Improvements in Alarm Bells.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alarm Bells.
1, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Charles E. Carroll, of New Haven,
Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer), and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My invention has for its object to provide an alarm bell for bicycles or other
uses requiring particular adaptation of the mechanism for portability and exposure
to weather.
The improvements consist in the novel combination and arrangement of a pair of
gongs or cupped bells, and an annular encircling band, forming an enclosing case
for the actuating mechanism, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved alarm bell, shown attached to the
handle of the steering mechanism of a bicycle.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the bell removed to show the
interior construction of the device, and the alarm mechanism, and
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line a, a, Fig. 3.
Referring to the drawings, the reference letters A, A³, respectively designate
the plates or sides of a supporting frame, B, which side plates are arranged
parallel to each other and connected or secured together by suitable transverse
rivet rods c, passing through the plates and riveted over at the ends, as shown.
The supporting frame suspended within an encircling band D, which is provided
with interior radial suspending arms e, having their inner ends perforated to receive
the rivet rods c. The said rods are each formed with a shoulder at the ends
adjacent to the frame A¹, against which the frame is held by the end of the rod
being riveted over as shown, whereby all the rods are made stationary in the said
plate. Suitable pins i are passed through the rods to form shoulders against which
the radial arms abut on the side opposite the plate A', and suitable sleeves g are
slipped on the rods between the riveted arms and the plate A, forming shoulders
against which the said plate A abuts and is held by the riveted ends of the rods,
as shown. Thus arranged the supporting frame is firmly fastened and suspended
within the encircling band D. The plate A¹ is formed with a central outwardly
projecting hub H' having a screw threaded boss k¹ on the end thereof, and the
plate A has a corresponding hub H. Each of the hubs is perforated throughout
its length, to provide bearings for the reception of the central main spring
arbor m of the clockwork mechanism, both of said journals being in alignment, and
at right angles to the encircling band D.
A
A gong or cup-shaped bell T¹ having a central perforation n¹ fitting the boss k¹
is supported upon the said boss, secured in place by the nut p¹, and having its
flange or rim inserted within the encircling band D adjacent to the arms e.
similar gong T is secured to the hub H, by means of a screw p inserted through
its central perforation n and screwed into the hub, clamping the bell firmly against
the end thereof, and securing it with its flange or rim inserted within the band D
from the side opposite the bell flange r'. Thus arranged the gongs and their
encircling band form a case E, which is ornamental in design, and well adapted
for portability and exposure to weather, and is sufficiently proof against the
admission of dirt or rain to the mechanism within the case.
The arbor m projects through the hub H' and is provided with a thumb piece h*

page_text: screwed thereon, by which it may be turned. A cog wheel S is secured on the
arbor, and suitable gearing may be arranged intermediate of the said wheel S and
an escapement wheel u, and be driven by a suitable motor spring on the arbor m,
all of which mechanism is ordinary clock work well known and here needs no
further description.
A suitable escapement or detent device u' is arranged to vibrate in engagement
with the wheel u, on a rock shaft u², journalled through the plates A, A', to which
rock shaft a pair of arms us are suitably fastened and provided with hammers,
at their ends, and arranged in position to strike the flanges of the gongs.
The rock shaft also carries a bent arm us, the end of which is normally in
engagement with a lever R³ arranged through the encircling band D and fulcrummed
on a pivot inserted through a suitable projection on the inner side of the band.
A spring secured on the supporting frame is arranged in engagement with the
inner end of the lever R and adapted to hold the lever outward against the end
of the arm u. In operation when the opposite end 2 of the lever is raised, the
escapement mechanism is thereby freed, and the hammers u will be vibrated and
repeatedly struck against the gongs, actuated by the clock work. For this purpose
the lever R2 is so placed that its outer end will hang in position to be readily lifted
with the thumb, when the bicycle handle Z is held in the grasp and the alarm bell
is fastened thereon by means of the flange c¹ on the band D and the clip C³ and
suitable screws C³.
It will be seen that the novel enclosing case formed by the peculiar arrangement
of its pair of bells and the encircling band is well adapted for use as an ordinary
call bell, door bell or alarm of any kind, and that the spring actuated clock work
may be wholly dispensed with, and only the hammers and the rock shaft left to
remain as indoor or call bells which are not "winding" alarms, but actuated by
pressing the hammer either directly or pressing suitable mechanism connected with
the hammer, the clock work forming no part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an alarm bell, the combination of the supporting frame, the pair of gongs
or cup shaped bells arranged with their flanges or rims in juxtaposition and
respectively secured at their centres upon projecting arms or hubs on the said
supporting mechanism, and the band encircling the flanges of the bells and covering
the joint between them, and secured to the supporting mechanism by arms projecting
through said joint, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
2. In an alarm bell for bicycles, the combination of the supporting frame,
consisting of the side plates A, A', and connecting rivet rods, the side plates being
provided with the hubs H, H', the encircling band D, having the radial arms
supporting the said rivet rods and frame, the pair of gongs or cup bells T, T¹,
respectively attached or secured on the said hubs, with their flanges or rings
entered within the said encircling band to form an enclosing case for the bell
mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1891.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.