Improvements in Alarms for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1897
Comentato Charifination Loft 26th Au
1000
Acccated
45th Ont
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Alarms for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of 4, Nicoll Road, Willesden, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to alarms for the purpose of signalling the approach of
velocipedes, motor cars, and other vehicles.
The chief object of my invention is to provide an alarm that is adapted to be
automatically sounded by the revolution of a rotating portion of the velocipede,
or by the passage of the same through the air, and to give efficient warning
both when the velocipede is going slowly, as when passing through a town,
and when going rapidly, as when coasting a hill; a distinct and easily recog
nisable sound being given in each case. Another object of my invention is to
provide an alarm that will give a different sound or combination of sounds for
different speeds at which the velocipede is travelling. A further object of my
invention is to provide an alarm that shall be operated or sounded by air;
either the air being forced by or through the sounding devices comprising the
alarm, or the sounding devices themselves being rotated or driven so that the
air through which they pass operates them.
According to one form of my invention I provide a small wheel or roller
mounted upon a spindle that is carried in bearings in a convenient part of the
velocipede framing, or on a bracket attached thereto; and this spindle may
carry upon one side of the said wheel a disc or chamber provided with one or
more reeds, pipes or whistles, or a rotary fan or other air propeller adapted to
operate one or more reeds, pipes or whistles arranged in the walls of a chamber
surrounding the fan. Upon the other side of the said wheel the spindle carries
one or more arms or projections adapted to operate a ball or hanimer to cause
the same to strike a bell suitably mounted adjacent thereto. The arrangement
may be such that when the velocipede is travelling at a moderate speed the fan
will not create sufficient air pressure to sound the reeds, while the arm will
at each revolution drive the ball against the hell: but when the velocipede is
travelling at a higher speed the ball may be carried round so rapidly as to roll
continually in contact with the bell or to be lifted out of the way by centrifugal
force, while the air pressure created by the fan will be sufficient to sound the
reeds or pipes.
I may arrange a funnel or other suitable air-guiding surface in connection
with the sounding devices in such a manner as to cause the air to be deflected
onto the said devices.
In some cases the sounding device may itself form the wheel or roller, in
which case I preferably mount a rubber ring or tyre on that portion of said
device that bears against the rotating part of the velocipede.
Instead of employing a reed chamber I may arrange the reeds in suitably recessed

page_text: or dished portions of a disc or discs, which disc or discs may form part of the
said wheel or roller.
I prefer to employ a series of the reeds or pipes so constructed or arranged
that they will successively come into action according as the speed of the veloci
pede increases. By this means I am enabled to indicate approximately the
speed at which the velocipede is travelling by the sound or combination of
sounds produced by the alarm; and I may so arrange the series of reeds or
pipes that when a certain speed is reached a note is sounded that will create
discord in the combination.
In some cases also I may use two or more bells of different pitch and arrange
the hammer on the principle of a centrifugal governor so that it will strike a
different bell at different speeds of the velocipede.
Obviously, I may dispense with either the bell or bells, or with the reeds or
pipes, or I may arrange both the bell and the reeds or pipes on one side of the
wheel or roller, say one within the other; or I may arrange both a bell and a
reed chamber on each side of the wheel or roller. I sometimes provide
an external casing or shield to protect the device from dust or mud.
I prefer to so mount my improved alarm on the velocipede as to enable the
rider to readily put it into and out of action, say by a hand lever or a cord,
the arrangement being such that when the alarm is put into its operative or
inoperative position it will remain in such position until the hand lever or the
like is again actuated by the rider. In some cases I may so arrange it that
the application of the brake or the partial movement of the brake lever, auto-
matically brings the alarm into operation if it should be inoperative at such
time the device being then retained in its operative position by a suitable
catch or stop.
1
venicies,
I, FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of 4, Nicoll Road, Willesden, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to alarms for the purpose of giving audible indication
of the approach of velocipedes, motor cars, and other vehicles.
The chief object of my invention is to provide an alarm that is adapted to
be automatically sounded by the revolution of a rotating portion of the veloci
pede, or by the passage of the velocipede through the air, and to give efficient
warning both when the velocipele is going slowly, as when passing through a
town, and when going rapidly, as when coasting a lull; a distinct and easily
recognisable sound being given in each case.
According to one form of my invention I provide a small wheel or roller
mounted upon a spindle that is carried in bearings in a convenient part of the
velocipede framing, or on a bracket attached thereto; the said spindle carrying
means for operating the sounding device or devices. These means may consist
of a swinging arm or projection adapted to strike a bell, or of a rotary fan or
other air propeller adapted to operate one or more reeds, pipes or whistles
arranged in the walls of a chamber surrounding the fan.

page_text: I employ a series of sounding devices so constructed or arranged that they will
successively come into operation according as the speed of the velocipede in-
creases, so as to indicate approximately the speed at which the velocipede is
travelling by the sound or combination of sounds produced by the alarm; and
I may so arrange the series that when a certain speed is reached a note is
sounded that will create discord in the combination.
I prefer to so mount my improved alarm on the velocipede as to enable the
rider to readily put it into and out of action, the arrangement being such that
when the alarm is put into its operative or inoperative position it will remain
in such position until disengaged by the rider.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, some of the construc-
tions have devised for the purpose of my invention, applied to a bicycle.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined bell and wind instrument alarm,
showing also one method of supporting said alarm.
Figure 2 is a central vertical transverse section of the alarm shown in Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively an elevation and a plan, showing another
method of supporting the alarm and of putting it into or out of operation.
Figure 5 shows a further method of supporting the alarm, and Figure 6 is a
perspective view of the clip for retaining the alarm in its inoperative position.
Figures and S are respectively an elevation and plan of another form of
support, the alarm being adapted to be continuously sounded when the velocipede
or other vehicle is in motion.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a rotary disc
having reeds arranged therein and provided with bell mouthed funnels to guide
the air to and from the said reeds."
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a transverse and a longitudinal vertical
section of a double bell alarm adapted to sound only when a certain speed is
attained.
In all the figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A is the front or steering wheel of a bicycle, B is the steering head thereof,
C is one of the forks carrying the wheel A, D is the handle bar and E is the
brake rod.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a is a small wheel or disc having a tubular
hub a mounted rotatably on the spindle h. This spindle is carried by the
yoke piece c attached to the bracket which latter may be in the form of a
spring as shown, or may be a rigid bracket.
On one side of the disc a I provide one or more projections such as e carrying
a swinging hammer e. To the end of the spindle upon the same side of the
said disc I fix a bell f having an internal projection adapted to be struck
by the hammer as the latter is carried round by the disc.
Upon the opposite side of the disc I mount rigidly upon the tubular hub or
sleeve aa fan g. Surrounding this fan is a chamber h, h, the outer wall h
of which is mounted upon the adjacent end of the spindle. and the inner wall, h¹.
of which is secured to the part 1 by being screwed thereto, or by other means.
This part h has a central aperture which is of such a diameter as to fit closely
around, without actually touching, the hub or sleeve a¹. Any suitable number
of apertures, say, for instance, four are provided in the wall h₁, over which aper-
tures are disposed reeds h³.
When the disc a and consequently the fan is revolved, air is drawn through
the chamber, entering by the apertures in the wall h¹ and thus sounding the
reeds h². A number of apertures h are also provided in the part h of the air
chamber for the exit of the air propelled by the fan. The course of the air
may however be the reverse of that described.
I employ reeds differing in weight and dimensions so that, as previously
stated, each one will emit a different note and will be brought into operation

page_text: at a different speed of the velocipede, the number of reeds operated and con-
sequently the volume of sound emitted being thereby increased as the speed of
the velocipede is increased. It will be understood that when the bicycle is
going quite slowly only the bell will be sounded, and that as the speed increases
the reeds will be brought into operation one at a time so as to afford an indication
of the increase of speed.
In some cases instead of constructing the reed chamber in the manner shown,
I may, in order to prevent the reeds becoming clogged by dust, dispense with
the air inlet or outlet apertures in the walls of the chamber and provide an
inwardly projecting flange in such chamber in which flange the reeds are
arranged. This flauge also carries a cylindrical piece (which may be supported
by webs) within which the fan works. By this arrangement the air within
the chamber is repeatedly driven through the reed apertures so that no fresh
air is likely to be drawn into the chamber and consequently the introduction
of dust is avoided. The chamber may be so constructed as to form a sounder
or drum to reinforce the vibrations of the reeds or a space may be left between
the two walls of the chamber at the overlapping edges thereof each edge being
provided with two or more flanges forming dust checks or baffles, in which case
the inner part of the chamber is supported directly by the yoke piece or bracket
instead of by the outer part or wall h.
One method of supporting my improved alarm is illustrated in Figure 1. The
bracket which, in this example, consists of a flat metallic spring, is secured
to a socket or sleeve mounted on the brake rod of the bicycle. This socket
can slide freely on the brake rod but is normally held in one position by the
springs arranged between such socket and the collars, rigidly secured
to such rod. A shoulder is formed at the back of the socket such shoulder
being adapted to be engaged by a catch i pivoted to a clip secured on the head
tube B of the bicycle. This catch may consist of a two-armed lever i, i, the
arm of which, by its weight, tends constantly to press the arm against the
socket, and also forms the handle or thumb piece by which the catch may be
disengaged from the socket when desired. A spring ay however be employed
for bringing the catch into engagement and other means may be provided for
disengaging such catch.
Supposing the alarm to be in its inoperative position, when the brake is applied
to the wheel A the alarm is brought down with the brake rod and is also applied
to the wheel, the shoulder passing the extremity of the catch i and being
engaged thereby. When the brake lever is released the brake spring elevates
the brake rod which latter in rising compresses the spring but cannot lift
the socket because said socket is engaged by the catch i. The aların thus
.continues to be sounded until the catch is released by the rider.
Figures 3 and 4 show another device for supporting and adjusting the position
of the alarm. In this case the alarm is carried by the rod which is rotatably
mounted in clips secured to the brake rod E. The lower one of these clips is
also attached to the brake rod guide El so that said clips and the rod d cannot
rise or fall with the brake rod. The upper part of the rod is bent backward
to form a handle or lever by means of which said rod may be partially rotated
so as to bring the alarm either directly over and in engagement with the wheel A,
or to one side of the same (see Figure 4), in which latter position it is obviously
out of the way of any mud or dust that may be thrown off the said wheel.
The alarm illustrated in connection with this and the succeeding device is
provided with a hood or cover el which takes the place of the yoke piece c and also
serves to protect the alarm from rain, mud and dust. The said cover also offers
a convenient surface upon which to stamp or otherwise indicate a registration
number, a club badge or other sign, or the name and address of the owner of the
bievele.
Another device for supporting the alarm is shown in Figure 5. According
to this device the rod d, carrying the alarm, is secured to the brake rod bv

page_text: clips d', said clips being capable of sliding either on the rod d or on the brake
rod. To the upper extremity of the rod is hinged one end i of a catch or
double lever pivotally carried by a clip 23, upon the handle bar. The opposite
end of this catch is formed with two spring arms adapted to engage the handle
bar, one on each side of the stem thereof, when it is desired to retain the alarm
in its inoperative position. Said clip is also provided with a projection or thumb
piece by which it may he readily turned to either of its positions. A light
spring is provided for holding the alarm in its operative position when the
arms are released from engagement with the handle bar.
It will be obvious that the clips shown in Figures 3 and 4, and those shown
in Figure 5, may be attached to the head tube B of the bicycle instead of to
the brake rod E.
I sometimes dispensa with means for bringing the alarm into and out of
operation, and so mount it upon a bicycle that it will be continuously sounded
when said bicycle is in motion. In such case I provide a clip, which may be
formed integrally with the hood or cover c', as shown in Figures 7 and S, and
which is adapted to be secured to the crown of the steering forks in the manner
illustrated.
Instead of employing the clip I may form the cover c integrally with
one of the crown plates or with the ends or plates used to cover the open upper
extremities of the forks C.
When I mount the reeds h2 directly on the rotating wheel or disc a I may
employ the construction shown in Figures 9 and 10. In the example there
shown the reed apertures are cut in the web of the wheel or disc, and over these
apertures I place bell mouthed hoods or funnels j.j. the arrangement being
such that, as the disc rotates the mouth of the hood meets the air which latter
is thus guided to the reed aperture and, after passing and operating the reed,
escapes from the hood j¹.
It will be readily seen that I may employ the hoods or funnels in connection
with the reed chamber shown in Figure 2, particularly when the air is caused to
enter said chamber through the apertures in the outer wall h. Moreover I may
dispense with the rotating wheel or disc, and may fix one or more plates, each
carrying one or more reeds and hoods, say, to the spokes of one of the wheels
or to some other part (rotating or non-rotating) of the bicycle, so that the passage
of such plates through the air when the bicycle is in motion will cause the
reeds to be sounded.
In order to indicate approximately the speed of a bicycle upon bells instead
of upon reeds, I employ a device of the kind illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.
Two bells ff, of different pitch, are mounted upon the spindle b, one on each
side of the rotating wheel a. Fixed to this wheel. preferably on the hub thereof,
are two coil springs e, e', the free ends of which carry hammers e. These springs
normally hold the hammers out of reach of the projections on the bells, but
when the wheel is rapidly rotated the action of the springs is overcome by the
action of centrifugal force on the hammers and such hammers recede further
from the centre of the said wheel and strike the projections on the bells. The
springs e. el, are of unequal strength, so that a higher speed is necessary to cause
the hammer mounted on the stronger spring to strike its bell than is required
by the hammer mounted on the weaker spring.
The lowest speed (for a given diameter of wheel A) at which each bell f. f',
or each reed 2, will be sounded. may be stamped upon some part of the device.
I prefer to provide the rotating wheel or disc with a tyre, either of rubber
as indicated in Figures 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12, or of porcelain as indicated in
Figures 4 and 8.
It will be understood that in all cases I may employ pipes or whistles, adapted
to be sounded by the passage of air therethrough, in place of the hereindescribed
reeds.

page_text: 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
1. An alarm for velocipedes and other vehicles comprising a wind instrument
which is so combined with the vehicle that the air will be caused to sound it
when the vehicle is travelling, substantially as described.
2. An alarm for velocipedes and other vehicles comprising a series of wind or
percussion instruments so combined with the vehicle that each instrument re-
quires a different velocity of the vehicle to cause it to sound substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
3. An alarm for velocipedes and other vehicles having its parts arranged and
combined to operate substantially as described with reference to any of the
figures of the accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.