An Improved Warning Bell or Alarm. for Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Applica'ion, 3rd Nov., 1894
Complete Spécification Left; 24th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Warning Bell or Alarm. for Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH BOYD, of 90 Upper Georges Street, Kingstown, County Dublin,
Ireland, Medical Doctor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In connection with carriages, especially those provided with pneumatic tyres, it
is found desirable and sometimes necessary to be provided with means whereby an
alarm can be made in the event of obstacles appearing on the road, or for the
purpose of announcing the approach of the carriage. This object is usually
attained by attaching to some convenient portion of the harness, a bell to be kept
ringing by the movements of the animal. This practice is inconvenient and
ineffective inasmuch as when the animal moves slowly, as for instance, in turning a
corner, when the alarm is most required, the bell ceases, or almost ceases
ringing, and consequently there is practically no intimation, of the approach of a
carriage, and danger of a collision arises.
To obviate this inconvenience, and avoid this danger is the object of this. inven-
tion, and to this end I propose to provide an alarm which can be readily and
conveniently operated by the driver of the carriage.
In carrying out my invention I take a bell--preferably of the bicycle trembling
type-which I mount on a base plate so that the sounding slot of the bell will be
parallel to the length of the base plate. One end of this base plate is curved
round the bell to form a guard or shield for same, while to the other end is hinged
a foot plate, whose free end is connected by means of a movable joint to the hammer
lever of the bell.
Underneath the base plate is hinged a flat pin or piercer, whose, free end engages
with a suitable india-rubber ring. or metal catch, by means of which the apparatus
can be readily attached to the ordinary foot mat after the fashion of the ordinary
safety-pin. Or the apparatus may be attached to, the foot board of the carriage
by means of a suitable clamp and thumb screw device.
The alarm is produced by the pressure of the foot of the driver on the foot plate,
and the consequent ringing of the bell.
Thus means are provided whereby those in charge of carriages are enabled to
produce readily and conveniently an alarm at any moment, and to maintain a
continuous alarm when necessary.
It is obvious that a horn may be used in connection with my invention, by
substituting for the bell, a suitable inflated india-rubber ball, whereby a horn may
be blown.
Dated the 2nd day of November 1894.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Warning Bell or Alarm for Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH BOYD, of 90 Upper Georges Street, Kingstown, County Dublin,
Ireland, Medical Doctor, 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 :-
In connection with vehicles, especially those provided with pneumatic or cushion
tyres it is found desirable and sometimes necessary to be provided with means
whereby an alarm can be made in the event of obstacles appearing on the road, or
for the purpose of announcing the approach of a carriage.
This object is usually attained by attaching to some convenient portion of the
harness a bell which is rung by the natural movements of the animal.
This practice is ineffective where there is much traffic or noise or when the
animal moves slowly, as for instance in turning a corner-when the alarm is most
required the bell ceases (or almost ceases) ringing, and consequently there is
practically no intimation of the approach of a carriage, and danger of a collision
accordingly arises.
To obviate this inconvenience and avoid this danger, is the object of my invention,
and to this end I propose to provide an alarm which can be readily and cou-
veniently operated by the driver of the vehicle.
In carrying out my invention I take a bell-preferably of the bicycle trembling
type which I mount in suitable framework provided with a suitable base-plate, to
one end of which is hinged a foot-plate whose free end is connected to the hammer
lever of the bell.
The alarm is produced by the pressure of the driver's foot on the foot-plate.
The accompanying drawings will enable my said invention to be more readily
understood and applied in practice :-
Fig. 1. is an elevation of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2. a plan of same; and
Fig. 3. a detail hereinafter described.
A is the bell which may be of any suitable size or pattern calculated to fulfil the
object in view, preferably of the bicycle trembling type. B, is the frame in
which the bell is mounted by means of the tongue B', and which serves the purpose
of protecting the domes composing the bell-especially the edges-thus ensuring
the proper sounding vibration of same. C, is the foot-plate hinged to the base-
plate D, and connected by a pivot joint to the hammer lever C' of the bell.
As thus constructed the apparatus may be secured to the carriage or other
vehicle in any convenient manner-]
-preferably by one of either of the following
methods:-
(a) By means of a screw E provided with a finger nut whereby the apparatus
can readily be secured to the foot-board or any convenient part of the
vehicle; or
(b) By means of a wire frame as shewn in plan, Fig. 3.
This frame is attached to the apparatus as shewn in Fig. 1, by expanding the
ends and inserting same in the transverse aperture F, so as to constitute a pivotal
or hinge-like connection. The free ends are then inserted through the thickness of
the ordinary carriage mat and locked to the base-plate after the fashion somewhat
of the ordinary safety pin.
Any tendency to lateral oscillation in the bell frame is prevented by the pro-
jections 1 and 2 formed on the base plate.
It is obvious that the use of my invention as above described, affords ready
means whereby those in charge of carriages are enabled to produce an alarm at any
moment, and to keep up a continuous alarm when necessary, and this alarm be it
observed is produced without the aid of the bands. It can also be brought into

page_text: in
requisition instantaneously since the foot may without inconvenience rest
permanent contact with the foot-plate so long as the driver occupies his usual
position.
It is understood that my invention may readily be applied to any class of
vehicle, or in fact to any moving conveyance, such for instance, as a steamer, a
yacht, or a boat,-in connection with which it may be found convenient to operate
an alarm otherwise than by the hands.
In my Provisional Specification I mention that in the construction of my inven-
tion, a horn may be substituted for the bell herein described. This however I find
upon experiment is undesirable, and I hereby disclaim same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The use and application of an alarm for carriages and other vehicles
consisting of a bell mounted in suitable frame-work and operated in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as herein described.
Second. In alarms for carriages and other vehicles, the use of a bell in combina-
tion with suitable frame-work, constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner
substantially as described.
60-11
L..1 1005
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.