Improvements in Bells.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Bells.
JOSEPH BOYD, 30, Dawes Road, Walham Green, London, M.D., I do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has special reference to the tongues of bells, and a more easy way
of ringing bells, whereby they are made far more effectual, and the jarring noise
produced by the tongue lying in contact with the bell, is entirely obviated.
To carry out my invention I make the tongue of semi rigid flexible steel, or other
suitable material, either in a flat piece or of strong spiral wire-to one end of
which is attached the hammer. To the other end-when the spiral wire is used--
as in handbells and the like-I simply screw the spiral on to the projection
inwards of the handle of the bell. On agitating the bell, we have at once a
pleasant sound without jar, and the tongue striking equally hard whether the bell
is elevated or depressed.
When the flat steel is found more suitable, the other end of the steel, is attached
to the end of a short strong lever. This lever projects through a hole larger than
itself in the shank of the bell, and pivots by a hole in its own centre, round a
pivot or axle bisecting the slot in the shank of the bell.
If the projecting end of the lever is now slowly elevated or depressed, the hammer
will approach but not quite touch, the ringing edge of the bell.
If however it is made to move smartly up or down, the flexible tongue enables
the hammer to reach the bell, and, the bell sounds sweetly and without jar.
A spring acting on the lever, enables the bell or gong to do twice the ordinary
work, for when the lever is depressed the bell is rung, and, when it is released
the force of the spring rings the bell a second time. This mechanism is very
suitable for foot-bells, and especially vehicle bells-the shank of the bell being
supported horizontally on an upright from a base plate, the other end of the base
plate-being hinged to a footpiece, which, when pressed by the foot, acts on the lever
of the bell and enables the operator to do double the work of any footbell now
in use.
It is evident the footpiece may act on the bell at a distance, through the
intervention of a wire and a spiral spring if necessary.
1000

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention has special reference to the tongues of bells, and such modification
of bells, as shall make them more effectual, and more easily rung, while the jarring
noise produced by the tongue lying in contact with the belt, is entirely obviated.
To carry out my invention, I make the tongue of semi-rigid flexible steel or
other suitable material-either in a flat piece, or, of strong spiral wire, to one
end of which is attached the hammer. To the other end-when the spiral wire is
used as in handbells and the like-I simply screw the tapered end of the spiral
on to the screwed projection inwards of the handle of the bell. On agitating the
bell, there is at once a pleasant sound without jar, the tongue striking equally
hard whether the bell is elevated or depressed. Where the flat steel is found
more suitable, the other end of the steel is attached to the end of a strong lever.
This lever projects through a hole larger than itself in the shank of the bell,
and, pivots by a hole in its own centre, round a pivot or axle bisecting the slot
in the shank of the bell. If the projecting end of the lever is now slowly elevated
or depressed, the hammer (through suitable limitation of the size of the slot) will
approach but not quite touch the ringing edge of the bell. If however it is made
to move smartly either up or down, the flexible tongue enables the hammer to
reach the hell, and it sounds sweetly and without jar. A spring acting directly
or indirectly on the lever, enables the bell or gong to do twice the ordinary work,
for when the lever is depressed the bell is rung, and when it is relieved, the force of
the spring rings the bell a second time.
This mechanism is very suitable for footbells especially vehicle bells, the
shank of the bell being attached to an upright from a base plate--the other end
of the baseplate being hinged to a footpiece, which, when pressed by the foot acts
on the lever of the bell, and rings the bell both when the foot is pressed down,
and, when pressure is relieved.
In tram-bells and the like which are fitted under the footboard of the vehicle,
the following modifications may be used. The bell slotted as before is cast or
attached to the upright only which is then bolted horizontally under the footboard.
From the upper side extends a funnel through the footboard, and which contains
the spring, and footpiece. The footpiece has a large head screwed on, which the
foot presses when ringing the bell, while the other end is pivoted to the end
of the lever which is bent at right angles to the tongue. The tongue can be
flexible, as already described, or rigid and hinged near the hammer end,--two
small projections limiting the movement. This hinging or pivoting of the tongue,
in this case, attains the same object in view equally well as the flexible tongue, and
is very important, as, by greatly reducing shock, it prevents the tongue breaking.
The accompanying drawings will enable my said invention to be readily
understood, and applied in practice.
Fig. 1 shews a vehicle bell in which the bell is attached to an upright and base
plate, while the footpiece and spring operate the bell in the manner already
described. The base plate is continued round the bell as a protection.
A is the bell, secured to the upright b, which forms part of the frame B, to be
attached to the floor or footboard in any convenient manner. C is the tongue or
clapper formed of flexible spring metal, and pivotted at c. D is a foot-piece jointed
to the base of the frame B, and so placed as to engage the rear end of the tongue C
and rock the latter on its pivot c, when depressed by the foot, or raised by
the spring d with which it is furnished.
Fig. 2 shows a tram bell with pivotted tongue, hinged near the hammer,
operated by a foot-piece with spring, as already described.
In this arrangement, the bell A is pendent from the footboard, and is not
provided with a protecting frame.
The
The foot piece D, which rings the bell in this case, is in piston form, and is
jointed to the heel of the clapper C, at c¹, the clapper being pivotted at c.
tongue or clapper C being in this instance of rigid, instead of flexible material,

page_text: it is provided with a joint at c³, which joint permits of sufficient movement to ring
the bell, which the rocking of the tongue alone, if the latter were unjointed,
could not effect, by reason of, its limited range of motion, as above explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The use and application of improvements in bells constructed and
operated in the manner herein described.
Second. In connection with bells, the use and application of tongues and foot-
pieces constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner substantially as
described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1898.
JOSEPH BOYD,
30, Dawes Road, London,
Newton & Son,
Agents for the Applicant.