toothed
wheel l. The fly mis mounted on the shaft m² with a spring controlled clutch so
that when the wheel causes the pinion to rotate in one direction the flym is
not forced to rotate, but if the wheel rotates in the opposite direction, the spring
clutch is actuated by the pinion m² and the fly 'm is thereby rotated. e is a spring
which has at the end a contact piece c². A. flexible cord is attached to the spring c
by means of a hook the other end of the said cord being secured to the
armature shaft. 3 is another contact piece which together with spring cand
contact form a part of a local bell circuit. The action of this device is as
follows. When a momentary current is sent through the motor field magnet the
armatures are attracted and the toothed wheel and shaft l' rotate thereby winding
up the flexible cord * and pulling the spring c so that contact is made at c² and c³.
The bell in the local circuit is thus rung by the local battery. The toothed
wheel turns the pinion m² and shaft m' but the spring-clutch m³ is so adjusted
that the fly m is not rotated. The momentary contact being broken the motor
stops and the cord e and spring pulling on the axle rotate the toothed
wheel in the opposite direction thereby turning the pinion m² and shaft m'.
The spring clutch then acts to cause the fly m to rotate. This fly operates as a
drag and consequently the motor does not rotate as fast as it did when it was
actuated in the other direction by the momentary current. The motor gradually
returns to its former position but while it is doing so the local circuit is still closed
until the spring contact c² leaves the contact e³. Thus although a momentary
pressure only is applied to the push, the contact ce³ are closed and bell rung by
focal battery for some longer time.
I may also construct a convenient and cheap form of relay or governor in the
following manner that is to say I provide a coil Figure 9 wound in a smooth
metal tube with a well fitting iron or steel tube 3 inside to serve as a plunger, the
tube of the coil being closed at the bottom. The plunger is closed at the top and
provided with a valve similar to that shown in Figure 1. The said plunger is kept
in its normal position almost entirely outside the tubular coil by a suitable spring,
but on a momentary current being sent round the coil, the plunger is drawn quickly
into the coil, and contact is made between two contact pieces. As the plunger
descends air is forced out through the valve . The spring tends to return the
plunger to its normal position but it will only be able to raise the plunger slowly
when the current is cut off from the coil because the air can with difficulty enter
by the valve into the tube. The contact pieces C2 C3 are arranged to touch each
other as long as the spring is extended that is until the plunger has resumed its
normal position.
I may construct a different form of relay or governor as shown in Figure 9. In
this figure, is a coil in which is a plunger attached to one end of a balance
beam P which is pivoted at p. To the other end 2 of the bean is attached a
plate on the upper side of which rests an india-rubber or suitable elastic box or
bellows having a valve or nozzle 6' similar to that shewn in Figure 1. When the
plunger is drawn into the coil by a momentary current being sent around the

page_text: .
latter the plate p³ is raised and compresses the bellows b, air rushing out of the said
bellows by the valve . The raising of the plate p³ allows the contact spring c²
to touch and make contact with spring and thus close a local circuit and ring a
bell, and this will continue until the bellows regains its distended shape, which
occupies some little time, as the air can but slowly enter through a small
aperture.
Instead of using one of my improved relays or governors I sometimes provide
on the inner extremity of a pin or push piece a toothed rack adapted to engage
with a pinion the axis whereof is fitted with a ribbon, clock or other spring and
with a disc or wheel arranged in connection with a suitable spring or other contact
piece and having a portion of its periphery cut away. This contact piece is so
arranged that under normal conditions it is opposite the cut away portion of the
said disc or wheel and the circuit is consequently broken but when the latter is
moved by reason of the rack being pushed in, the spring contact piece will engage
with the full portion of the disc or wheel and thus complete the circuit as long as
the rack is pushed out of its norinal position. Or I may construct a pendulum,
train of wheels or the like which is set in motion for a predetermined length of
time by a suitable electro-magnetic device actuated by an electric current which is
allowed to flow when contact is inade by an ordinary contact maker or one of my
improved pushes or by a knocker specially constructed as afterwards described.
The train of wheels may either ring the bell mechanically or operate to close a local
circuit for a certain length of time, there being an electric bell included in the said
local circuit. I may so arrange that an ordinary electric clock movement is put
into motion when contact is made in the usual manner the said movement when
running making the local circuit and ringing the bell as above described, and the
mechanism may be made self winding in the manner of an ordinary electric self-
winding clock or may be wound up by the attendant in the act of pushing back
the ordinary indicator lever or it may be wound up mechanically. The pendulum,
or train of wheels may be arranged so that when once set in motion the bell_keeps
on ringing either continuously or intermittently until the mechanism is stopped by
a lever. The devices for stopping the train of wheels or the like may be arranged
so that they when operated rewind it.
I sometimes combine with the aforesaid push-pieces or relays or governors, a
door knocker so arranged that the act of operating the knocker will actuate the
pushes or make connection with the relay or governor and so ring the bell in
addition to knocking on the door plate. I sometimes however dispense with the
pushes and relays and arrange the knocker so that its operation-will-close. the bell
circuit and ring the bell. Such an arrangement I have shown in Figures 10 and 11
in which is the knocker pivoted in the usual way at n'. Secured to the pivot or
in one piece, with the knocker n, is a short arm or lever n² the end of which
carries a spring n having a contact piece at the end ². is a plate having a
metallic facing preferably of platinum, n³ is a spring intended to assist in main-
taining the knocker in the vertical position in which position the contact c² does
not touch the plate c. When the knocker is raised from its striking plate, the
spring contact ² touches the plate c³ and thus completes an electric circuit and a
bell is rung. The dotted lines in Figure 10 show the knocker in a raised position.
Obviously instead of having a spring n' with a contact at its end fixed to the
lever n, I may use this lever as a push knob to operate on one of my improved
pushes or any ordinary kind of contact maker suitable for the purpose. Also I
may use any suitable relay or governor in connection with a battery circuit which
is closed by the knocker for a long or a short time. Another method of con-
structing a knocker is shown in Figure 12. When the knocker is raised the lever n
depresses the end of a rod c, which is pivoted at c¹ close to the said lever n². At
the other end of the rod c is a spring contact c² which touches the contact c³
when the rod is partly rotated by the raising of the knocker. As long as the
contacts c² and c³ are touching an electric bell is rung.

page_text: Or I may provide the bracket of the knocker with a pin or push piece the said
pin or push piece being so arranged that when the knocker is in its ordinary position
its weight keeps the push piece pressed in and thus prevents contact being made
by the contact pieces. When however the knocker is raised, the said pin or push
piece is forced out by a spring and allows contact to be made, and the bell to be
rung. It is obvious that such a pair of spring contacts operating when the knocker
is raised may be placed in connection with any suitable part of the knocker if
required, either with or without using the aforesaid pin or push piece. I may
construct, the knocker in such a manner as to ordinarily close a main circuit in
which a feeble current is always flowing, and so arrange that when the knocker is
raised, the said main circuit is broken and a relay or governor is actuated so that a
local bell circuit is closed and a bell or gong is sounded as often as the knocker is
raised.
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 :-
First. In combination with an electric bell a push so constructed and arranged
that when the said push is operated and then released, the bell will continue to
ring for a predetermined length of time and will then automatically cease
ringing.
Second. The combination with an electric bell and a push of a relay or governor,
so constructed and arranged that when the push is operated and then released the
said relay or governor closes a local circuit containing the bell for a predetermined
length of time and then automatically breaks the said local circuit, for the purpose
specified.
Third. A push having an elastic air chamber in connection with its knob or
button, said chamber being provided with a valve or a small opening, and which,
when the push is operated is partially exhausted of air and acts to close the circuit
and to maintain the circuit closed for some time after the knob or button is released,
for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A push having an elastic air chamber in combination with a flexible
diaphragm, said chamber being provided with a valve or a small opening, which
together when the push is operated act to close the circuit and to maintain the
circuit closed for some time after the push button is released, substantially as and
for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. A relay or governor for an electric bell circuit constructed with an electro-
magnet of such form as to retain a large amount of residual magnetism after
current is cut off, and having its armature adapted to maintain electric connection
between two contact springs as long as the said armature is attracted by the said
electromagnet, the time of such attraction being determined by a suitable mechanical
or electromagnetic device, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a relay or governor for an electric bell circuit, the combination of a
solenoid, an iron plunger which is attracted into the said solenoid when a current is
sent round the latter, a sand glass mounted on a pivot so as to be rotated when the
said plunger is attracted, and a hammer attached to the said sand glass adapted to
make and break connection between two contact pieces when the said sand glass is
rotated on its pivot, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Seventh. A relay or governor for an electric bell circuit constructed with an
electro-motor geared to a fly in such a manner that the fly rotates when the motor
is revolved in the one direction but not if the motor is revolved in the opposite
direction, the motor spindle being adapted to maintain contact between two spring
contact pieces as long as the said spindle rotates, substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Eighth. The combination with a door knocker of a spring contact piece adapted
to make and break an electric circuit when the said knocker is operated substantially
as described in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

page_text: Ninth. The various devices constructed substantially as herein described and
also as shown in the accompanying drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.