IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING BELLS BY MEANS OF THREE OSCILLATING LEVERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gilbert Eguillon, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol,,
Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING BELLS BY MEANS OF THREE OSCILLATING
LEVERS,"
Sealed the 7th May 1869, and dated the 20th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gilbert Eguillon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th November 1868.
I, GILBERT EGUILLON, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the
Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING BELLS BY MEANS OF THREE
OSCILLATING LEVERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in suspending bells by means of three oscil-
lating levers, which are represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 shows their position when the bell is in repose; Fig. 2 shows
their position when the bell has reached its maximum of elevation. The
three levers are indicated by the letters D, G, H; F, I, J; E, K, L;

page_text: and are placed or arranged on the pivot or axis of the bell o, which pivot
touches each of them at a single point m, n, x, as shown in Fig. 1; in
Fig. 2 it appears to touch them at several points, but this is when it has
reached the end of its course.
In the Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, no frame is shown, the dotted lines
A B, A C, B C, serving to illustrate the plan in which the fulcrums
of the levers work; the points A, B, C, appear isolated from the
respective levers, because the latter are only partly shown; the dotted
lines A E, B D, CE, mark the continuation of the levers, the reason
of only showing which in part in the Drawings is that I do not confine
myself to any particular form, either for their termination or for their
Bupport, as it is immaterial to my system..
The length of the levers would be regulated according to the weight
and dimensions of the bell, for instance, a certain length of lever being
determined it should be taken as a radius for describing the curve of
the apertures on which the pivot turns, otherwise the play of the levers
will be impeded; the levers may be unequal, but then the curve of
each lever should be described with the length of each taken as a radius.
In explaining more fully the action of this system the levers will only
be mentioned by a single letter, that of their point of suspension; thus
the letter A designates the lever A, F, I, J, the letter B that of the
lever B, D, G, H, the letter C that C, E, K, L. When the bell is at
rest it is borne to the point x by the lever A, which alone sustains it;
the action of this lever while the bell is in motion moves in a perpen-
dicular manner; when the bell turns on its axis from left to right. it
acquires a centrifugal force, which brings it violently to that position,
a lever is therefore necessary to resist this force; this the lever C effects.
The force of translation to the right acts on the lever at the point n in
the same manner; the weight of the bell at rest acts on the lever A, at
the point ; but on the other hand, when the bell moves from right to
left the lever B acts the same part as the lever C, and attains the same
end; thus the force of translation acts as much on the lever C at the
point n as on the lever B at the point m according as its backward and
forward movement is effected from left to right or from right to left.
In order to comprehend in what manner the oscillation of the levers
under the action of the pivot in rotating is effected it will be necessary
to compare the Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents the levers at rest, the pivot o then acts on the centre

page_text: of the curve or opening therein at the points m, n, x; on examining
the Fig. 2 the same points are represented, but they are no longer the
points of action of the pivot o; this Fig. representing the levers when
the bell has reached its maximum elevation the pivot acts only at the
points m, n, x, in such wise that the bell moving from left to right has
left the perpendicular, the pivot has changed its points of contact on the
curves m, n, x, till it comes to act on the points m, n, x, when the
bell retraces its steps and regains its perpendicular position, the pivot
imparting to the curves a backward and forward motion runs on them
the same course that it has already run without changing its centre of
action, and when the bell again leaves the perpendicular to move to
the left the pivot passes over the second part of the curves without
displacing its centre of action in the same manner that it has passed
over the first part; this latter movement is not shown in the Drawings
as it is the same as the first and is produced in the same manner.
pivot imparts to the lever the different motions of right or left, according
as the points of its circumference with which the levers are in contact go
from right to left or left to right. The pivot turns on the curves without
sliding, and it is in turning without losing its centre of action that it
iniparts to the levers a backward and forward motion.
The
The disposition or arrangement of the levers is an essential feature
in my Invention, as the pivot is acted on by the openings in the levers
in the same manner as, but in place of gear wheels, and the points of
suspension being chosen at will on the whole length of the frame in a
plan perpendicular to the axis of the bell admits of the levers being any
desired length, giving increased power of action and a regular and even
motion. By reason of this facility of having the fulcrums of the levers
at any desired point the necessity of employing a frame is obviated;
this will be more clearly understood in reference to Fig. 1; in lieu of
having the points A, B, C, attached to the frame in a plan perpendicular
to the axis of the bell the point A may be attached to a cross beam or
other solid object placed above the belfry and resting on its walls. The
points B, C, may be connected at the base of the belfry or to the
masonry itself or any other appropriate support; in this latter case the
line B, S, C, would indicate this support, the form of which it is
unnecessary to describe, as it may vary ad infinitum according to circum-
stances. In saying that the three points A, B, C, may be fixed at any
part of the plan perpendicular to the axis of the bell I intend to imply

page_text: that these three points may be distanced one from the other as desired,
but I do not wish it to be supposed that they may be fixed otherwise
than shown in the Drawings, or below the horizontal line supposed to
pass through the pivot o, as the principal feature of the Invention
consists in always selecting the three points of suspension of the levers,
so that the lever A which sustains the bell in repose should always have
its point of suspension above the horizontal line above mentioned, and
in the perpendicular which cuts the said line in the centre of the pivot a,
and in order also that the levers B and C should have their points of
suspension always below the said horizontal line. The advantages of
this system of hanging bells by means of suspended oscillating levers is,
that the pivot turning on the bent and polished surfaces cannot escape
in any way, being drawn by the levers in three different manners without
any great friction, but simply a rotating friction, and the advantages of
doing away with any framework is very great. And should a belfry
be employed or not it is of the greatest importance to fix the points of
suspension as already described, as no harm can happen to the belfry
should there be one, nor to the steeple in the absence of the belfry.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Gilbert Eguillon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GILBERT
EGUILLON, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the Empire of
France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Gilbert Eguillon, Her special licence that I,
the said Gilbert Eguillon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Gilbert Eguillon, 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 Channel Islands, and

page_text: Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OP SUSPENDING
BELLS BY MEANS OF THREE OSCILLATING LEVERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Gilbert Eguillon, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 Gilbert Eguillon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in suspending bells by means of three oscil-
lating levers.
Fig. 1 shows the position they occupy when the bell is in repose;
Figure 2 shows their position when the bell has reached its maximum
elevation; in these two Drawings the levers are indicated by the
letters DG H, FIJ, EK L, and are placed or arranged on the pivot
or axis of the bell o, which pivot touches each of them at a single
point m, n, x, as shown in Fig. 1; in Fig. 2 it appears to touch them at
several points, but this is when it has reached the end of its course;
Figs. 3 and 4 represent a front and side view of my principle, but with
an augmentation in the number of levers, and will be mentioned
hereafter.
In the Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, no frame is shown, the dotted
lines A B, A C, B C, serving to illustrate the plan in which the
fulcrums of the levers work; the points A, B, C, appear isolated from
their respective levers because the latter are only partly shown; the
dotted lines A F, B D, C E, mark the continuation of the levers, the
reason of only showing which in part in the Drawings is that I do not
confine myself to any particular form either for their support or for their
termination, as it is immaterial to my system.
The length of the levers would be regulated according to the weight
and dimensions of the bell, for instance, a certain length of lever being
determined it should be taken as a radius for describing the curve of the
apertures on which the pivot turns, otherwise the play of the levers

page_text: would be impeded; the levers may be unequal, but then the curve of
each should be described, with the length of each taken as a radius.
In explaining more fully the action of this system the levers will only
be mentioned by a single letter, that of their point of suspension, thus
the letter A designates the lever A, F, I, J, the letter B, that of the
lever B, D, G, H, the letter C, that C, E, K, L. When the bell is at
rest it is borne to the point x by the lever A, which alone sustains it;
the action of this lever while the bell is in motion moves in a perpen-
dicular manner; when the bell turns on its axis from left to right it
acquires a centrifugal force which brings it violently to that position, a
lever is therefore necessary to resist this force, this the lever C effects.
The force of translation to the right acts on the lever at the point n;
in the same manner the weight of the bell at rest acts on the lever A
at the point ; but on the other hand when the bell moves from right
to left the lever B acts the same part as the lever C, and attains the
same end, thus the force of translation acts as much on the lever C
at the point n as on the lever B at the point m according as its
backward and forward movement is effected from left to right or from
right to left.
In order to comprehend in what manner the oscillation of the levers
under the action of the pivot in rotating is effected it will be necessary
to compare the Figures 1 and 2.
Fig. 1 represents the levers at rest, the pivot o then acts on the
centre of the curve or opening therein at the points m, n, x; on
examining the Fig. 2 the same points are represented, but they are no
longer the points of action of the pivot; this Figure representing the
levers when the bell has reached its maximum elevation, the pivot acts
only at the points m', n', x¹, in such wise that the bell moving from left
to right has left the perpendicular, the pivot has changed is points of
contact on the curves m, m¹, n, n¹, x, x¹, till it comes to act on the
points m¹, n', x', when the bell retraces its steps and regains its perpen-
dicular position; the pivot imparting to the curves a backward and
forward motion runs on them the same course that it has already run
without changing its centre of action, and when the bell again leaves
the perpendicular to move to the left the pivot passes over the second
part of the curves without displacing its centre of action in the same
manner that it has passed over the first part; this latter movement is
not shown in the Drawings, as it is the same as the first and is produced

page_text: manner,
motions of right or left according as the points of its circumference with
which the levers are in contact go from right to left or vice versa. The
pivot turns on the curves without sliding, and it is in turning without
losing its centre of motion that it imparts to the levers a backward and
forward motion.
The disposition or arrangement of the levers is an essential feature
of my Invention, as the pivot is acted on by the openings in the levers
in the same manner as, but in place of gear wheels, and the points of
suspension being chosen at will on the whole length of the frame in a
plan perpendicular to the axis of the bell admits of the levers being any
desired length, giving increased power of action and a regular and even
motion. By reason of this facility of having the fulcrums of the levers
at any desired point the necessity of employing a complicated frame is
obviated; this will be more clearly understood on reference to Fig. 1;
in lieu of having the points A, B, C, attached to the frame in a plan.
perpendicular to the axis of the bell the point A may be attached to a
cross beam or other solid object placed above the belfry and resting on
its walls. The points B, C, may be connected at the base of the belfry
or to the masonry itself or any other appropriate support; in this latter
case the line B, S, C, would indicate this support, the form of which it is
unnecessary to describe as it may vary ad infinitum according to cir-
cumstances. In saying that the three points A, B, C, may be fixed
at any part of the plan perpendicular to the axis of the bell I intend to
imply that these three points may be distanced one from the other as
desired; but I do not wish it to be supposed that they may be fixed
otherwise than shown in the Drawings or below the horizontal line
supposed to pass through the pivot o, as the principal feature of the
Invention consists always selecting the three points of suspension of
the levers so that the lever A which sustains the bell in repose should
always have its point of suspension above the horizontal line above
mentioned and in the perpendicular which cuts the said line in the
centre of the pivot o, and in order also that the levers B and C should
have their points of suspension always below the said horizontal line.
The advantages of this system of hanging bells by means of suspended
oscillating levers is, that the pivot turning on the bent and polished
surfaces cannot escape in any way, being drawn by the levers in three
different manners without any great friction, but simply a rotating

page_text: friction, and the advantage of doing away with any massive framework
is very great, and should a belfry be employed or not it is of the greatest
importance to fix the points of suspension as already described, as no
harm can happen to the belfry, should there be one, nor to the steeple
in the absence of the belfry.
Figs. 3 and 4 will more fully explain my system; in these two Figures
a bell is represented as hung by six levers; the parts marked A represent
the sides of the turret or belfry, and B is a beam resting thereon and
serves as the point of suspension of the bell by aid of the screws M and
beam E; all the pieces marked C form parts of a solid block of wood
which rests in the turret; this is fixed to the pieces A by means of four
screws, and serves as a fulcrum to the levers B', C', destined to check
the jerking of the bell. The two uprights D serve as rests and fulcrums
to the small screws o for regulating the motion of the axis of the bell.
The parts marked E are blade-shaped at their extremities, and on which
the six levers rest, their tension on the axis o being regulated by nut
screws. A¹, B¹, C', are the levers, through the apertures in the heads
of which the axis o passes; these levers impart a backward and forward
motion to the bell.
These Drawings represent the system without the use of an ordinary
belfry. I do not wish it understood that I can entirely do away with
framework, but what I make use of is less costly than a belfry.
What I claim as my Invention is, the mode of suspending bells by
means of oscillating levers in the manner described and illustrated by
the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gilbert Eguillon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
GILBERT EGUILLON. (L.S.)
E. HÉLÉRE.