Improvements in Electric Bells.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 31st July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Bells.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER, of Albert Works Graham Street,
Birmingham, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
My invention is for detail improvements in electric bells, and for the
manufacture of the bases frames and covers for same. In the first part of my
invention, instead of using wood, usually employed for the manufacture of the..
bases upon which ordinary bells are mounted, I apply porcelain. The second part
of my invention is applied to the particular form and shape of the covering;
arrangements and simplicity of parts and easy production. The advantages
resulting from this invention are important. As regards the first part, insulation,
decoration & production, economy & durability, which arises from the facility of
manufacture, and that results from the use of porcelain. It is evident that a piece
can easily be produced by moulding and that it can be perfectly formed and
decorated in every possible way. As regards the use:-It is undoubtedly a better
insulator than wood, and the manufacture is not only simple & economical, but it
is capable of a rapid production. As regards the second part, novelty of design
& arrangement of parts, protection from dust and increased ringing power. In
this second part of my invention, I arrange my bell to take the shape of a pear,
the largest portion being taken by the dome of a bell which is mounted upon a
spindle carrying a frame upon which are mounted the magnets, contact maker,
armature and hammer. Over these parts is placed a porcelain, metal, wood, or
glass cover completely protecting the parts from dirt or other deteriorating.
influences.
Dated this 15th day of July 1890.
EDWARD W. LANCASTER..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Bells.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER of Albert Works, Graham Street,
Birmingham Electrical 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 :—
My invention is for detail improvements in electric bells and in the manufacture.
of the bases frames and covers for same. In the first part of my invention instead.
of using wood as usually employed for the manufacture of the bases upon which
ordinary bells or relays are mounted, I apply porcelain. The second part of my
invention is applied to the particular forms and shapes of the covering and
arrangement of parts. The advantages resulting from this invention are
important. As regards the first part, insulation, decoration and production
economy & durability which arise from the facility of manufacture and result
from the use of porcelain. It is indeed evident that a piece can easily be produced.
by moulding, and that it can be perfectly formed and decorated, in every possible
way. As regards the use:-It is undoubtedly a better insulation than wood, and
the manufacture is simple and economical and it is susceptible of a rapid
production. As regards the second part, novelty of design, and arrangement of.
working parts, protection from dust, and increased ringing power. In this second
Pane 017

page_text: part of my invention, I arrange my bell to take the shape illustrated in the
drawings herewith.
I will take as an example to describe my invention, the bells which are installed
in houses, oflices, &c. The same letters in all drawings indicate similar parts.
99
C
1st Example. Figs. 1 & 2. Here we have a bell for fixing against a wall.
The base a provides the various holes for receiving the necessary apparatus, is
made of porcelain & is fixed to the walls by means of screws or nails passing
through the holes bb, c is the bell usually struck by a hammer d which receives its
impulse from the armature e the bobbins ff &c. The current passes along the
wires which are fixed to hh, from whence they enter the oblique holes ii. The
whole, which consists of the bobbins ff and the armature e &c. is enclosed under a
cover which can be fixed to the base a in any suitable manner.
The cover may
be made partly or entirely of porcelain and may be pierced by an opening, which
may be furnished with a glass. It is easily seen that the form, thickness and
general appearance of the base a as well of the cover j can vary greatly owing to
the facility of moulding.
2nd Example. Figs. 3 & 4. I shew an arrangement of a box or cover made
partly of metal in which case, the bobbins may be attached either to the base as
before or to the metallic part m of the cover or sides. An iron casting forming
the cores or yoke pieces of the electromagnets, or bobbins, is screwed to m by the
screws ss, or m may be made of iron, and the cores of the electromagnets, cast or
screwed thereon.
3rd Example. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 10 & 11. Here we have a pear shaped bell which
may be suspended for example below a bracket or chandelier. To the case of
porcelain a is fixed the gong c by a stem and binding screws tt.
The 99
conveying the current, pass partly through the hollow stem to the bobbins ff.
In Figs. 5 & 6, the haminer & is shewn attached to a lever which is actuated by
an extension of the armature e, and controlled by a spring s, attached to the
stem while in Figs. 10 & 11 the hammer lever is attached directly to the
armature and is likewise controlled by a spiral spring attached to the pillar p.
4th Example. Figs. 8 & 9. The general design is that of a box, either of
porcelain or partly porcelain and partly metal.
The bobbins and armature are connected within the box which is surmounted by
a gong and the whole forms a very neat and compact form of bell which can be
used either on a table or suspended. It may also answer the subsidiary but useful
purpose of a paper weight &c.
5th Example. Figs. 12 & 13. Shews a pear shaped bell with a hollow stem
in which two or more flexible cords are laid. These cords are connected in such a
manner that by means of a push placed above or below the bell, a similar distant
bell may be ring and a return signal received, or the cords may be so arranged
that the bells are rung simultaneously.
6th Example. Figs. 14 & 15. One bobbin only is used for the electro magnet.
U is a stamping of metal shaped to carry the bobbin, armature and spring the
contact pillars and the gong.
7th Example. Figs. 16 & 17. Shews two bells (similar to Example 6) fixed
upon the two sides of a porcelain slab and acting independently of each other.
I have shewn in Fig. 1 the base and cover, and in Figs. 8 & 14 the base of
round design, but it can easily be seen that the shape can be altered to a square (as
indicated by the dotted lines) or other patterns.
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 :--
1. The combination of a bell or bells with porcelain or china base & cover
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2. The combination of a bell or bells with porcelain or china base substantially
as herein described and illustrated.

page_text: 3. The combination of a bell and a cup shaped piece forming a pear shapej bell
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
4. The combination of an electro magnet and a metal stamping and a china
base substantially as herein described and illustrated, as Examples 6 & 7.
Dated this 29th day of April 1891.
EDWARD W. LANCASTER.