AN IMPROVED BELL FOR VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We ALFRED CHARLES HOUSTON of N° 10 Upper Phillimore Place, Kensington,
Architect, & ROBERT EDWARD' PHILLIPS, of The Office for Patents, Royal Courts
Chambers 70-71 & 72 Chancery Lane, Member of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, both in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention for "AN IMPROVED BELL FOR VELOCIPEDES" to be as
follows:-
The novel feature of our invention consists in mounting the bell loosely on a
bracket fixed to the machine, the bracket itself forming the clapper against which
the bell strikes, owing to the vibration of the machine when it is in motion. As
far as we are aware all the bells at present constructed are rigidly fixed to the
machine & the clapper is mounted loosely, either to strike the bell automatically
by reason of the vibration of the machine, or to be controlled by the rider.
The advantage we derive from constructing a bell on the principle above set
forth, is that we get a preponderance of weight in the moving part of the bell,
which increases the sound emitted, to an extent not possible with a bell in which
the bell itself is a fixture & the clapper loose, without increasing the size of it out
of all proportion to the use for which it is intended.
Our improved bell may be constructed in many patterns, & many existing
patterns of bells may be altered so as to embody our improvement. In order that
we may be fully understood we will describe the simplest form of our bell; we
take a small bracket of any convenient shape to fit on to the handle bar, or any
other convenient part of a machine, this bracket is provided with an upright stem,
the top of which is reduced in size so as to form a shoulder, the reduced part is
cut with a screw, & is fitted with a fly nut or its equivalent, a projection is
formed near the bottom of this upright stem to form the fixed clapper. We take
a cone or other suitable shaped bell & cut a small hole in the roof of it, so that it.
may fit loosely over the reduced part of the upright stem & bear on the shoulder
formed by the reduction of the size of the stem as before described. The fly nut
or its equivalent is then screwed on the upright stem, a flexible washer being
interposed between it & the bell. When this nut is screwed down tight-the bell is
rigidly fixed to the bracket carrying it & consequently it cannot ring, but when
the nut is slackened the bell is free to vibrate & therefore to ring.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Agent for the Applicants,
The Office for Patents,
Royal Courts Chambers,'
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, W.O.

page_text: We ALFRED CHARLES HOUSTON of No 10 Upper Phillimore Place, Kensington,
Architect, and ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS of the Office for Patents, Royal
Courts; Chambers, 70, 71 & 72. Chancery Lane, Member of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers; both in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention for "AN IMPROVED BELL FOR VELOCIPEDES," and in
what, manner the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and
ascertained'in and by the following statement :-
The novel feature of our invention consists in mounting the bell loosely on a
bracket fixed to the machine, the bracket itself forming the clapper against which
the bell strikes, owing to the vibration of the machine when it is in motion. As
far as we are aware all the bells at present constructed are rigidly fixed to the
machine and the clapper is mounted loosely either to strike the bell automatically
by reason of the vibration of the machine, or to be controlled by the rider.
The advantage we derive from constructing a bell on the principle above set
forth is that we get a preponderance of weight in the moving part of the bell,
which increases the sound emitted to an extent not possible with a bell in which
the bell itself is a, fixture, and the clapper loose, without increasing the size of it
out of all proportion to the use for which it is intended.
Our improved bell may be constructed in many patterns and many existing
patterns of bells may be altered.so as to embody our improvement.
In order that we may be fully understood we will particularly describe our
invention with the, aid of the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are
marked with like letters of reference.
Fig 1 shows the simplest form of our improved bell. The bell A is mounted
loosely on the bracket B which is fixed to the bandle bar X of the machine or to
any other convenient part. The bell swings on small projections b, on the bracket B
and strikes against a fixed clapper 6' forming part of the bracket B. The top of
the stem of the bracket is cut with a screw thread and is fitted with, a nut b² and
a flexible washer 63 made of rubber or any other suitable material, When the
fly nut is screwed down the bell is held rigid to the bracket, but when it is
slackened the bell is free to swing by the movement of the machine and so strike.
against the bracket.
Figs 2 and 3 show a modification; the former shows the bell ringing and the
latter silent. The bell A is connected to the bracket B by a hinge joint. On to
the bell A is fixed a small bracket a which is hinged to the free end of the
bracket B by a small pin a. Attached to the bracket a, is a rubber ring a² or its
equivalent, which on being stretched over the loop 6 formed on the bracket B,
keeps the bell rigid with the bracket and so prevents it striking the bracket.
15.
On
Figs 4, 5 and 6, show, another arrangement of our bell. Fig 4 shows the bell
ringing. Fig 5, the bell silent and Fig 6 is a plan showing the locking device.
The bell A is hinged to the bracket: B as described in the last arrangement.
to the bracket B is close proximity to the hinge joint is mounted a locking lever C,
on which is formed a cam c, which engages with a slot a³ cut in the bracket a,
and rigidly connects the bell to the bracket and so prevents it striking the bracket,

page_text: Fig 7 shows a modification of this arrangement, in which the locking lever C, is
mounted vertically instead of horizontally and bears against a projection a³ on the
bracket a, and forces the bell into contact with the bracket B and locks it there,
and so prevents it ringing.
५
It will be understood that our invention consists in mounting the bell loosely on
the bracket attached to the machine so that it may strike against the bracket, or
against any part of the machine if found to be more convenient, so that the bell
may be its own clapper; and that we do not bind ourselves to any particular
method of preventing the bell ringing by striking the bracket, or the machine,
either as herein before shown and described or otherwise; but having now
particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
First. Constructing a bell for use on velocipedes without a loose clapper as
hereinbefore described and shown.
Secondly. Mounting a velocipede bell loosely on the bracket carrying it so that
it may strike against either the bracket or the machine and sound, or may be
locket rigidly to the bracket and be silent.
pril 1885.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
Dated this 16th day of April 1885.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.