IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RINGING ALARM BELLS ON FLOATING BUOYS AT SEA OB IN HARBORS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RINGING ALARM BELLS ON
FLOATING BUOYS AT SEA OB IN HARBORS." A communication from abroad by
Henry Brown, of Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, in the United
States of America.
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 19th December 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1879.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR RINGING ALARM BELLS ON FLOATING BUOYS AT SEA OR IN HARBORS.”
communication from abroad by Henry Brown, of Charleston, in the State of
South Carolina, in the United States of America.
The object of the Invention is to produce an automatic bell ringing device in
connection with a buoy which shall be operated by the motion of the waves, and
give warning to mariners of dangerous shoals, or to indicate the course to be
taken.
The Invention consists in hanging a bell over the top of a floating buoy rigidly in
a frame, and providing underneath the bell a radially grooved disk which supports
a ball in such a position that the motion of the waves will cause it to roll from
side to side, and to strike against the interior of the bell.
In the accompanying Drawings illustrating my Invention,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, shewing a portion of the top of a
buoy with my improvements applied.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the radially grooved disc or table upon which the
striking ball rolls.
A indicates a buoy which is to be anchored so as to float within a limited space;
B indicates the bell frame or support secured to the top of the buoy, and C
indicates the bell secured rigidly within the frame by means of a nut, or in any
convenient manner; D indicates a circular disc or table supported upon the frame B
above the top of the buoy, and preferably of a diameter some thing less than the
greatest diameter of the bell. This disc is placed slightly below the bottom of the
bell and is grooved radially upon its upper surface, and a heavy metallic ball is

page_text: placed loosely upon it so as to roll in the radial grooves back and forth by the
tilting or swaying of the buoy under the influence of the waves. The radial
grooves prevent the ball from moving in a circular direction, and cause it to strike
direct blows against the interior surface of the bell.
I provide springs E around the circumference of the disc projecting so as to be
struck by the ball when coming in contact with the bell, and throw it back out of
contact with the bell after it has imparted its stroke. These springs should be as
numerous as the radial grooves. In the centre of the disk there is a flat circular
plain surface, so that the ball may readily take any direction from the centre.
Having thus described the Invention, what I claim as new is, the apparatus for
ringing alarm bells on floating buoys at sea or in harbors is,
First. The combination with the bell of the grooved disc carrying a ball for
striking the bell, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the rigidly suspended bell, the grooved disk, the
ball, and the ball retracting springs, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and
.
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)