Improvements in Whistles or Alarms, chiefly designed for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Whistles or Alarms, chiefly designed for
Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE FRANKLIN HALL, of 70, Richmond Street, in the City of Newark,
County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Inventor, 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 an automatic signal for velocipedes, bicycles,
and other machinery, and also the novel means for operating the same, the pur-
pose of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings being to provide
a simple, effective and cheap device which is especially adapted for use on bicycles,
and which consists of a suitable whistle and mechanism for operating a plunger
in a cylinder, said means, in a bicycle, being operated by friction from the
periphery of one of its wheels.
My novel form of signal herein shown and the operative means connected there-
with may also be used in connection with other machinery, as in the case of a
naphtha launch, the operative means for working the plunger in the cylinder,
in that case, being made to engage by friction with the shaft of the engine in the
boat or with a pulley thereon.
The main object of my invention is to provide a whistle-construction of the
nature herein-after set forth, in which the bottom of the air-cylinder is closed to
the admission of the air and the cylinder is provided with an air-inlet in its side.
The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of this form of
whistle, and also in certain novel arrangements and combinations of parts all of
which will be hereinafter fully described and embodied in the clauses of the
claim.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a velocipede and my novel form
of signal or whistle, clearly illustrating one arrangement of attaching and con-
necting the same with the steering head of the velocipede, whereby the mechanism
for operating the whistle can be brought in frictional engagement with the
periphery of the wheel of the vehicle. Figure 2 is a front view of the whistle
or signal; Figure 3 is a cross section on line in Figure 2, looking in the direction
of arrow a¹; and Figure 4 is a cross section on line y, looking in the direction of
arrow y¹.
Figures 5 and 6 are a front and side view, respectively, of a bicycle whistle of a
modified form of construction; and Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line z
in Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a front view of a signaling device provided with two whistles in place
of one.
In said drawings, A indicates a suitable cylinder which is provided with an
entirely closed bottom a, except the central opening, in which moves the reciproca-
ting plunger-rod a' connected with the usual form of plunger within said cylinder.
The hole in the bottom a in which said rod a' moves is made just large enough

page_text: near the
to provide for a free movement of said rod therein, but prevents the dirt and dust
from getting into the cylinder. In one side of said cylinder, at or
bottom thereof, it is provided with a small inlet hole a², through which the moving
plunger connected with the rod at sucks the air into the cylinder A.
Secured on the top of said cylinder, by means of a suitable ring, or in any well
known manner, is a dome-like cover a³. Connected with said cover, directly over
an opening in the top thereof, is a tube-portion a, made in the manner of an
inverted U. forming an air-chamber above the cylinder, and terminating with
the discharge piece as. Extending outwardly and downwardly from the neck at
of said discharge piece are suitable arms b, which support a whistle b², thereby
leaving an open space between the upper portion of said whistle and the neck
of said discharge piece of the tube a Thus, it will be seen, that the air which
is drawn into the cylinder A by the action of the plunger therein is also forced
through the tube a directly into the whistle, and produces a loud and continuous
blast, as long as the plunger in the cylinder is in operation.
Said cylinder A and the whistle 2 may be suitably connected by bands or
rings 63, as illustrated in the several figures of the drawing, or they may be
connected in any other suitable manner, or they need not be connected at all, as
will be clearly evident. Each band or ring is provided with a small ring-shaped
portion in which is secured a hollow rod c provided at the top with a
sleeve c¹ and a tightening screw. Adjustably held in said hollow rod c, by means
of said screw c², is a rod c³ having a push-piece or knob c upon the top thereof.
Said rod is adapted to reciprocate in a suitable eye f¹ in an arm or post f on one
of two clamping pieces f which are securely clamped around the steering post of
the vehicle, substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, a bracket is pro-
vided in which the rod moves downwardly when pressure is applied to the
knob c, or moves upwardly by the action of a spring g encircling said rod, see
Figure 1, when the pressure is removed from the knob, and the several parts of
the signaling device will always remain in line with the periphery of the wheel,
when frictional contact is made with the periphery of said wheel, by a contact
wheel in the manner herein-after described.
Secured to the lower end of said rod c is a suitable bracket e, comprising a down-
wardly extending arm e¹ provided at the bottom with a screw or pin e². Pivotally
connected, at one end, with a pin e on a clamp e³ attached to one of the parts of
the fork of the bicycle-frame, as illustrated in Figure 1, and to said pin or screw c²
on the arm e, is a link e, whereby the lower portion of the device is pivotally
and operatively connected with the frame of the vehicle, as will be clearly evident.
Said bracket e is also provided with a yoke e having an elongated opening e' and
an eye in which the plunger-rod a reciprocates and acts as a guide to main-
tain a perfectly vertical motion of said rod.
Said arm e¹ of the bracket e is also provided with a pin e³ on which is rotatively
arranged the contact wheel i, on one of the spokes of which is an outwardly
extending pin or stud i¹.
Pivotally connected with said pin or stud, by means of a screw 22, and also
pivotally connected with a screw in a collar on the plunger-rod a', is a con-
necting rod 2, whereby, when the wheel i is brought in frictional contact with
the wheel of the vehicle, said connecting rod will operate the rod a', and the plunger
in the cylinder A will force air through the tube at into the whistle 62, and a
long and loud alarm will be sounded.
In place of the bracket e and the part connected therewith, I may secure to
the lower part of the cylinder A, a tube-like shell k having a pair of downwardly
extending lugs provided with the screws or pins 2, on each of which is arranged
a contact wheel 3. Said wheels are connected by a rod to which is pivotally
attached the lower end of the connecting-rod h2, which is also pivotally connected
at the top, to the plunger rod a¹, in the manner herein-above described. Said
plunger rod in this construction, which is illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7,
reciprocates in a perforated part of a guide secured between the lugs of the

page_text: shell by the screws ³, and the connecting rod h² passing through a yoke ¹ in
said guide having an enlongated opening 12, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7.
The operations of the several parts of this construction of bicycle whistle for
sounding an alarm are similar to those described in connection with Figures 1
and 2, and will be evident from an inspection of said Figures 5 and 6.
In Figure 8, I have illustrated the whistle or alarm provided with two
cylinders A', two tube-portions at, and two whistles 62, and I also duplicate the
plunger rods a and connecting rods h³, the bracket e and its parts being varied
accordingly, and I employ two contact wheels, with which the connecting rods
are operatively connected in the manner clearly illustrated in said Figure 8.
My invention may be used in connection with the wheels or axle of any vehicle,
as a fire engine, or other moving apparatus, as will be understood.
The device can be readily attached to any form of velocipede or bicycle, the
fittings used in connection with the same for securing the device to the steering
post of the vehicle, being such, that the signaling device can be used with any,
style of handle bars.
By providing the cylinder with an air chamber and a downwardly projecting
whistle, and also, by closing the bottom and placing a small air inlet in the side
of the cylinder, the liability of dirt getting into the cylinder is entirely overcome,
and furthermore, the air is easily compressed in said chamber, and is sent with
additional force into the whistle to produce a steady, continuous and very loud
alarm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In combination, with the frame of a vehicle, of a signaling device connected
with said frame, comprising a cylinder, an air chamber on said cylinder, provided
with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder having a closed bottom
and an air inlet in one side, and a whistle connected with said outlet
in the air chamber, and means connected with said device for causing
the operative engagement of a plunger-mechanism with one of the vehicle wheels,
whereby a signal or alarm is sounded, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In combination, with the frame of a vehicle, of a signaling device connected
with said frame, comprising a cylinder, an air chamber on said cylinder, provided
with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder having a closed bottom
and an air inlet in one side, and a whistle connected with said outlet in the air
chamber, a plunger in said cylinder, a rod c connected with said cylinder, a
friction wheel on the lower end of said rod, and a connecting rod connecting said
wheel with the plunger in the cylinder, and means connected with said rod c for
causing the frictional and operative engagement of said friction wheel with the
vehicle wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In combination, with the frame of a vehicle, of a signaling device connected
with said frame, comprising a cylinder, an air chamber on said cylinder, pro-
vided with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder having a closed
bottom and an air inlet in one side, and a whistle connected with said outlet in
the air chamber, a plunger in said cylinder, a hollow rod c connected with said
cylinder, a spring-actuated rod 3 adjustably secured in said rod c, a friction wheel
on the lower end of said rod c and a connecting rod connecting said friction wheel
with the plunger in the cylinder, and means connected with said rod for
causing frictional and operative engagement of said friction wheel with the
vehicle wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. An alarm or signaling device, comprising, a cylinder, an air chamber on
said cylinder, provided with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder
having a closed bottom and an air inlet in one side, a whistle connected with
said outlet in the air chamber, a plunger in said cylinder, and means for causing

page_text: a reciprocal movement of said plunger in said cylinder, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
5. An alarm or signaling device, comprising, a cylinder, an air chamber on said
cylinder, provided with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder having
a closed bottom and an air inlet in one side, a whistle connected with said outlet
in the air chamber, a plunger in said cylinder, a tubular rod c to which said cylinder
is secured, a wheel on the lower end of said rod, a connecting rod connecting
said plunger with said wheel, and a rod adjustable in said rod c, and provided
with means for operating the same, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
6. An alarm or signaling device, comprising, a cylinder having an opening
in the top, a closed bottom, and an air inlet in one side, a tube-like portion at
connected with said opening in the top, forming an air chamber, a discharge
opening in the bottom of said tube-like portion, and a whistle connected with said
discharge opening, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The herein described signaling device, comprising, a cylinder, an air chamber
on said cylinder provided with a downwardly extending air outlet, said cylinder
having a closed bottom and an air inlet in one side, a whistle connected with said
air chamber, a plunger in said cylinder, a vertically moving plunger rod, a hollow
rod c connected with said cylinder, a spring-actuated rod adjustably connected
with said rod c, a clamp having an eye fl in which said rod 3 is adapted to
reciprocate, a bracket e and clamp e³, a link e, a yoke e having an elongated open-
ing and an eye in which the plunger rod is vertically movable, a contact wheel
and connecting rod connecting said wheel with the plunger rod, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
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1006
GEORGE FRANKLIN HALL,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.