IMPROVE- MENTS IN MAGNETIC BELLS AND SIGNALS TO RENDER THE SAME MORE SIMPLE AND ECONOMICAL FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Geminiano Zanni, of 376, City Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MAGNETIC BELLS AND SIGNALS TO RENDER THE SAME MORE
SIMPLE AND ECONOMICAL FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES."
Sealed the 9th April 1872, and dated the 13th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Geminiano Zanni at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th October 1871.
'
I, GEMINIANO ZANNI, of 376, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETIC BELLS AND SIGNALS TO RENDER THE SAME MORE
SIMPLE AND ECONOMICAL FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
By my improvements magnetic bells are actuated by a constant
current produced by a coil or coils in connection with a magnet-or
magnets, and a suitable break by the velocity of the said coil or coils, so

page_text: as to ring a vibrating clectric bell as is well understood. By this
arrangement I disperse with the mechanical electric bell as at present
actuated by clockwork in other magnetic bells, thus saving the cost of
and trouble of winding up such mechanism. The motion of the coils is
caused by moving a bell-pull lever half a revolution, or the bell is kept
vibrating so long as the bell-pull lever or rod is actuated.
Self-acting apparatus is arranged according to my Invention for
giving signals in case of fire, burglary, or other cause by setting the coil
in action by means of clockwork or other suitable mechanism, such
mechanism and the bell or signal being set in motion by the opening of
a door or window or other moving body, or by heat resulting from fire,
thus giving an alarm in case of fire or burglary.
According to the first part of my improvements magneto-electric bell
apparatus is arranged in a case or chamber, suitable for being fixed in or
against a wall within a room, or near to a door, or otherwise on the
exterior of a building. The apparatus is so arranged that by moving
the crank handle or bell pull a constant current of electricity is produced
and transmitted, so as to ring a vibrating electric bell situated in any
part of the building or elsewhere, as may be desired.
The outer case or cover of the apparatus, together with the crank for
setting the coil and the hammer of the vibrating bell in motion, may be
similar in external appearance to ordinary bell cranks in common use.
The case of the apparatus contains a single or compound permanent
magnet, and revolving armature or coils with a disc or cylinder for
making and breaking contact, as is well understood. Upon the axis of
the armature a pinion is fixed which is actuated by a driver and toothed
wheel upon the axis of the crank, the partial rotation of which sets the
armature or coils in motion, by which means a constant magnetic
current is transmitted from the magnet to cause the hammer of the bell
situated at a distance to vibrate, and thus ring the bell or give a signal as
required.
Multiplying wheels or mechanism may be introduced between the axis
of the rotating armature and the axis of the actuating crank, by which
means a rapid movement may be imparted to the armature by a small
amount of movement of the crank handle or bell pull.
According to another part of my improvements, in place of the
rotating crank previously described, the armature contained in the case

page_text: may be actuated by a bell pull or rod furnished with a handle or knob,
the rod being formed with a toothed rack which takes into and drives a
pinion for transmitting motion to the axis of the armature or coils
contained in the case as previously described.
In carrying out my improvements in magneto-electric apparatus for
giving signals by the opening of a door, window, or by other means,
apparatus similar to that previously described is arranged in a case or
frame, the mechanism for actuating the armature or rotating coils being
actuated by means of a weighted cord or chain which is wound up
0 around a pulley, mounted upon the axis of the driving wheel, one end of
the cord being attached to a door, window, or other moving body, the
other end having a weight attached thereto. When the door or window
is opened or that end of the cord slackened or set free, the descent of the
weight sets the apparatus in motion so as to transmit the magnetic
5 current to the vibrating hammer of a bell placed in any situation where
a signal is required to be given in case of burglary or otherwise.
In place of actuating the apparatus by a cord and weight as previously
described, it may be actuated by means of an endless band, or by a
crank and pinion or other contrivance, and in order to indicate the
0 presence of fire the apparatus may be set in motion at a determined
temperature by the expansion of mercury or by other means for setting
the cord and weight at liberty.
Another part of my improvements relates to an arrangement of self-
acting mechanism in combination with magneto-electric apparatus for
5 actuating the revolving coil or armature of such apparatus. For this
purpose a spring barrel is arranged in combination with an electro-
magnet, a toothed wheel upon the spring barrel giving motion by a train
of wheels so as to actuate the rotating armature or coils as previously
described. The pinion which actuates the armature or coils also actuates
a stop wheel the motion of which is arrested by means of a pin or
arm carried by a lever which is connected by a cord or otherwise to a
door or elsewhere for the purpose of giving a signal in case of fire or
burglary or for other purposes, when it is desired to set the apparatus in
action to give a signal through the rotating coil to the vibrating hammer
of a bell, as is well understood.

page_text: By this means signals may be given by setting the vibrating hammer
of a bell in action, as previously described, for railway and other
purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Geminiano Zanni in the Great Scal Patent Office 5
on the 11th Anni 1877
on the 11th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEMINIANO
ZANNI, of 376, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Electrician,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 1
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Geminiano Zanni, Her special licence
that I, the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors, administrators, and 1
assigns, or such others as I, the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the 2
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MAGNETIC BELLS AND SIGNALS TO RENDER THE SAME MORE SIMPLE AND
ECONOMICAL FOR TELEGRAPHIC AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one a
of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Geminiano Zanni, do hereby declare

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
By my improvements magnetic bells are actuated by a constant
current produced by a coil or coils in connection with a magnet or
› magnets and a suitable break by the velocity of the said coil or coils,
so as to ring a vibrating electric bell as is well understood. By this
arrangement I-dispense with the mechanical electric bell as as present
actuated by clockwork in other magnetic bells, thus saving the cost of
and trouble of winding up such mechanism. The motion of the coils is
caused by moving a bell-pull lever half a revolution, or the bell is kept
vibrating so long as the bell-pull lever or rod is actuated.
Self-acting apparatus is arranged according to my Invention for giving
signals in case of fire, burglary, or other cause by setting the coil in
action by means of clockwork or other suitable mechanism, such
mechanism and the bell or signal being set in motion by the opening
of a door or window or other moving body, or by heat resulting from
fire, thus giving an alarm in case of fire or burglary.
According to the first part of my improvements, magnetic electric bell
apparatus is arranged in a case or chamber suitable for being fixed in or
against a wall, within a room or near to a door, or otherwise on the
exterior of a building. The apparatus is so arranged that by moving the
crank handle or bell pull a constant current of electricity is produced
and transmitted so as to ring a vibrating electric bell situated in any
part of the building or elsewhere as may be desired.
The outer case or cover of the apparatus, together with the crank for
setting the coil and the hammer of the vibrating bell in motion, may be
similar in external appearance to ordinary bell cranks in common usc.
The case of the apparatus contains a single or compound permanent
magnet and revolving armature or coils, with a disc or cylinder for
making and breaking contact, as is well understood. Upon the axis of
the armature a pinion is fixed, which is actuated by a driver and toothed
wheel upon the axis of the crank, the partial rotation of which sets
the armature or coils in motion, by which means a constant magnetism
current is transmitted from the magnet to cause the hammer of the bell
situated at a distance to vibrate, and thus ring the bell or give a signal

page_text: Multiplying wheels or mechanism may be introduced between the
axis of the rotating armature and the axis of the actuating crank, by
which means a rapid movement may be imparted to the armature by a
small amount of movement of the crank handle or bell pull.
According to another part of my improvements, in place of the
rotating crank previously described, the armature contained in the case
may be actuated by a bell pull or rod furnished with a handle or knob,
the rod being formed with a toothed rack which takes into and drives
a pinion for transmitting motion to the axis of the armature or coils
contained in the case, as previously described.
In carrying out my improvements in magneto-electric apparatus for
giving signals by the opening of a door, window, or by other means,
apparatus similar to that previously described is arranged in a case or
frame, the mechanism for actuating the armature or rotating coils being
actuated by means of a weighted cord or chain, which is wound up
around a pulley mounted upon the axis of the driving wheel, one end of
the cord being attached to a door, window, or other moving body, the
other end having a weight attached thereto. When the door or window
is opened, or that end of the cord slackened or set free, the descent of
the weight sets the apparatus in motion so as to transmit the magnetic
current to the vibrating hammer of a bell placed in any situation where
a signal is required to be given in case of burglary or otherwise.
In place of actuating the apparatus by a cord and weight as pre-
viously described, it may be actuated by means of an endless band, or by
a crank and pinion or other contrivance; and in order to indicate the
presence of fire, the apparatus may be set in motion at a determined
temperature by the expansion of mercury or by other means for setting
the cord and weight at liberty.
Another part of my improvements relates to an arrangement of self-
acting mechanism in combination with magneto-electric apparatus for
actuating the revolving coil or armature of such apparatus. For this
purpose a spring barrel is arranged in combination with an electro-
magnet, a toothed wheel upon the spring barrel giving motion by a train
of wheels so as to actuate the rotating armature or coils, as previously
described. The pinion which actuates the armature or coils also actuates
a stop wheel, the motion of which is arrested by means of a pin or arm
carried by a lever, which is connected by a cord or otherwise to a door or

page_text: elsewhere for the purpose of giving a signal in case of fire or burglary
or for other purposes, when it is desired to set the apparatus in action to
give a signal through the rotating coil to the vibrating hammer of a bell,
as is well understood.
By this means signals may be given by setting the vibrating hammer
Figure 1 shews a front view with the cover removed, and Figure 2
a plan in section, of magneto-electric bell apparatus constructed and
arranged in accordance with the first part of my improvements, and
suitable for being fixed in or against a wall, within a room, or near a
door on the exterior of a building, by which a constant current. of
clectricity is produced and transmitted so as to ring a vibrating electric
bell situated in any part of the building or elsewhere as may be desired.
The outer case or cover of the apparatus, together with the crank for
setting the coil and the hammer of the vibrating bell in motion, may be
similar in external appearance to ordinary bell cranks in common use,
as shown in front view at Figure 3. a is a single or permanent com-
pound magnet, and 6 is the revolving armature; c is an insulated disc or
cylinder fixed on the spindle of the armature or coils; d, d, are springs
resting on the disc c for making and breaking the contact; e, e, are
terminals. The axis c¹ of the armature is supported in the plates b', b³,
and upon the axis c' is fixed the pinion f, which gears into the toothed
wheel fixed on the axis h, also supported in the plates b', b. Upon
the axis a ratchet wheel i is fixed, into the tecth of which a driver.
takes, being pressed down by the spring . The driver and spring *
are mounted-upon and carried by the crank handle or lever j, moving
freely upon the axis h, the movement of which in the direction of the
arrow gives motion by means of the driver and ratchet wheel i to the
axis and rotating coil, by which a constant magnetic current is
transmitted from the magnet a to cause the hammer of the bell to
vibrate, as is well understood. The crank handle is brought back to
position again by the coiled spring j¹.
I

page_text: Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement of magneto-electric bell appa-
ratus arranged in accordance with my improvements, by which the
movement of the crank handle j is transmitted to the rotating coil or
armature & by the multiplying wheel k fixed on the axis taking into
the pinion on the axis l', on which is fixed the wheel m which drivos
the pinion f, so as to impart rapid movement to the armature 6 by a
small amount of movement of the crank handle j.
เ
Figure 5 shews a section of magneto-electric bell apparatus arranged
in combination with a bell pull or rod j*, being furnished with a knob
or handle for pulling out the rod in order to actuate the mechanism, in
place of the lever j in the arrangement previously described. The bell
pull or rod j* is formed with a toothed rack, which takes into and drives
the pinion h' and wheel k, running loose in one direction on the axis h,
a driver carried by the wheel k taking into the teeth of the rachet
wheel i fixed on the axis, to give motion thereto when the rod j* is
pulled outwards. The wheel k takes into and drives the pinion / fixed
on the axis A, upon which is also fixed the wheel m, which drives the
pinion on the axis of the armaturo or coil b, which transmits the
magnetic current to the vibrating hammer of a bell as previously
described.
Figure 6 is a front view of the ornamental cover A of the apparatus
as scen when fixed in position.
I will now describe my improvements in magneto-electric apparatus
for giving signals by the opening of a door, window, or other cause.
Figure 7 shews a similar arrangement of magneto coil and actuating
mechanism to the arrangements previously described, corresponding
parts being marked with similar letters of reference; but in place of
the axis being actuated by a lever it is driven by the pulley h', which
is mounted with the ratchet i on a hollow axis so as to rotate freely in
one direction, the ratchet i giving motion to the wheel g by a driver i¹
carried thereby. A² is a cord wound around the pulley h', one end being
attached to a door, window, or other moving body, and the other having
a weight h³ attached thereto. When the door or window is opened, or
that end of the cord slackened or set free, the descent of the weight h³
sets the apparatus in motion, so as to transmit the magnetic current of
the vibrating hammer of a bell placed in any situation where a signal is
required to be given in case of burglary or otherwise.

page_text: In place of actuating the apparatus by a cord and weight as pre-
viously described, it may be actuated by means of an endless band, or by
a rack and pinion, or other suitable mechanical contrivance. And in
order to indicate the presence of fire, the apparatus may be set in motion
at a determined temperature by the expansion of mercury, or by other
well-known means for setting the cord and weight h³, 1³, at liberty.
"
Figures 8 and 9 show two views of magneto-electric apparatus arranged
with self-acting mechanism in accordance with my improvements, the
mechanism for actuating the revolving coil or armature 6 being set in
motion by means of a spring barrel 8, which gives motion by the wheel &¹
to the pinion on the axis h, which transmits motion to the coil or
armature 6 in like manner to the arrangement shewn at Figure 4, which
will be readily understood on examining the Drawings, and parts which
correspond being marked with similar letters of reference. n is a stop
wheel driven by the pinion f on the axis of the armature b; a pin n³ on
the wheel n, by coming in contact with the end of the pin or arm o on
one end of the lever o³, arrests the movement of the apparatus until it is
withdrawn by the cord or string o³ (which may be catgut) connected to
a door or elsewhere for the purpose of giving a signal in case of fire or
burglary as previously described, or for other purposes, when it is desired
to set the apparatus in action to give a signal through the rotary coil b
to the vibrating hammer of a bell, as is well understood. When the
cord o³ is released, the spring o' adjusted by the set screw of presses the
pin or arm o into position again so as to stop the action of the wheel n
and spring barrel

page_text: Secondly. I claim the arrangement of apparatus for transmitting a
magneto-clectric current for setting in motion the vibrating hammer
of a bell for giving signals in case of fire or burglary, substantially as
herein described and shown in reference to Figure 7 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangement of self-acting apparatus in com-
bination with a magneto-electric apparatus for giving signals, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hercin shewn and
described in reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Geminiano Zanni, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord Que thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.