US1313006A - A cobpoba - Google Patents

Description

E. MOARD.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED riaizo. I914.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES uvvnvron Eric Moartl,

WhQ ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA vLANoulnPn 0 WASIHNGTQN,

E. MOARD.

SIGNALING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. 1914.

1,313,006. P11611161 Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Fig: 4- Fig:

' INVENTOR 3 1 Eric Moard,

ma COLUMBIA PLANOORAPII co., WASHINGTON, n1 :1

BY 1 I ,4 RIVE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERIC MOARD, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BEVIN BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION or CONNECTICUT.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed February 20, 1914. Serial No. 819,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Euro MoARn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Hampton, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptlon, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates to signaling devices, alarms or horns wherein a diaphragm is mechanically agitated to secure the required sound.

It relates more particularly to the wellknown type of signaling devices which are commonly employed for motor horns and may be used as a signaling device for automobiles, launches, boats or fog-signals or in fact, wherever a signal or alarm device is desirable. p

More specifically, it relates to the class of devices in which a diaphragm is vibrated at high velocity and with an amplitude which is sufficient to produce sounds of great intensity and carrying power.

While the invention embodies a vibratory diaphragm and means for agitating the diaphragm of a more or less commonly employed form, it also embodies a driving mechanism for the agitator which may be manipulated at will by the operator with as great or as little force as may be desired. Thus, the resultant vibration of the diaphragm is directly under the control of the operator.

In horns of the general type herein described which employ electric motors or similar motor-actuating devices, it is quite obvious that the full intensity of vibration of the diaphragm cannot be instantly secured, as, of course, the motor or similar device must be brought up to its full torque and speed before such a condition can be reached. Furthermore, the engaging parts between the diaphragm and motor very often come to rest in such position that an unusual strain is placed upon the motor as it starts to actuate the vibrator. In fact, freezing of the parts is not an uncommon occurrence.

In the invention herein described, the mechanism is so actuated that a greater or less amount of force may be applied as de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

sired and the greatest intensity of force may be applied instantly to the vibratory mechanism or it may be gradually applied. 7

This arrangement provides a means for sounding an extremely sharp high pitched note during the full period of operation or the note may be one of gradually ascending and descending quality or the note may be raised and lowered during a single manipulation of the device. In fact, great latitude of operation is permitted. This latitude of manipulation is due to the factthat an extremely high speed can be immediately imparted to the mechanism which with its fiy-wheel will maintain the speed for a substantial period of time or the cord may be manipulated with less force and gradually increasing intensity or the cord may be manipulated repeatedly maintaining either a high degree of speed or permitting relatively high speeds with each unwinding of the cord. I

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple compact device, in whichthe mani ulation of the vibratory mechanism e manually actuated and controlled at w1 r A further object is to provide a device in which inertia will be overcome through a fly-wheel effect and in which, with a minimumexpenditure of energy, signals of varying intensity may be produced. 7

A further object is to provide for an extremely rapid and long continued movement of the vibrating mechanism with a comparatively short movement of the actuating devices.

A still further object is to provide for convenient and positive adjustment of the various parts of the mechanism from the exterior .of the casing.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the signaling device.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view with parts broken away, on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the horn or mouthpiece with the diaphragm and vi-' bratory arm.

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation, showing the anism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cam actuating mechanism with the front plate re moved.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the cam spindle and appurtenant parts.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the driving shaft, spring drum and appurtenant ratchet and gear.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the adjustability of the mechanism within the cas- 111 The entire mechanism making up the device is completely inclosed in a casing, though it is adjustable and operable from the exterior thereof.

As illustrated in the drawings, there is a horn or resonator 1 which terminates in a flange 2 to which is secured the casing 3 through the medium of flange 4 and screws or similar devices 5.

The flange 2 and the flange 4 serves as a suitable clamp for holding the diaphragm 6 which is preferably separated from the flange 2 of the horn or resonator 1 by a gasket 7 The horn section 1 has formed at one side a bracket 8 by which the device, as a whole, may be secured in any desired manner. Secured to the diaphragm, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, there is a vibratory arm or striker 9 which, as illustrated, is at tached to the center of the diaphragm as at 10 and projects across the face of the diaphragm, to which it is secured adjacent to one edge, as by a rivet 11. This arm 9 has preferably formed up from it a boss 12 which is adapted to be struck by the surface 13 of a cam wheel 14. As the cam wheel 14 is rapidly rotated, its cam surfaces ride against the boss 12 and thereby vibrate the diaphragm 6 with a frequency dependent upon the rate of rotation of the cam wheel 14.

The cam wheel and its shaft, together with gearing and driving mechanism therefor, is suitably supported in an adjustable frame which, as illustrated, consists of two disks 15, 16 of a size adapted to fit closely within the cylindrical section 3 of the casing.

This frame-work, with its appurtenant parts, may be readily adjusted in the casing and locked thereto by screws or other suitable clamping devices 17 which project through slots 18 in the casing and engage tangs 19 suitably pressed up from the rear frame plate 16.

The plates 15, 16 are suitably spaced by tubular members 20 and are clamped together by bolts extending therethrough and engaged by nuts 21. This construction gives an extremely rigid form of frame work and permits the use of a comparatively thin casing inasmuch as it provides a stiffener which will prevent collapse of the casing 3 except under the most unusual compression strains. Extending between the plates 15, 16 is a main driving shaft 22 which is free to rotate with reference to the plates and upon which is loosely mounted a driving gear 23. Secured to a squared section of the shaft 22, there is a ratchet 24 and at the outer end of the shaft and arranged outside of the plate 16 there is a spring winding drum 25 which is also fast with reference to the shaft 22 and ratchet 24. Between the ratchet 24 and end of the spring winding drum, there is a bushing 26 which is preferably secured in the plate 16 by a tight fit.

About the bushing 26 is wound a spring 27, one end 28 of which is secured to the plate 16 while the opposite end 29 is secured to the winding drum 25.

The winding drum, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, consists of a cylindrical portion 30 having a flange 31 adjacent to the plate 16 which flange with a washer 32 forms a groove within which'may rest the actuating cord or strap 33.

To hold the cord or strap upon the drum 25 as it is wound or unwound therefrom, a sleeve 34 is provided which projects through the rear end of the casing 3 and has a flange 35 whichrests against the inside of the casing. This sleeve 34 has a suitable opening through which the cord or pull strap 33 may freely pass.

WVith the strap or pull cord wound upon the drum 25, a pull upon the cord will rotate the drum and the main shaft 22 with its ratchet 24. The ratchet 24, through a spring pawl 24. will rotate the driving gear 23. During the unwinding of the cord from the drum, the spring 27 will be wound up and as the cord is released, it will be again wound spective frame plates 15, 16 and supports upon the drum.

The main driving gear 23 is in mesh with a pinion 36 upon the cam shaft 37. This shaft has suitable bearings 38, 39 in the reat its inner end the cam disk 14. It is also provided with a fly wheel 40.

The bearing 39 has an extended portion 41 which projects through the rear of the casing 3 and in the outer end of the extension 41 there is arranged an adjusting screw 42 which is provided with a lock nut 43. This ad usting screw provides for a fine adjustment of the cam disk 14 with reference to the striker lug 12 and it is to be observed that the adjustment is to be made from the exterior of the casing.

In assembling the device, a nominal adjustment may be secured by moving the frame plates 15, 16 with reference to the casing 3 but to secure the final adjustment so that the cam will strike the luv 12 with a proper degree of contact, the line adjusting screw 42 is employed.

With the fiy-wheel 40 upon the cam shaft 37, it is apparent that a quick pull upon the cord 33 will, through the large driving gear 23 cause a very rapid rotation of the pinion 36 and the shaft 37 together with the flywheel 40. With proper impetus given to the pull, the fly-wheel will keep the shaft 37 in motion for a considerable period of time.

Any desired degree of force may, of course, be applied to the pull cord or strap 33 as this is to be manually actuated either by the hand or foot and it is apparent that by giving a full strong pull upon the cord or strap, the cam 14 will almost immediately be rotated at its full corresponding speed. This, of course, will give a high pitched sharp alarm.

If the speed with which the pull cord is unwound from the drum is gradually increased, the corresponding speed of the cam 14 will be varied to give a gradually ascendin note which will be maintained until the e ect of the fly-wheel is lost and thereupon the tone will descend. As many strokes may be given to the pull cord as desired and with the ratchet and pawl mechanism shown, a succession of pulls upon the cord 33 will maintain a high speed of the cam shaft 37 with the result that a continued high-pitched signal will be given.

It is apparent that with this mechanism various modulations may be given to the character of the signal and it may be made harsher or softer and may be maintained for.

greater or less periods depending upon the manipulation of the cord.

One particular advantage heretofore referred to, resides in the ability to apply immediately a sufficient pull to give a high speed to the cam shaft 37 This provides for a sharp high-pitched signal without the ascending note effect which is a prevailing characteristic of signaling horns employing electric or spring motors.

The device contains a minimum number of parts which may be readily assembled or taken down for inspection and the whole device may be constructed at a very low cost as compared with the motor horns. Furthermore, it is extremely compact and light and may be applied in any desired position on the automobile, launch or wherever desired.

To maintain the sleeve 34 in its outermost Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the position, where it will completely incase the drum 25, a spring 34 is employed. This spring is secured to the inner face of the frame disk 16 and has its ends 35 projecting through the plate and against the flange 35. This holds the sleeve 34: projected to its extreme limit through the rear of the casing 3 as the disks l5, 16 are adjusted within the casing.

Obviously, the exact details for construction and arrangement of parts might be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and the exact form of cam, gears,

etc., may be modified to suit the exigencies of any particular requirement.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. In a signaling device, a resonator, an inclosing casing to which the resonator is secured, a vibratory diaphragm between the resonator and the casing, a cam for actuating the diaphragm rotatable in a plane parallel with the diaphragm, gearing arranged within the casing for driving the cam, all of i the parts of said gearing moving about axes that are perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, a winding drum connected with the driving mechanism for actuating it, arranged outside of the casing and disposed in a plane parallel with the diaphragm, and a flexible device wound upon the drum for rotating it.

2. In a signaling device embodying a vibratory diaphragm and a cam for operating it, the herein described mechanism for actuating the cam comprising a shaft, a frame in which the shaft is supported, a winding drum secured fast to the shaft, a bushing supported in the frame through which bushing the shaft extends, a spring surrounding the bushing connected at one end with the said frame and at the other with the winding drum, a gear wheel loosely supported on the said shaft by which the said cam is actuated, and a pawl and ratchet connection be tween the said gear wheel and the shaft by which the former is driven.

ERIC MOAR-D.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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