An Improved Signal Device for Road Vehioles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Signal Device for Road Vehioles.
I, ERNST OPRY of Hohenzollernstrasse 55 Saarbrücken in the Empire of
Germany Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in an improved signal device intended to be provided on
road vehicles of whatever nature for the purpose of warning pedestrians or others
of the proximity of such vehicles in case of need.
On the floor plate in front of the driver is placed a foot bellows distended by a
spring and provided with an air inlet valve and outlet to a pipe leading to any
convenient place on the shaft or pole of the vehicle or on the latter in front of
the splash board or elsewhere or on the harness of the horse for instance on one
of the terrets, where it terminates in a whistle. The pipe may be for tho most
part of metal except where it needs to be flexible in which case a flexible piece
of piping is inserted; connections may be made by screw threaded unions or by
bayonet fastening sockets.
Dated this 16th dex of Momb 1902
R. HADDAN,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Signal Device for Road Vehicles.
what
I, ERNST OPRY, of Hohenzollernstrasse 55, Saarbrücken, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in an improved signal device intended to be provided on
road vehicles of whatever nature for the purpose of warning pedestrians or others
of the proximity of such vehicles in case of need.
On the floor plate in front of the driver is placed a pedal bellows distended by
a spring and provided with an air inlet valve and outlet to a pipe or pipes leading
to any convenient place or places on the shaft or pole of the vehicle or on the
latter in front of the dash board or elsewhere or on the harness of the horse, for
instance on one of the terrets, where it terminates in a whistle. The pipe may be
for the most part of metal, except where it needs to be flexible in which case a
flexible piece of piping is inserted; connections may be made by screw threaded
unions or by bayonet fastening sockets.
In the annexed drawings,
Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the foot-board a of the box together with the
bellows connected thereto. The bellows are arranged at a small distance from
the box foot-board so that atmospheric air may easily be drawn to the valve c.
The valve c as well as the bellows are preferably made of gutta-percha in
order to be protected as efficiently as possible against injury and the effects of
moisture. In the interior of the bellows a spring d is arranged, the purpose of
TD01

page_text: which is to distend the bellows again after use so that they are filled afresh
with air..
Below the bellows ban air pipe e is attached to the bellows and passed through
the foot-board a, by which air pipe the compressed air is passed to the signalling
device; these signalling devices may, as already mentioned, be fixed at any
suitable part of the vehicle or harness.
In the drawing three different methods of arrangement are shown.
In Fig. 1 the signal device in forin of a trumpet or horn is attached at the
front part of the shaft or pole to the ring g..
i
The air is forced through a metal pipe i arranged underneath the shaft or pole h,
this pipe being connected with the pipe e by means of an air-tight tube of gutta-
percha, caoutchouc or other elastic substance.
An elastic tube is necessary in order that the vehicle may be directed in any,
direction without damage to the air conduits.
The connection of the elastic and rigid tubes is effected by screw threads, etc.,
or by a bayonet fastoning socket in order to enable the connection to be rapidly
effected and detached.
In the second instance the signal device is arranged on the dash-board m, before
the box; the connection with the bellows b being effected in a similar way by a
.pipe ¿¹.
►
Another method of fixing is illustrated by Fig. 2, where the signal device is
arranged on a terret of the harness. But on this device only an elastic con-
nection can be employed, in order that the movements of the horse may not be
hindered.
Fig. 3 likewise shows the arrangement of the signal devico fixed on the dash-
board m, however the arrangement is here made so that it may be taken off
without difficulty and without using special tools and be transferred to another
vehicle.
For this purpose the sigual whistle etc., or the air conduit pipe fixed thereto,
which latter provides the communication with the bellows, is hung by means of a
hook o on the dash-board m; the bellows resting without any further fixing on the
floor board of the coachman's box.
Fig. 4 shows a method of applying this signal device to cycles. This is effected
preferably on the handle bar n by means of a readily detachable clamp p, which
is screwed on the bellows b. In this arrangement the signal device is attached
directly to the bellows, that is to say without the intermediation of elastic or other
air conducting pipes.
•
When the signal device is to be actuated, the bellows & are simply compressed;
which can easily be done by means of a lever g.
On hansom-cabs, in which the driver occupies a seat at the rear of the carriage,
and where the reins are led over the passenger, this signalling device is preferably
arranged on the top of the carriage..
In general this arrangement is so simple as to be capable of being readily
adapted at any moment to any requirements.
On tram cars also the signal device is preferably attached to the roof of the
vehicle above the conchman.
On using this improved arrangement the driver has both hands free and may
consequently be able to direct his entire attention to the driving and guiding of
tlie vehicle.
*
"J
14-11
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said 'inver
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 'I
claim is:-
A signalling device for vehicles of any description consisting in combining with
the foot-board of the driver's seat a pedal bellows placed in or on the bottom of
the vehicle, the bellows being capable of being easily pressed down by the foot

page_text: when a warning signal is to be given, thus compressing air actuating one or more
wind signalling instruments suitably communicating with the bellows by means of
an elastic or rigid air tube.
Dated this 16th day of December 1893.
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.