Improvements in Periodically Ringing Bells and Sounding Whistles, Syrens, or the like, and Registering the same, and in Electrical Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 12th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Periodically Ringing Bells and Sounding Whistles,
Syrens, or the like, and Registering the same, and in Electrical
Apparatus therefor.
I FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 21 Tollington Park Holloway in the
County of Middlesex Electrician do bereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to electrical apparatus such as is described in the
Specification of my Patent No. 4011 of 1890 and the objects thereof are to make the
apparatus much more simple to cause the registration to indicate whether a bell or
a whistle or a syren or other appliance has been rung or sounded and to enable
a comparatively weak current of electricity to operate a whistle or a syren or
other appliance whatever may be the pressure of steam or air or the like on the
valve thereof.
To carry out these objects I take any suitable clockwork mechanism on one of
the wheels or spiudles whereof is mounted the cam or the disc with a projecting
lug by which the two insulated contact bars can be pressed together. These two
contact bars are electrically connected with a battery or other source of electricity
and when they are caused to touch each other the circuit is complete.
In a convenient position near the clockwork is mounted a roll of paper or other
suitable material in the form of a riband of the desired breadth and a roller is
mounted on one of the wheels or spindles of the clockwork by which this riband
can be drawn off this roll and either wound up on itself or as is perhaps preferable
allowed to pass to a suitable receptacle in which latter case it might be advisable
if not necessary to loosely mount another roller the periphery whereof would touch
the periphery of the roller connected with the clockwork and the riband would
pass between them so that as this roller is revolved the riband can be drawn off the
roll. The riband is marked by transverse lines each of which will indicate the
lapse of a certain time and also by one or more longitudinal lines or it may be two
or more longitudinal spaces are provided according as it is desired to indicate when
two or more different appliances have been operated.
In a suitable position near the riband as it leaves the roller is pivoted on the one
side thereof a bar or finger the end whereof carries a pencil or other appliance that
can mark the riband and in the aforesaid circuit is enclosed an electro-magnet
which is so placed that when a current is sent therethrough because the contact
bars have been caused to touch each other it will draw this finger towards itself
and thus cause the pencil or the like to mark the riband but when the circuit is
opened the finger will retain the peucil or the like away from the riband by a
counterweight or spring or otherwise.
When two appliances have to be indicated on the riband another similar finger
can be pivoted on the other side of the riband the pencil or other appliance
whereof can if desired make a mark of a different colour and another similar
electro-magnet which can operate this finger in a similar manner is enclosed in the
aforesaid circuit in the ordinary manner through a suitable switch board by which
as is customary the current can be cut off from the one electro-magnet and directed
to the other.

page_text: When three or more appliances have to be indicated on the riband a corre
sponding number of similar fingers operated each by its own electro-magnet would
be similarly pivoted near the riband which could have three or more longitudinal
spaces to indicate which appliance has been operated or this information may be
given by the use of different colours or otherwise.
Each finger when it is drawn by its own electro-magnet into such a position that
it can mark the riband also closes another electrical circuit by and through any
ordinary electrical appliances and devices and in this circuit is enclosed the
arranged for bell or whistle or syren or other appliance which can be rung or
sounded in any convenient manner and by any suitable devices while and so long
as this circuit is closed by the finger and a current of electricity passes there-
through or that is to say while and so long as the two contact bars are caused
by the cam to touch each other and thus the desired bell or whistle or syren or
other appliance as is arranged for by the action of the switch directing the
current of electricity through the proper electro-magnet will be rung or sounded
and such ringing or sounding will be registered and indicated as is desired.
The pressure of the steam or air or the like on the valve of the whistle or
syren or other appliance may sometimes be too great to allow a current of
electricity to open the same and when this is the case I provide the following
apparatus.
Near say for example the whistle I arrange a cylinder of a greater diameter or
area than the throat of such whistle wherein the ordinary valve is mounted and
in this cylinder is fitted a piston the rod whereof passes out through the top of
such cylinder and the end of this piston rod engages under a spur formed on the
ordinary valve lever in such wise that the raising of this spur opens the valve or
this apparatus may be otherwise arranged having regard to the manner in which
any particular valve is arranged. Near this cylinder is arranged a solenoid to the
core whereof may be connected one arm of a bell crank lever to the other arm
whereof is connected a rod carrying a slide valve in a suitable valve casing on the
cylinder or in other ordinary manner this solenoid can actuate the slide valve
which is of such a size that the current of electricity is able to operate the same
and the solenoid is in or can be in the second before mentioned circuit. The slide
valve covers a small passage into the cylinder and the valve casing is in com-
munication through a pipe with the steam pipe of the whistle below the valve and
therefore when the solenoid actuates the slide valve steam is admitted into the
cylinder below the piston until through the rod thereof and the spur of the valve
lever the resistance overcome the valve is opened and the whistle is sounded.
Then when the current is cut off the solenoid will allow the slide valve to close
the passage into the cylinder to the entrance of the steam and to open it to an
exhaust passage as is customary and the slide valve can be assisted in such
movement by a coiled or other spring and the piston will therefore descend
allowing the steam valve of the whistle to close.
In a similar manner syrens and other appliances that are sounded by steam or
air or the like under pressure can be fitted and would be operated by a comparatively
weak current of electricity.
The bell could be rung by and through any customary and suitable electrical
devices.
Dated this 12th dar of September 1805
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Periodically Ringing Bells and Sounding Whistles,
Syrens, or the like, and Registering the same, and in Electrical
Apparatus therefor.
I FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 21 Tollington Park Holloway in the County
of Middlesex Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This my present invention relates to such electrical apparatus for periodically
ringing bells and sounding whistles syrens or the like and registering the same as is
described in the Specification of the Patent granted unto me and dated the 14th
day of March 1890 under Number 4011 of 1890 and the objects thereof are to make
the apparatus much more simple and less likely to get out of order to cause the
registration surely to indicate whether a bell or a whistle or a syren or other and
what appliance has been rung or sounded or operated and to enable a comparatively
weak current of electricity to sound or operate a whistle or a syren or other
appliance whatever may be the pressure of steam or air or the like on the valve of
such appliance.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have shewn
a very suitable and convenient form and style of construction and arrangement of
my apparatus when and as fitted to operate two appliances and to register such
operation and Figure 1 is a side elevation of this apparatus Figure 2 is a plan of
the same and Figure 3 is a transverse elevation of the same taken sectionally at a b
in Figure 2.
In a convenient position on a suitable base A or otherwise is placed any
appropriate clockwork mechanism which is not shown in the drawing as it may be
of any ordinary kind and style but which is presumed to be enclosed in the
casing A and on a certain desired wheel or spindle of such mechanism is mounted
a cam or a disc B with a projecting pin or lug B1 by which either two insulated
contact bars C normally apart from each other can be pressed together or as is
perhaps preferable the projecting pin B may itself constitute one of the required
two contact bars in which case the insulated contact bar C is electrically connected
with a battery or other source of electricity by an insulated wire C' and the pin
or contact bar B' is electrically connected with the same source of electricity
either by a wire B2 and through the frame of the clockwork mechanism and thence
by an insulated wire or directly by an insulated wire or when there are two contact
bars C the cam or disc B is insulated and each bar C is separately connected with
the source of electricity by an insulated wire. The movement of the clockwork
mechanism and therefore also of the cam or disc B is so regulated and arranged
that for a certain predetermined time and at certain predetermined intervals the
pin or contact bar B is touching the contact bar C or the two contact bars Care
touching each other and the electrical circuit is closed and vice versa.
In a convenient position near the casing A' is mounted on the base A or other-
wise a reel or roller D whereon is wound a long riband or strip E of paper or
other suitable material of a desired breadth and on a certain desired wheel or
spindle of the clockwork mechanism is mounted in a proper relative position is
respect of the reel D a suitable roller F whereabove may be arranged a corre-
sponding but loose roller F which may be carried by a properly pivoted arm Fl so
that it can rest with all its weight on the roller F. The riband E when it leaves
the reel D passes between these two rollers F and F being clasped between the
peripheries thereof and the movement of the clockwork mechanisin causes the

page_text: roller F to revolve at a certain predetermined speed and therefore to draw
the riband E off the reel D also at a certain predetermined speed to ensure which
action the surfaces of these rollers F and F2 may be roughened or otherwise treated
as may be desired or these rollers F and F may be geared together in any usual
manner. In a proper relative position in respect of the rollers F and F2 is mounted
on the base A or otherwise another reel or roller D' which can take the riband E
from the rollers F and 2 and wind it up on itself being preferably actuated and
revolved for this purpose by suitable mechanism D' which is sufficiently strong to
maintain a due tension on this riband E but not so strong as to cause the same to
travel at a faster rate than has been predetermined as is hereinbefore mentioned.
Any other suitable and ordinary appliances and devices may be arranged and
employed to cause this riband to travel as is desired at a certain predetermined
speed as may be convenient in each particular case. The riband can be marked
by transverse lines each of which will represent the lapse of a certain predetermined
time and also it may be in the case of the apparatus shewn in the drawing by a
longitudinally central line to indicate which of the two appliances has been operated
while the transverse lines indicate when this appliance has been operated or this
riband can be otherwise marked or formed or treated as may be desired in each
particular case to afford the same or other information.
In the proper relative position on the one side of the riband E after it has left
the rollers F and F is erected on the base A or otherwise a standard G whereon is
pivoted a transverse finger or bar H the one end whereof carries in any ordinary
manner a pencil or pen K or other appliance that can mark the riband E as it
travels directly beneath the same and to the other end of this finger H on the other
side of the standard G can be fitted a spring H¹ in teusion or any other ordinary
device may be provided that will normally retain the operating arm of the finger H
in such position that the pencil K or the like does not touch and therefore mark
the riband E. To this finger H is applied in any convenient and usual or other
manner an. electro-magnet or similar appliance which when an electric current is
sent therethrough can draw the operating arm of the finger H downwards and in
the drawing a very suitable arrangement is shewn wherein a bobbin L of insulated
wire is placed near the standard G and the rod L' of the armature thereof is
jointed to the operating arm of the finger H. The electro-magnet that is to say in
this case the bobbin Lis enclosed in the electrical circuit hereinbefore mentioned
which can be closed by the revolution of the cam or dise B and when and while this
circuit is so closed in manner as is hereinbefore described the current of electricity
through the electro-magnet L will draw down the finger H as is shewn in Figure 3
and cause the pencil K or the like to mark the riband E whereunder in this place
a table K can very conveniently be arranged and provided to support the riband E
and allow the pencil K or the like to press thereon but when the circuit is opened
also in manner as is herein before described and as is shewn in Figure 1 the
finger H will be released and allowed to regain its normal position and the pencil K
or the like will no longer mark the riband E.
When as is herein before stated and as is shewn in the drawing this apparatus is
constracted and arranged to register the operation of two appliances a similar
standard G is correspondingly erected on the other side of the ribaud E whereon is
complementarily pivoted a similar finger H. carrying a similar pencil K or the like
which finger H likewise is actuated by another similar electro-magnet Lin the
same manner and for the same purpose and this electro-magnet L likewise is
enclosed in any ordinary manner in the electrical circuit herein before mentioned
and the current of electricity can be directed through either electro-magnet L by
any suitable and customary switch or otherwise. It may oftentimes be very
convenient and especially when this apparatus is used on board a steamship to
provide therewith the switch board described and shewn in the Specification of my
Patent No. 4011 of 1890 hereinbefore mentioned in which case three terminals M
could be fitted on the base A for this circuit one of which terminals M would be
electrically connected with say the cam or disc B and through the battery or other

page_text: source of electricity with the proper part of the switch and each of the other
terminals M would be electrically connected separately with the proper part of the
switch and through one of the electro-magnets L with the contact bar C.
In the same manner this apparatus could be constructed and arranged to register
the operation of three or more appliances a corresponding number of similar fingers
each actuated by its own electro-magnet being similarly pivoted on standards and
provided with pencils or the like to mark the riband.
In every case also the riband could have a corresponding number of longitudinal
spaces to indicate which appliance has been operated or this information could be
given by the use of different colours or otherwise in any convenient manner as may
be desired in each particular case.
Each finger when in manner as is hereinbefore described it is drawn down by its
own electro-magnet into such a position as is shewn in Figure 3 that the pencil or
the like carried thereby cau mark the riband further simultaneously closes by and
through any ordinary electrical appliances and devices another electrical circuit
provided therefor. Íshew in the drawing a very convenient and suitable arrange-
ment wherein two insulated contact posts N are erected in the proper relative
positions it may be on the end of the table K' herein before described each of which
contact posts N is separately connected with a battery or other source of electricity
by an insulated wire N' and on the underside of the finger H is complementarily
fitted an insulated contact piece P preferably perhaps a point of a V shape which
can enter between the free ends of the contact posts N and touch them both or
this contact piece P may be a bridge or the like which can touch the ends of both
the contact posts N and thus in either case when the finger H is drawn down by its
electro-magnet L this second electrical circuit is closed and vice versa. In this
circuit is enclosed the arranged for bell or whistle or syren or other appliance or
the operating and working parts thereof which can be rung or sounded or operated
in any convenient and usual or other manner and by any suitable and ordinary or
other devices while and so long as this circuit is closed by the finger H and a
current of electricity passes therethrough or that is to say while and so long as the
clockwork mechanism causes the pin or contact bar B' to touch the contact bar C
or the cam or disc B to make the two contact bars C touch each other as is
hereinbefore described.
When as is herein before stated and as is shewn in the drawing this apparatus is
constructed and arranged to operate two appliances similar contact posts N are
erected it may be on the other end of the table K¹ and a similar contact piece P is
fitted on the other finger H which likewise can touch both these contact posts N
when this finger H. is drawn down by its electro-magnet L in the same manner and
for the same purpose and these contact posts N likewise are enclosed in any
ordinary manner in the electrical circuit hereinbefore mentioned.
In this case
also three terminals M could be fitted on the base A for this circuit one of which
terminals M would be electrically connected with one of each pair of contact
posts N and with the battery or other source of electricity and each of the other
terminals M would be electrically connected with the other of each pair of contact
posts N and through the bell or whistle or syren or other appliance with the battery
or other source of electricity.
In the same manner this apparatus could be constructed and arranged to operate
three or more appliances a corresponding number of similar pairs of contact posts
being similarly erected and a corresponding number of similar contact pieces being
similarly fitted on a corresponding number of similar fingers.
Thus and in this manner as is hereinbefore described the desired or required bell
or whistle or syren or other appliance as is arranged for by the action of the switch
r other similar device directing the first before mentioned current of electricity
hrough the proper electro-magnet will be rung or sounded or operated while and
when or that is to say for such periods and at such intervals as may have been
redetermined and such ringing or sounding or operating will be registered and
ndicated as is desired.

page_text: A bell could generally be rung by and through any customary and suitable
electrical devices directly and immediately and so also can a whistle or a syren or
other appliance be sounded or operated when it may be possible so to do.
In many cases however the pressure of the steam or air or the like on the valve
of the whistle or syren or other appliances is too great to allow the comparatively
weak current of electricity that I prefer to use in and for this apparatus to be
capable of opening or actuating such valve and when this is the case or whenever
desired I provide the apparatus now to be described and of which Figure 4 is a
section as and when applied to a steam whistle.
Near the whistle is arranged a cylinder R of a greater diameter or transverse
area than the throat of such whistle wherein the ordinary valve is placed and in
this cylinder R is fitted a piston T the rod T¹ whereof passes out through the cover
or top of such cylinder R and the end of this piston rod T¹ may engage under a
spur T formed therefor on the ordinary valve lever in such wise that the raising of
this spur T opens the valve of the whistle or in other appropriate manner and by
and through other suitable appliances and devices the raising of the piston T may
open this valve.
Below the cylinder R is fitted a valve casing V which is in
communication with the steam pipe of the whistle below the valve therein through
a pipe and close to this valve casing V is arranged a solenoid or an electro-
magnet W which is enclosed in the second before mentioned electrical circuit which
can be closed by the finger H. A small passage V2 is made between the valve
casing and the cylinder R entering the sanie below the piston T and this
passage can be governed in any ordinary manner by an horizontally sliding
valve which could be connected to the core of the solenoid W when properly placed
therefor it may be horizontally by rods and if necessary bell crank levers or other
ordinary devices or this passage V2 can also and perhaps preferably be governed
likewise in any ordinary manner by a vertically sliding valve X on the end of the
rod whereof is an head X which constitutes an armature for the electro-magnet W
when properly placed therefor it may be vertically. These parts are so arranged
that when the current passes through the solenoid or the electro-magnet W the
core or the armature X is drawn therein or thereto whereby the passage V2 is
uncovered or opened by the valve and steam is admitted into the cylinder Rand
vice versa when the current is cut off the passage V2 is covered or closed and any
suitable springs or the like may if required be fitted to the valve or to the red
thereof to ensure that this valve shall close the passage V2 immediately the
current is so cut off. The rod of the valve may if desired be packed or provided
with a gland where it passes out of the valve casing V or as is perhaps preferable
the whole apparatus may be enclosed in a suitable casing R¹. The passage V2
may be of any convenient size but it is obvious that it must not be so large as to
necessitate the use of a valve to govern the same that cannot be actuated by the
current of electricity used in this apparatus against or notwithstanding the pressure
of the steam.
The steam can be exhausted or allowed to escape from the cylinder R when
necessary in any convenient and usual or other manner. For example an hole of
the desired size may be made in the walls of the cylinder R in the required
position in its length which would be uncovered when the piston T is raised
sufficiently or the horizontally sliding valve could be so formed as is customary to
govern not only the admission passage but also in a similar manner an exhaust or
exit passage properly made therefor in any ordinary or other manner or a separate
exhaust or exit passage Z can perhaps preferably be made through the valve
casing V which would likewise be governed in any ordinary manner by a vertically
sliding valve Z the rod whereof is jointed to one arm of a rocking lever W the
other arm thereof being either connected to the core of the solenoid W or provided
with an bead W2 which constitutes au armature for the electro-magnet W. These
parts likewise are so arranged that when the current passes through the solenoid
or the electro-magnet W the core or the armature W is drawn therein or thereto
whereby the passage Z is closed by the valve Z' and the exit of steam from the

page_text: cylinder Ris prevented and vice versa when the current is cut off the passage Z is-
opened and the steam can escape through this passage Z and it may be through
the pipe Z and any suitable springs or the like may if required be fitted to the
valve or to the rod thereof to ensure that this valve shall open the passage Z
immediately the current is so cut off.
Thus and in this manner as is hereinbefore described when steam is admitted
into the cylinder R below the piston T the resistance of the steam below the valve
of the whistle is speedily overcome and this piston T is raised whereby the valve
of the whistle is opened and the whistle is sounded which sounding continues while
and so long as the current of electricity passes through the solenoid or the electro-
magnet W but when the current is cut off the supply of steam into the cylinder R
is also cut off and this steam being allowed to escape the piston T rapidly descends
and the valve of the whistle is closed and any suitable springs or the like may if
required be fitted to the piston or to the rod thereof to ensure that this piston shall
descend immediately the supply of steam is so cut off.
In a similar manner the valves of syrens and of many other appliances an l
apparatus that are sounded or operated by steam or air or the like under pressur >
can be fitted and could be actuated by a comparatively weak current of electricity
in every case the solenoid or the electro-magnet being so placed in such positio
and such a valve or valves being fitted in such wise and connected with the solenoid
or the electro-magnet by and through such electrical devices as are capable of
being actuated by the same and such a passage or passages for the steam or air or
the like being provided as are appropriate for the governance of the same by
the valve or valves as may be convenient or expedient or necessary in each
particular case.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing as is
herein before stated a very suitable and convenient form and style of construction
and arrangement of this my apparatus and of the several parts thereof but I would
have it clearly understood as indeed is sufficiently obvious that I do in no wise
limit myself exactly and precisely thereto for this apparatus and each and all of the
several parts thereof may be made and constructed of such shapes and styles an
forms and may be fitted and caused to fulfil their several functions and may b.>
arranged in such positions both absolutely and relatively and in such manner as
may be advisable or preferable or perhaps even obligatory in each particular cas
having regard it may be to the position or positions in which the apparatus and
the bell and the whistle and the syren and the other appliance or any one or more
of them is or are placed and the source of the electricity that is to be used and
the other surrounding circumstances.
In the use of this apparatus and especially perhaps on board a steamship it may
be very convenient to allow for the capability of ringing the bell or of sounding or
operating the whistle or syren or other appliance without waiting for the periodicity
hereinbefore mentioned or even when this apparatus is not being driven by the
clockwork mechanism as is hereinbefore described in which case one or two or
more ordinary electrical pushes could be provided on the switchboard or elsewhere
each of which could in the customary manner or otherwise close the second before
mentioned electrical circuit either in connection with the beli or the whistle or the
syren or the other appliance and thus cause the same to be rung or sounded or
operated as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A rotating cam or disc B two contact bars C or B and C to be operated by
the cain or disc B conductors between these bars C or B and C and a source of
electricity an electro-magnet L enclosed in this circuit a pivoted marking finger H
to be actuated by the electro-magnet L and a travelling riband E to be marked
by the finger H in combination with a contact piece P on the finger H two contact

page_text: posts N to be touched by the piece P conductors between these posts N and a
source of electricity and an electrically operated bell or whistle or syren or other
appliance enclosed in this latter circuit substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and declared.
2. The combination with the valve of a whistle or syren or other appliance
sounded or operated by steam or air or the like of a cylinder R a piston T in the
cylinder R with a piston rod T' to actuate the valve of the whistle or syren or
other appliance a valve casing V under the cylinder R with a pipe V₁ between the
same and the steam or air or other supply pipe a passage V2 between the casing V
and the cylinder R under the piston Ta valve to govern the passage V2 a solenoid
or an electro-magnet W with devices and connections to actuate the valve of the
passage V2 and conductors between this solenoid or electro-magnet W and a
source of electricity means being provided for allowing the exit of steam from
the cylinder R substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
declared.
3. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances constituting my
improved electrical apparatus for periodically ringing bells and sounding whistles
syrens or the like and registering the same substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 11th day of June 1896.
HART & Co.,
168, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.