A Combined Steering Handle and Audible Signalling Apparatus for Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
UNAD
A Combined Steering Handle and Audible Signalling Apparatus
for Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
1, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS of 12 Norfolk Street, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The combined steering handle and audible signalling apparatus for mechanically
driven vehicles, has been invented for the purpose of enabling the drivers of such
vehicles to perform with ease, with one hand, the two operations of signalling and
steering: this is done by fixing a pin at right angles to the steering wheel, steering
crank, or steering cross-bar of such vehicles, which pin is made of such a length and
diameter that it will pass through a hollow handle, and a hollow elastic ball or its
equivalent, which is fastened thereto at the end farthest from the handle. The
handle is made so that it can be slid upon the pin just mentioned, and when this is
done the elastic hollow ball or its equivalent is compressed, and the air within it is
forced out through an opening in the top or side and a whistle, "horn," or "hooter,"
which is fixed to the hollow india rubber ball or its equivalent; and when this is
done a noise is produced that will draw the attention of those persons, who may be
near, to the presence of the vehicle; and at the same time that the driver is doing
this, he is enabled to steer the vehicle with the same band that is operating the
signalling apparatus.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.
E. H. G. BREWSTER,
Agent for Applicant.
A Combined Steering Handle and Audible Signalling Apparatus
for Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS, of Amberley House, 12, Norfolk Street,
Strand, in the County of London, Engineer, 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 relates to a combined steering handle and audible signalling
apparatus for mechanically propelled vehicles and has for its object to provide
means whereby the driver of such vehicles can simultaneously and with one hand
signal the approach of, and steer, the vehicle.
According to my invention I provide the steering wheel, crank, bar or the like
with a projecting pin or spindle upon which the steering handle can slide and
rotate freely and in conjunction with the said handle I provide means whereby
when the said bandle is moved upon the spindle or pin a whistle horn or bell is
sounded to signal the approach of the vehicle. It will be obvious that the handle

page_text: can be slid upon the pin or spindle simultaneously with the movement of the
steering wheel or bar so that the vehicle can be signalled and steered simultaneously
with one hand.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a combined steering and signalling device
constructed according to my invention the handle being designed to sound a
horn:
Figure 2 is an elevation of a modified form of the device shewn in Figure 1:
Figure 3 is an elevation shewing the invention as arranged for ringing a bell :
Figure 34 is a view of a detail:
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement for ringing a bell:
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of iny invention wherein the
handle is designed to sound an electric bell:
Figure 6 is a sectional plan of the same the section being taken on the line 6-6
Figure 5.
Similar letters of reference refer to the same or corresponding parts in the
several figures.
at is the steering bar, and the spindle or pin secured to the same. In the
drawing this pin is shewn secured in position by a nut bl.
c is the handle, the said handle being arranged so as to slide and rotate upon the
pin b and being beld in its uppermost position by a spiral spring c¹ arranged to
abut against the steering bar a or a flange on the pin b, and the underside of the
handle c as shewn in Figures 1 to 4 or in a recess in the upper part of the handle
so as to abut against the said handle and a flange upon the spindle bas in the
arrangement shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have shewn the arrangement of my invention wherein the
movement of the handle c upon the spindle sounds a horn d by forcing air through
it in the usual manner. In the arrangement shewn in Figure 1 the air is forced
into the horn by means of a small cylinder e having a piston e' secured to the
handle so that on the depression of the said handle c the piston e forces air through
a hole into the horn. In Figure 2 an elastic ball e is employed in lieu of the
cylinder e the said ball being supported upon a disc f and compressed, when the
handle c is moved downwards, by means of a plate or bar e as clearly shewn so as
to force air into the horn and sound it.
The arrangements shewn in Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the invention as applied
to the ringing of a bell for signalling the approach of the vehicle. In Figure 3
two bells d and d³ are double and the handle c is provided with a ferrule c having
a downwardly inclined arm which on the downward movement of the handle c
first depresses a spring lever or hammer d' and then releases it whereby it springs
upwards and sounds the bell d a similar hammer not shewn in the figure being
operated by suitable mechanism in connection with the haminer d¹ to strike the
bell d³ so as to produce two distinct tones.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 4 the hammer is suspended to one end of an
arm d' pivoted to the spindle 6 the other end of which arm is connected by means
of a wire d' or the like with the handle so that when the handle is quickly depressed
the hammer is forced against the bell d so as to sound it.
In the modification shewn in Figures 5 and 6 the downward movement of the
handle c upon the spindle 6 closes an electric circuit by means of an ordinary
spring contact g so that a current flows through the wires h, h and rings an electric
bell arranged in any suitable position on the vehicle.
It will be obvious that with the above arrangements the driver of the vehicle to
which they are fitted can with one hand simultaneously steer the vehicle and
depress the handle e so as to ring a bell or sound a horn to signal the approach of
the vehicle, it being also possible, when required, to steer without sounding the
bell or horn.
My improvements can, with facility, be applied to existing steering handles and

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular forms of
my invention shewn, as examples, in the drawings as it is obvious that the details
of construction can be modified to suit requirements.
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 mechanically propelled vehicles the combination with the steering wheel,
crank, bar or the like of a movable handle designed by its movement to sound
a horn bell or whistle, substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore
described.
2. In mechanically propelled vehicles providing the steering wheel, crank, bar
or the like with a projecting pin or spindle upon which the handle of the wheel or
bar can slide and rotate the said handle being provided with means such as an
elastic ball, piston and cylinder or an electric contact whereby when it is depressed
upon the pin or spindle a horn or bell is sounded, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein before described.
3. The combinations and arrangements of parts forming the combined steering
and audible signalling devices for mechanically propelled vehicles hereinbefore
described and illustrated respectively in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
L
1007
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.