Improvements in Fog Horns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog Horns.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS PURCHASE, of 5, Decatur Street, in the City of Boston,
County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist,
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 has reference to improvements in fog-horn signals and particu-
larly in the means for supporting the operating mechanism.
The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the mechanism
whereby the air is collected and is forced through the horn under pressure.
Another object is to provide a substantial support for the bellows, and for the
mechanism whereby the bellows are operated.
The invention consists of the central standard having the air channels, together
with the bellows and air chamber mounted thereon.
The invention also consists in the central standard having an air channel con-
necting each side with the front, and a channel from the front to the back, bellows
at the sides of the standard, a pressure chamber at the front thereof and covering
the three channels, and a fog-horn connected with the last, or outlet channel,
together with the operating mechanism for the bellows mounted at the upper
portion of the standard.
The invention also consists in such other novel features of construction and com-
bination of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of the improved fog-horn signal with
encased operating mechanism, portions of the case being broken away.
Figure 2, represents a front view of the mechanism removed from the case.
Figure 3, represents a rear elevation, part of the standard being broken away
to show the channels.
Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.
In carrying my invention into practice, it has been my object to so construct
the operating mechanism that the bellows should be substantially supported, and
to further improve the construction of the mechanism.
In the drawings 5, indicates a box, or protective casing: the upper part of the
box front has an opening 6, for the passage of the operating shaft, and the back
of the box has an opening through which the horn connection may enter the air
upply channel in the standard, the box may also have a hinged cover 7.
Within the box is firmly secured the standard 8, which has the extension 9-9,
at its upper end. In the body of the standard are formed the channels 10 and 11,
ach of which connects one side of the standard with the front thereof; at the
ower portion the supply channel 12 extends through the standard from front
o back.
To the sides of the standard, over the ends of the respective channels 10 and 11,
re secured the bellows 13 and 14, which are of the usual construction having inlet
alves, and being hinged at their lower ends to the standard, so that they may be
perated from the top. To the front of the standard, over the ends of the

page_text: channels 10-11 and 12, is secured the expansible air chamber 15, having bellows
sides and a rigid front 16, on which a continuous pressure is exerted by the
springs 17-17, secured to said front and to the standard, to act against the air
forced into said chamber.
In the extensions 9-9, is journaled the crank shaft 18, this shaft being in line
with the opening 6 in the front of the box, and being operated by a crank handle
inserted through said opening and engaged with the crank shaft. On the crank
of the shaft are pivoted the pitman rods 19 and 20, which are pivoted at their
opposite ends to bearings on the rigid flaps of the bellows 13 and 14, and serve to
operate these flaps alternately when the shaft is rotated.
The horn 21, has a curved connection in the nature of a neck, which may be
engaged in the supply channel 12, or the horn may be removed and placed within
the box, when not in use.
When the crank shaft is rotated, the bellows 13 and 14, are alternately operated
by their respective pitman rods, thus collecting air and forcing the same through
the channels 10 and 11 into the chamber 15, and expanding the same against
the action of the springs 17-17, owing to the fact that the air is forced into this
chamber more rapidly than it can escape through the channel 12, the intermittent
action of the bellow's on the air being converted into a continuous pressure by
the use of the chamber 15, so that a continuous supply of air is delivered through
the channel 12 to the horn.
By the use of the substantial central standard, solid except for the air passages,
the operating mechanism becomes more durable in its action, no leakage of air can
occur by reason of the warping or wrenching of the standard, as when the
standard is constructed of several parts, and the bellows can be readily and securely
mounted, while the cost of the apparatus is greatly reduced.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. In a fog-horn, the combination with a central standard formed of a solid
block adapted to serve as a support for the operating mechanism, a spring con-
tracted pressure chamber mounted on one facq of the stantlard, bellows also
mounted on said standard, air supply channels formed in the standard connecting
the bellows with the pressure chamber, and a channel connecting the pressure
chamber with the opposite face of the standard, of mechanism for operating the
bellows mounted on the standard.
2. In a fog-horn, a solid standard having air channels formed therein and
adapted to serve as a support and connector for the air collecting and distributing
devices and for the operating mechanism therefor.
3. The combination with the box 5, the standard 8, mounted therein and having
the extension 9-9, and the channels 10-11, and 12, a horn adapted to be con-
nected with the channel 12, the bellows 13 and 14 mounted at the sides of
the standard, the chamber 15 mounted at the front of the standard, and the
springs 17-17 secured on the chamber, of the crank shaft 18, journaled in the
pitman rods 19 and 20 pivoted on the crank of said shaft and on hearings of
the bellows flaps, as described.
Correandle
Nova 1808
WILLIAM THOMAS PURCHASE,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.