Improvements in Bell Buoys.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bell Buoys.
I, JASPER GIBSON, of 51 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Bell Buoys, and has for its object especially
to remedy the inefficiency of the existing bell-buoys as used by the Corporation of
Trinity House, and may entirely supersede such bell-buoys, in exposed positions, or
may be used as auxiliary to and in conjunction with those constructed according to
my invention and for which Provisional Protection was applied for and Dated
December 18th 1888 No. 18,499.
Instead of fixing the bell to the deck of the buoy as heretofore, I suspend it at a
suitable height from the top frame work or dome thereof by means of a ball and
socket joint or other suitable device, and through the bell I pass a rod from the joint
to a point slightly below the underside or bottom of the bell. Above the bell and at
a suitable height therefrom, I attach a circular or other framework upon which are
mounted, with ball and socket joints or other suitable means, three or more clappers
in such a manner that the strikers or hammers may hang in close proximity to the
periphery of the bell. Immediately under the bottom of the bell and securely
fastened to the upper framework thereof, I attach a ring or series of rings of suitable
size and strength in order that the lower end of the rod or the appendages connected
thereto by one or more ball and socket joints shall strike against the ring or rings
and so check any unnecessary and inconvenient lateral movement of the bell and its
appendent clappers. Or 1 may have a flexible or springy termination to the said rod
in lieu of the said appendages.
Or in lieu of the ring or rings I may employ a cup or conical receptacle to effect
the same result. Or again I may use chains or like fastenings for checking such lateral
movement and causing the clappers to ring the bell.
The above mentioned framework should be set loose upon the rod between two
collars so as to be capable of revolving and it should be weighted where one of the
clappers is attached so as to secure that the framework shall revolve on the buoy being
thrown by the sea to a sharp angle, and thus prevent the hanging of any one of the
clappers on the bell.
By my invention the danger of the clappers hanging against the bell so as to
prejudice its clear tone, as is the case with the present construction of buoys used
by the said Corporation of Trinity House is removed, and further, the other clappers
will not be liable to hang uselessly away from the bell as is often the case with such
existing Bell Buoys.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bell Buoys.
1, JASPER GIBSON, of 51 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, in the County-of-Middlesex,
Solicitor, 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 Invention relates to Improvements in Bell-Buoys and has for its object to
remedy the inefficiency of Bell-Buoys as at present constructed.

page_text: By my Invention I secure practically a continuous ringing of the bell during rough
weather when one or other of the clappers of the four-clapper bell-buoy hitherto used
is or are liable to hang against the bell and so prejudice its tone whilst the remainder
hang away inactive.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I have hereto annexed
drawings illustrative of the manner in which it may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a buoy provided with my improved apparatus
for sounding the bell and Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
The same letters refer to the same parts in each figure.
A is the floating body of the buoy to the sides or deck of which are bolted or
otherwise secured bars B which extend upwards in a converging manner and finally
meet in a central hub B¹. To the lower portion of this hub is screwed a socket C
-which-in-conjunction-with the ball-c-forms a.ball_and_socket_joint. To the ball c is
fixed a rod D between collars d-on which is loosely supported a disc or wheel E whilst
lower down between collars d' is similarly supported a bell E'. Around the rim of
the disc E are hung a series of clappers (three) or strikers E' supported, preferably,
by ball and socket joints e such strikers being so arranged as to hang some distance
from the periphery of the bell when the buoy is floating vertically as shewn in the
drawings but being free to impinge upon the same when the buoy oscillates. The
disc E is weighted near its outer edge by means of a weight E³ fixed thereto, such
weight causing the disc to revolve when the buoy is subjected to violent oscillations
whereby the possibility of any one of the three clappers resting against the bell and
thereby checking the vibrations thereof is obviated."
In fixing or fitting the abovementioned rod D to the top framework of the buoy I
sometimes find it desirable to suspend the same in-ball bearings or similar anti-friction
gear upon which the disc can revolve more freely than when supported by the ball
and socket joint. The same arrangement applies equally to the suspension of the
rod D and to the bearings d¹ for supporting the disc E as shewn in detail in
Figure 3.
It is also advisable that the freedom of motion allowed to the clappers in the
direction of swinging away from the bell should be limited and for this purpose I
employ a ring e fixed either to the disc E as shewn or to the Ironwork B forming
the upper portion or dome of the buoy. The ring by thus limiting the oscillations of
the clappers will cause the same to strike more frequently against the bell.
The object of employing ball bearings both for the suspension of the rod D) and
the disc or ring E is to make doubly sure of the disc revolving with every oscillation
of the buoy.
Having thus 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. In a Bell-Buoy such as described, the employment of a disc or wheel such as E
mounted so as to revolve on a central spindle D and carrying clappers E³, substantially
as described.
2. In a Bell-Buoy, the combination of the bell E¹, weighted revolving disc E
and clappers E, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
3. In a Bell-Buoy, the combination of the bell E', weighted revolving disc E,
clappers and limiting ring e', substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
4. The complete Bell-Buoy constructed substantially as and for the purpose described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.