Improved Means for Sounding or Ringing Bells, Alarm Gongs, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Sounding or Ringing Bells, Alarm Gongs, and
the like.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY, of the Firm of W. H. Bailey and Company
Limited, of Albion Works, Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Brassfounders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to mechanism for ringing bells, sounding alarm gongs and
the like, said mechanism being actuated by steam or other fluid pressure.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount the bell hammer on a lever pivoted
to a convenient support and connected to a piston rod which preferably passes
through a central opening in the top of the bell. The lower end of the piston rod
passes through a stuffing box into a steam chamber and has two pistons of different
areas upon it, the smaller of which controls the passage for the exhaust.
In operation when steam is turned on it flows uninterruptedly through a small
opening into the steam chamber and acting upon the larger piston causes it and the
piston rod to rise thereby raising the bell hammer and its lever; but when the
piston has travelled a certain distance the smaller piston leaves the open cylinder
by which it is guided and allows steam to escape through the exhaust and the piston
rod to descend. In order to accelerate the downward motion of the piston rod the
exhaust steam acts upon a disc or plate carried by an extension of the piston rod
below the smaller piston, and so causes the hammer to be brought sharply into
contact with the bell.
The exhaust passage is closed by the smaller piston before the piston rod has
reached its lowest position consequently steam will have already filled or partially
filled the steam chamber thus making an effective cushion for the piston the
elasticity of the cushion lifting the hammer from the bell the instant it has given a
stroke and thereby ensuring a clear, sharp sound.
The hammer will be actuated regularly so long as steam or other fluid under
pressure is allowed to flow into the steam or other fluid chamber.
Dated this 25th day of November 1892
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Sounding or Ringing Bells, Alarm Gongs, and
the like.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY, of the Firm of W. H. Bailey and Company
Limited, of Albion Works, Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and
Brassfounders, 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 :-
My invention relates to mechanism for ringing bells, sounding alarm gongs and
the like, said mechanism being actuated by steam or other fluid pressure.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount the bell hammer on a lever pivoted
to a convenient support and connected to a piston rod which preferably passes
through a central opening in the top of the bell. The lower end of the piston rod
passes through a stuffing box into a steam chamber and has two pistons of different
areas upon it, the smaller of which controls the passage for the exhaust.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into

page_text: effect I will describe the accompanying sheet of drawings reference being had to
the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bell and my improved means for sounding
or ringing the same and
Fig. 2 shows an alternative arrangement according to my invention.
Referring first to Figure 1,-(a) designates the bell, (b) the hammer head and
(c) its handle or lever which is fulcrumed at (d) to a bracket or projection (a') and
also pivoted at (e) to a rod (e) which passes down centrally through the bell and is
jointed below at (e²) to a piston rod (f) upon which are two pistons (f¹) (f³) of
different areas and a disc or plate (f³). The piston rod (f) passes through the
guide or stuffing box (g) into the steam chamber (h) to which steam or other fluid
under pressure is admitted from a supply pipe (i).
In operation when steam is turned on it flows uninterruptedly from the pipe (i)
through a small opening into the steam chamber (h) and acting upon the larger
piston (f) causes it, the piston rod (f) and connecting rod (e) to rise thereby
raising the bell hammer (b) and its lever (c); but when the piston (1) has
travelled a certain distance the smaller piston (2) leaves the open cylinder (h¹) by
which it is guided and allows steam to escape through the exhaust (k) and the
piston rod (f) to descend. In order to accelerate the downward motion of the
piston rod (f) the exhaust steam acts upon the disc or plate (ƒ³) carried by 2
the extension of the piston rod (f) below the smaller piston (2) and so causes the
hammer (b) to be brought sharply into contact with the bell (a).
The exhaust passage (k) is closed by the smaller piston (2) before the piston
rod (f) has reached its lowest position consequently steam will have already filled
or partially filled the steam chamber () thus making an effective cushion for the 2
piston (f) the elasticity of the cushion lifting the hammer (6) from the bell (a)
the instant it has given a stroke, and thereby ensuring a clear, sharp sound.
The hammer (b) will be actuated regularly so long as steam or other fluid under
pressure is allowed to flow into the steam or other fluid chamber (h).
When water or other liquid under pressure is employed instead of a steam or 3
other elastic fluid as the medium for actuating the piston rod (f) an air vessel is
placed at a convenient point between the source of supply and the inlet so that
when the pistons rise above their seatings and open the exhaust passage (k) the air
compressed in the said vessel forces the water or other liquid out of the fluid
chamber (h) and so allows the piston rod (f) to descend. The flange or lip (ƒ) 3
is formed on the piston (¹) to regulate the height to the lift when liquid is
employed.
In the alternative arrangement illustrated by Figure 2 the bell hammer lever (c)
is connected by a cord or other connection (1) to a lever (m) which is weighted
at (m) and fulcrumed at (n) to a standard or frame which supports the steam 4
chamber (h). The lever (m) is also pivoted to the piston rod (f) which has
pistons (¹) (2) and disc or plate (3), not shown, arranged to, work as described
in reference to Fig. 1.
In operation when the piston rod (ƒ) is caused to rise by the pressure of fluid
admitted to the chamber () it raises the weighted end of the lever (m) and by the 4
connection (1) draws down the lever (c) and lifts the hammer (b) and when the
exhaust passage (k) is opened the piston rod (f) descends and lets the hammer (b)
drop smartly on to the bell (a), a clear sharp sound being obtained by using a
plate or check spring (o) which lifts the hammer (6) just clear of the bed (a)
immediately after a stroke has been given.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
5
1. The combination with the hammer of a bell or gong, of a piston actuated by
fluid under pressure for the purpose of operating the hammer and striking the bell 5
substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: 2. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting an improved
means of sounding bells and the like substantially as herein described with reference
to Fig. 1.
2. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting an improved
means of sounding bells and the like substantially as herein described with reference
to Fig. 2.
11 ol of Amanat 1893.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.