Improvements in or connected with Buoys.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Buoys.
I, HERBERT EDWIN HODGSON, of 86, Main Street, Norfolk, Virginia, one of
the United States of America, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to improvements in that class of buoys by which, audible
danger signals are transmitted to approaching vessels and craft. Heretofore buoys
have been used, which have bells so mounted upon them that the action of the
waves causes the buoy to rock and the clapper to strike against the bell which
gives forth a warning sound. But it will be readily seen that unless the waves are
of considerable height, the buoy will not rock or yaw enough to cause the clapper
to swing and strike against the bell, so that a buoy of this kind is useless in
harbors and rivers when the water is comparatively smooth. By my invention
these difficulties are surmounted, for waves are not required to cause the bell to
sound, as the tide or current acts with sufficient force. The construction and
operation of my invention are hereinafter fully set forth and described.
The buoy is preferably of a cylindrical shape with a conical and, although any
buoy commonly in use, which will present the least friction to the water, may be
used. To the conical end is secured, by means of a swivel connection, a chain, to
the other end of which is fastened the mooring device. The buoy floats.with the
tide as far as the chain will permit, and lies in a position inclined towards the
course of the tide or current.
To the sides of the float or buoy are adjustably hinged wings or blades having
stops which bear against the side of the buoy, when the wings are extended. The
wings can lie in either of two positions, either in a plane tangential to the cylindrical
portion of the buoy, or in planes passing vertically through the central lines of
the buoy, the stops preventing the said wings or blades from swinging entirely
around.
On the top of the buoy is secured a bell or gong held in place by a brace rod.
The strikers or clappers are made preferably of spring metal, and have at one end
weights or striker heads. The strikers are pivoted, a short distance from their
opposite ends to studs secured to the top of the buoy, the movement of the strikers
being limited by means of pins or guide-ways. The top of the buoy being inclined,
it will be readily seen that when the striker is lifted, and let fall, the momentum of
the striker head will cause it to strike the gong or bell the resiliency of the spring
metal causing it to rebound and assume a position a short distance therefrom.
I do not limit myself to this exact mode of ringing the gong or bell, as I may
use a clapper hung to the bell and so pivoted that it may swing in a certain
number of directions, or I may use a ball of metal running in grooves and striking
the bell as it rolls to and fro, for it is immaterial how the bell is rung.
It will be readily understood from the description how the buoy operates.
Assuming that the tide or current is running in a certain direction (the buoy being
of course inclined in the same direction) the water rushing past forces. itself
between the buoy and the wings or blades on one side of the buoy, and compels
the wings to assume their extended positions. Then the buoy or float being
moored, it is turned partly around and the next blades are forced out by the tide,
thus securing a practically uniform rotation. As soon as a wing or blade gets to a.
position parallel to the course of the current or tide and begins to swing further.
round, it returns to its first position and offers no frictional surface or obstruction

page_text: to the flow of the water. Thus it is obvious that a perpetual rotation is insured,
as long as the tide or current runs..
As the buoy rotates, the strikers or clappers -are carried up until they project
beyond the centre of gravity when they will fall and strike against the bell, this
operation being continued as long as the buoy rotates. Any number of strikers
may be used, which will not interfere with each other, though two will sufficiently
answer all purposes. One advantage of using. a buoy of this description, is that
the speed of the current can be readily ascertained by noting the intervals between
the sounding of the ball, for if the current is running swiftly the intervals will be
of short duration, and vice versa.
"
In a modification of the invention, the wings or blades are rigidly secured. to the
sides of the buoy. The buoy in this case is preferably of a conical shape, and has
the mooring chain swivelled to its apex. The wings or blades are somewhat similar
to the blades of a screw propeller, being arranged spirally so that theracting
surfaces thereof are substantially helices of screws. These wings or blades:mayı
extend spirally the entire length of the buoy, but I have found it sufficient to have
them of a comparatively short length and near the top:
The buoy is not heavily ballasted and consequently will float in an inclined
position; the bell and strikers being mounted, and the buoy rotating, in substantially.
the same way as the one herein before described.
I do not wish to be understood to limit myself to the exact constructions
described herein, as any one skilled in the art may make many modifications
without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention:
Dated this 8th day of September 1891.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Buoys.
I, HERBERT EDWIN HODGSON, of 86; Main Street, Norfolk, Virginia, one of
the United States of America, Jeweller; do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly
described and-ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention:relates to improvements in that class of buoys by which audible
danger signals are transmitted to approaching vessels and crafts. Heretofore
buoys have been used which have bells so mounted upon them that the action of
the waves causes the buoy to rock and the clapper to strike against the bell which..
gives forth a warning peal. But it will be readily seen that unless the waver are
of 'considerable height, the buoy will not rock or yaw-enough to cause the clapper
to-swing and strike against the bell, so that a buoy of this. kind is useless in..
harbours and rivers where the water is comparatively smooth. By my invention
these difficulties are surmounted, for waves are not required to cause the bell to
sound as the tide or current is made use of for this purpose. The construction.
and operation of my sinvention is hereinafter fully set forth and described.
In the drawings,
.

page_text: the mooring chain c being attached to the eye d of the axle. On the top of the-
buoy is erected a framework e, which carries the bell f. The buoy floats with the-
tide as far as its mooring chain will permit, and lies in a position inclined towards.
the course of the tide or current.
To the sides of the float or buoy are adjustably hinged the wings or blades a,
having stops a which bear against the side of the buoy when the wings are-
extended: It will be seen that the wings can lie in either of two positions,.
viz. either in a plane tangential to the cylindrical portion of the buoy, or in planes
passing vertically through the central lines of the buoy, the stops a' preventing the
said wings or blades from swinging entirely around.
The striking device consists as follows:-A bell crank lever is pivotted at g to.
the top plate or deck of the buoy, one arm g' of the lever being provided with a
striking head, whilst its other arm g³ carries an anti-friction roller bearing-
upon a cam h keyed to the upper end of the axle b. The arm g' is kept up to. the
cam by a spiral spring i extending between the arm and the axle b. It will
readily be seen that as the buoy A revolves upon the axle b, the striking lever is
uarried round with it, and the anti-friction roller g will be caused to travel over-
the surface of the cam h. Thus the horns A' of the cam will, alternately, push the
arm g outwardly and thereby withdraw the striker g from the bell f, the recoil or
striking action being caused by the spring i, as will be understood.
I do not limit myself to this exact mode of ringing the gong or bell, as I may
utilize the inclination at which the buoy lies in the current to cause a clapper hung
to the bell-and so pivotted that it will do so in a certain number of positions-to.
swing or gravitate against the bell; or I may use a ball of metal running in.
grooves and striking the bell as it rolls to and fro as the buoy revolves in an.
inclined position, for it is immaterial how the bell is rung.
It will be readily understood from the drawings and description how the buoy
operates. Assuming that the tide or current is running in the direction of the
arrow in Figure 4, the water flowing past forces itself between the buoy and the-
wings or blades on one side of the buoy, and compels the wings to assume their
extended positions.. Then the buoy, being moored by its axle, is turned partly
round thereon, and the next blades are forced out by the current or tide, thus
securing a practically uniform rotation. As soon as a wing or blade gets to a.
position parallel to the course of the current or tide and begins to swing further
around, it returns to its first position and offers no frictional surface or obstruction.
to the flow of the water. Thus it is obvious that a perpetual rotation of the buoy
is insured, as long as the tide or current runs.
As the buoy rotates, the striker strikes against the bell, this operation being.
continued as long as the buoy rotates. Any number of strikers may be used,.
which will not interfere with each other. One advantage of using a buoy of this
description is, that the speed of the current can be readily ascertained by noting-
the intervals between the peals of the bell, for if the current is running swiftly the
intervals will be of short duration, and vice versa.
In Figure 5, a modification is shewn, in which the wings or blades are rigidly
secured to the sides of the buoy. The buoy in this case is preferably of a conical
shape, and has its mooring chain swivelled, at b', to its apex. The wings or blades.
are shaped somewhat similar to the blades of a screw propeller, being arranged
spirally so that the acting surfaces thereof are substantially helices of screws.
These wings or blades a may extend spirally the entire length of the buoy, but I
have found it sufficient to have them of a comparatively short length and near the
top. The buoy is not heavily ballasted and consequently will float in an inclined
position, the bell strikers in this instance being of the gravitating description.
previously referred to.
I do not wish to be understood to limit myself to the exact construction shewn
and described herein, as any one skilled in the art may make many modifications.
thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A buoy provided with devices or means (such as described) by which it is
rotated, for the purposes set forth.
2. A bell buoy having wings or blades secured to its sides, by which said buoy is
rotated, substantially as and for the purposes described..
3. A bell buoy having swinging wings or blades secured to its sides, by which
said buoy is rotated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. A buoy provided with devices or means such as described, for automatically
rotating said buoy, a bell mounted thereon, and a device or means for ringing said
boll, substantially described.
Dated this 8th day of June 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.