Improvements in Bell Buoys.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct.. 1895
J
Complete Specification Left. 22nd July. 1896-Accented, 5th Sept., 1896
Improvements in Bell Buoys.
1, JASPER GIBSON, of 11, Bond Count, Walbrook, London, E C., Solicitor, do
hereby declare the nature of tins invention to be as follows
-
This invention relates to improvements in bell buys and refers puticularly to
that type of bell buoy in which storm and fog bells are used the latter of which is
sounded by clappers actuated by level and can gealing set in motion by the
undulations of a float contamed in a tank or receptacle formed within the buoy
which tank on receptacle is supplied with water from waterways provided leading
from the exterior of the buoy.
In buoys of thus description, as hither to constructed, one disadvantage experienced
is from the low fice board occasioning in stormy weather, at times, the complete
submergence of the buoy by heavy seas; one object of this my present invention
is to overcome this drawback, further objects being (1) to simplify the auangement
and disposition of bells and clappers whereby ore bell only need be used, which
will answer the purpose of the two bells (storm and fog) hitherto employed; (2) to
form of constinet the tank or receptacle into which the water ways lead, and in
which works the float actunting the fog bell clappers in such manner as to over-
come the liability, heretofore existing, of such tank o receptacle becoming filled
oi partially filled with sand or the like & thereby preventing the free working of
the float aforesaid; and (3) to provide means to prevent all liability of the storm
and fog clappers simultaneously stuhing the bell at one part or place.
In canying out my invention I suspend, at a proper and convenient height, from
the top framework of the buoy a bell of suitable size and power around which are
mounted clappers upon a circular disc or wheel in such position and manner that
the strikers of hammers bang in close proximity to the outside periphery of the
bell. The said disc or wheel canying the clappers is free to turn upon its
supporting axis and is sufficiently weighted in close proximity to one of the
clappers so that the said disc or wheel shall revolve with the incline of the buoy in
the event of its being borne over to a sharp angle. This will prevent one of the
clappers hanging to the face of the bell in ough weather and leaves the other
clappers free to continue the ringing of the bell.
The arrangement of clappers and bell just described serves for what is termed a
storm bell as the artion of the waves in rough weather is sufficient to agitate the
buoy to the required extent to cause the bell to be sounded.
In foggy weather, when a calm generally prevails, there will not be found
sufficient oscillation of the buoy to cause the bell to be sounded, hence it is
desirable to furnish or provide auxiliary means for nging the bell under, such
circuinst inces. To accomplish this I form a tank or receptacle within the buoy
into which lead four waterways from the exterior of the buoy. These water ways
I prefer to make of a larger area o diameter at the outside ends than at their
Inne ends, and 1 place or form them on a level with the bottom of said tank or
receptacle so that any sand or grit drawn in though one water way may be carried
out through the opposite waterway and the tank or receptacle be thereby kept
free from accumulation of sand, grit of the like.
In the aforesaid tank or receptacle I have a float which rises and falls with
the entry & outlet, or by the undulations, of the water in the tank or receptacle,
and which actuates the mechanism of clappers and hammers arranged within the

page_text: buoy, all as and in the manner heretofore employed. These clappers and hammers
and mechanism connected therewith I call the fog bell apparatus.
To prevent any possibility of the fog bell hammer and the storm bell hammer
simultaneously stinking upon one part of the bell and endangering the cracking or
breaking of the bell, I arrange a ring or wheel below the bell pivotted horizontally
upon the 'rod o spindle upon which the bell is mounted which is slightly swelled
out of the tone circle at one portion of the periphery: the fog bell hammer must
work though this ring or disc to strike the inner or under side of the bell and the
swelled out portion of the periphery of the wheel will be inter posed between the
bell and the outside or storm hammer and prevent said outside hammer striking
the bell at any part exactly over that part of the bell being stuck by the under or
fog hanmer.
The whole of the mechanism actuating the bell hammers and clappers I preferably
place below a deck formed within the buoy in such a manner as to ensure proper
stability and to permit of a higher free board than has hitherto been possible in
this class of bell buoy.
A further advantage in connection with the accurate striking of the log
hammers or clappers I obtain in accordance with this invention by having an
auxiliary clapper acting upon the bell and which is actuated by the ordinary
clapper hereinbefore alluded to. This auxiliary clapper I fulcium to the deck of
the buoy and form with a tail piece upon which the ordinary clapper acts instead
of striking duect upon the bell'
Dated this 22nd day of October 1895.
HUGHES, ELI & IIUGUES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
1, JASPER GIBSON, of 11 Bond Court, Walbrook, London, E.C. Solicitor,
do hereby declare the nature of this uvention 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 improvements in bell buoys and has for its object to
remedy defects existing in beli buoys as now constructed and to more effectually
fulfil the object in view (that is to say) to cause the bell to ring with a good strong
tone continously in all weathers and thus wain persons in chaige of vessels of the
proximity of reefs and other dangerous obstacles which the buoy is intended to
mark, the improved buoy moreover acting independently of any tidal or other
current.
By my invention I obtam a continuous ringing even it the clapper arrangement
hereinafter described should not act owing to insufficient energy in the action of
the waves
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have annexed
sheets of drawings illustrating the manner in which I intend carrying my improve-
ments into effect,
Fig is an elevation. Fig 2 a plan and Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the
method of preventing the clapper and immer bell hammer striking the bell
simultaneously.
Like letters of reference indicate similar o corresponding parts throughout the
figures.
My improved bell buoy consists of the body part A which is provided above the
air tight partition B with four or any other suntable number of wedge shaped
channels of water ways C leading to a central receptacle or tank W which I'prefer

page_text: to make of circular shape. To the deck D or to the sides of the buoy proper is
rivetted or otherwise secured framework consisting of four or any other suitable
number of angle irons E extending upwards which are securely connected with a
top plate F. From the centre of said plate a vertical rod or shaft G extends to
the bottom of the body part A being rigidly fixed at both extremities to the top
plate and body part respectively in any suitable and convenient manner. On this
rod is mounted the bell and at a convenient distance between the top and the bell
a disc or suitable framework His secured from which a series of clappers I
preferably thee, is suspended in such a manner that the strikers or hammers are in
close proximity to the said bell striking on its outer periphery if the motion of the
water is sufficiently energetic to cause the buoy to oscillate.
The disc H around the 1m of which the clappers are hung revolves freely
around the rod G and is weighted near its outer edge by means of a weight k
placed in close proximity to the socket of one of the clappers. This weight
causes the disc H to evolve with the incline of the buoy when it is boine over to
a sharp angle, whereby the possibility of any one of the clappers resting against
the bell and deadening its sound is effectually obviated. In order to render more
certain the swinging of the disc around the iod or shaft G I prefer that it should
move balls or 1ollets or any other suitable anti-friction gear instead of revolving
merely between collais. I also find it advisable that the too fiee backward motion
of the clappers should be confined within suitable limits by a ung fixed to the
framework when the oscillation of the buoy is not sufficient to actuate the pait
described arrangement of bell and clappers as frequently occurs especially in foggy
weather when a calin generally prevails, it becomes desuable to furnish auxiliary
means for inging the bell.
For the purpose of accomplishing this and I construct the before described
eceptacle or tank W in the interior of the buoy to which the wedge shaped water-
ways or channels C lead from the exterior of the buoy at a convenient distance
below the line of flotation so as to supply a sufficient quantity of water. Said
chauuels or water-ways I prefer to make of larger diameter at their outside than
at their inner ends and flush with the bottom of the well so that any sand, grit, oi
other matter passing through one of the channels into the well inay readily pass
out by any of the other water-ways and the well be kept free from any accumu-
lation calculated to counteract its purpose to prevent seaweed, pieces of wood, and
similar efuse entering the channels I protect their outside openings by means of a
giating on other suitable device.
Upon the 1od or shatt G and within the receptacle W a Hont f is loosely
mounted such a manner as to permit of its easily moving up and down within
certain limits with the motion of the water contained in the receptacle said float
being connected with sleeve' extending upwards and having above the covering B¹
of the well two collais 1 between which is placed the outer end of level g through
which the upward and downward motion of the float is communicated to the
mechanism serving to effect the action of the hammer h. The mechanism hereafter
described in detail I prefer to place below a deck formed within the buoy on B' and D
In order to guard it from injury, said deck also serving to ensure greater buoyance
and to perimit of a higher freeboard than hitherto possible in this class of
bell buoys.
The mecbamsm which causes the hammer h to strike at more or less regula
intervals against the aim of the bell from the inside of the latter consists of the
before mentioned lever g having at its ward extremity the well gl placed between
the collars said lever is pivoted to the plate B' which is rivetted to the partition
of the buoy. The other arm of the lever g carries a pawl K gearing with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel r fixed on an axle on which is likewise mounted a cam s
furnished with two or other suitable number of teeth the lower arm of the lever m
of the hammer is pivoted to the frame in such a manner that as the outer rim of
each cam tooth raises the lower arm of lever m the hammer is drawn back but
immediately each tooth has passed the said arm drops suddenly down and causes

page_text: the hammer to strike against the inner-periphery of the bell while the weight n
ou the outward extremity of the lower arm of lever m drops on an india rubber
pad o suitably placed to secure the necessary recoil of the hammer from, the, bell.
To prevent the possibility of one of the clappers I and the inner hammer h
striking one point of the bell simultaneously and thereby cracking or breaking the
bell I secure a ring or wheel g horizontally on shaft G, between the bell and the
upper deck of the buoy. Said ring or wheel g.is slightly swelled out of, the two
cicles at Fig. Dear tho aperture through which the hammer works the swelling
being sufficiently wide to keep the, clappers I away from the bell at or near the
point where the hammer strikes inside the bell. I prefer to encircle the ring or
wheel g by an india rubber band as shewn in the drawings.
To obviate the possibility of seaweed and other refuse obstructing the aperture u
provided in deck D, for the lever arm, thus preventing its regular action, propose
to secure to the deck plate D around said slot a collat or casing of suitable height
and shape.
To properly ballast the buoy I attach to a ballast ring R in which the water has
free access and inside.of which the chain for mooring the buoy is secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what maunei the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a bell buoy the combination of the several parts for the purpose of
attaining the objects specified all substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
'
2. In a bell buoy the ing g formed with a swelling in combination the clapper
arrangement and the lower hammer h substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. In a bell buoy the second deck D for protecting the gear and greater
buoyancy of the buoy in combination with a collar or casing for protecting the
aperture u substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated July 21st 1896.
21
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
Agents for Applicant.