IMPROVEMENTS IN BELLS FOR PROAL
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrison of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Machinist for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BELLS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1882.
JOHN HARRISON of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Machinist
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BELLS FOR BICYCLES TRICYCLES AND SIMILAR MACHINES
"
These improvements consist in forming the clapper of the bell as a rod carrying
the ball or striker as usual at its lower end and having another ball or projection
at its upper end arranged so that a lever arın working upon a pivot upon the
outside of the bell can be moved so as to clutch the top of the clapper rod and
hold the clapper in a rigid position and prevent the bell from ringing. Or there
may be a ring or loop at the upper end of the clapper rod so arranged that by
moving the lever a hook or projection upon it will lock into the ring or loop and
hold the clapper.
Another way in which the clapper may be held in a rigid position at will is
by forming the bell with the clapper rod passing through its top and attaching
to the outside of the bell a thumb piece or button constructed so that it may be
turned and locked into the upper end of the clapper rod and thus prevent the clapper
moving until again released.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February
1883.
JOHN HARRISON of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manufacturer
IMPROVEMENTS IN BELLS FOR BICYCLES TRICYCLES AND SIMILAR. MACHINES.
These Improvements consist in forming the clapper of the bell as a rod carrying
the ball or striker as usual at its lower end and having another ball or projection
at its upper end arranged so that a lever arm working upon a pivot upon the
outside of the bell can be moved so as to clutch the top of the clapper rod and
hold the clapper in a rigid position and prevent the bell from ringing. Or there
may be a ring or loop at the upper end of the clapper rod arranged so that by
moving the lever a hook or projection upon it will lock into the ring or loop and
hold the clapper. Another way in which the clapper may be held in a rigid
position at will is by forming the bell with the clapper rod passing through
its top and attaching to the outside of the bell a thumb piece or button constructed
so that it may be turned and locked into the upper end of the clapper rod and thus
prevent the clapper moving until again released.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention more fully by aid of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fig. 1 shews a view of my Improved Bell in Perspective, Fig. 2 a part section
of the same.
(A) is the bell (B) the clapper having at its upper end a knob or ball (C) which
works through the aperture (E) Fitting over the knob (C) is a lever arm (F¹)
shewn in Plan of underside at Fig. 3 being cut out underneath to form a hollow (D)
for the knob or ball to work in, and an eccentric slot (E¹) working over a pin
at (F) Fig 2. This lever arm works by means of a screw or pivot (G) Fig 2 upon
the bracket (H). The lever arm (F¹) when turned clutches the knob or bal! (C) on
the top of the clapper rod by reason of the eccentric slot (E¹) and thus holds it in
a rigid position so that the bell cannot ring.
Or as shewn in Fig. 4 the same form of clapper may be used and held rigid by
means of a hook (I) which working through a hole in the top of the bell catches
round the clapper rod and when the lever arm is turned the said hook on the
lever arm draws the clapper against the side of the bell and prevents the same
from ringing.
Fig. 5. shews another way in which the
In this arrangement the top portion of the
Plan Fig. 6. to receive the piece of metal
disc (M) is over the top (C) of the clapper
spring shewn at (0) Fig. 6.
lever arm (N) acts upon the clapper.
bracket (H) is sunk out as shewn in
shewn in Plan Fig. 7 in which the
but is raised from off it by a small
Upon the underside of the lever (N) is a bevilled projection or lump (P) Fig. 8.
which upon turning the lever comes in contact with another bevilled projection or
lump (R) Fig. 7 and presses the disc (M) upon the head (C) of the clapper and
holds it in a rigid position.
Fig. 9 shews another mode by which the clapper may be held in a rigid position
by means of a thumb screw by forming the bell with the clapper rod passing
through its top as before. On the outside of the bell I attach a thumb screw (J)
which is wormed to work in a wormed socket in the part (K). When it is required
to keep the clapper still, the thumb screw on being turned screws down on to the
top of the clapper rod (L) and holds the same rigid so that it cannot ring.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed I claim, without limiting myself to these precise
details, a Lever or Thumb Screw for holding the clapper of Bells for Bicycles,
Tricycles and similar machines in a rigid position as herein more fully set forth
and specified.
In Witness whereof I the said John Harrison have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
JOHN HARRISON
(LS)